The Lord Nelson

That this pub has such an interesting historic interior (listed on the national inventory!) actually bothers me a bit, because they don’t really serve anything good to drink. If I’m resorting to Strongbow then you can understand what the choice must be like.
Worth going to once if only to see the awesome painted and gilded mirror. But keep your eyes open for other unique and historical features, rather than wasting your time looking for something worth quaffing.

The Nelson is a locals’ pub, through and through. Heads will turn when you first walk in, but don’t interpret this as a frosty reception. It’s just the regulars checking to see if it’s a friend. On Saturday’s busy karaōke night, no one will bat an eyelid. Go a few times and you’ll be welcomed with open arms possibly literally. An Irish-​owned pub, it’s ideal for St Patrick’s Day, which is something of a speciality. The building itself is listed, with the exterior disguising beautiful gilded mirrors and antique woodwork inside. Its protected status means the Nelson has weathered hard times it survived as the only pub with an Old Kent Road address until the recent arrival of the Thomas A’Beckett bar. The staff are friendly, but don’t expect immediate service the place has a relaxed attitude to just about everything, which is one of the best things about the Nelson. You can grab a table with a few friends or have a quiet pint on your own and read the paper. There’s nothing exotic on tap. Mass-​market lager (Stella, Kronenburg, Foster’s etc), or standard cider (Strongbow, Magners). Bottles have improved and they’ve started stocking Kopparberg. Spirits are served with mixers, but there’s a no-​shot policy, unless you’re willing to down sickly fruit Sourz. Don’t expect to be furnished with any comestibles above and beyond the holy trinity of crisps, pork scratchings and peanuts (but you can eat food from the local takeaways). There are often dogs and sometimes children, but these are a staple fixture of most pubs in the area. If you’re a hardcore smoker, you’re unlikely to find a better pub in winter, or a worse one in summer. Make of that what you will In all, the Nelson is a simple, uncomplicated South London boozer, with its fair share of characters. An old building with an old-​fashioned atmosphere.

If you’re after a drink along the Old Kent Road and are a fan of the Battle of Trafalgar, Admiral Lord Nelson and want to combine the lot then this is the pub for you!
Inside it may be a bit run down but the walls are adorned with paintings of Nelson, a cabinet containing a manequin dressed in period sailing uniform (including sword) and along one side of the walls are portholes. There is a big plasma screen on one wall and sky sports is on constantly (always a plus in my book). When the football is on there is a £6 charge on the door but this also entitles you to 2 free pints.
Stella is on tap and there’s a jukebox and pool table.
Bit of a local pub for local people but friendly enough.