Hole in the Wall

Reviews

• Sarrah W.

  star star star star star_border 10 September 2026

  My American boyfriend has been missing his (American) football and Coors light after almost two weeks in Europe. We stumbled on this place (thanks to Yelp) after dinner on the Southbank of the Thames and it fit the bill. A great dive bar playing NFL and Coors Light on tap. Hes a happy camper!

• Rebecca N.

  star star star star star 8 September 2026

  Do you want an authentic English pub experience? This is the place to come. It took us a solid 3 minutes to find the entrance to this pub(its pretty clear which entrance is the actual one. Don't accidentally go through an unmarked door next to a sign for the place like we did). It is well worth the search and then some.
  Upon finding the entrance, we were immediately greeted with live folk music complete with fiddle, accordions and the works. Beer is a good price, and this place has real soul. It just happened to be exactly what a couple of American tourists were searching for on a rainy Sunday evening.

• Ian B.

  star star star star_border star_border 8 September 2026

  There is nothing glamorous about the H.I.T.W. It is unpretentious with a capital U. A boozer, pure and simple. Reasonably priced beer and food, no frills. Yet, it is very popular with a lively clientele of ordinary Londoners and dazed tourists. A watering hole within spitting distance of Waterloo station. In a world of faux pubs and bars, it remains somewhere honest. Long may it continue.

• David I.

  star star star star star_border 1 September 2026

  I should start by saying that this pub, which is underneath the arches of a railway viaduct near Waterloo station, tends to attract both very positive and very negative opinions. What I like about it is that it hasn't changed in decades. It's a survival from a time before pubs became more gentrified, which means that It's rough and ready, and for me that's what makes it charming. Others may consider that 'charm' to be more verging on squalor (I'm thinking here of the toilets, which are definitely on the basic, unrenovated side).
  
  My favourite area in the pub is the front room, which is furnished with comfortable upholstered benches as well as regular chairs. It has a timeless feel, with people dropping in for a drink before catching their train (or before/after going to the theatre or somewhere else on the South Bank). I also like the old-fashioned style of the bar itself. Hanging from the wall are various bits of rugby memorabilia. I think this is because Waterloo is where you can catch a train to Twickenham (for the rugby stadium) and so maybe there's a long history of travelling fans calling in here on their way to or from a match. One slight problem I have found is that at busy times it can be hard to get served in the front bar, because the staff are so busy in the main room.
  
  The main bar is much larger and much less comfy. There are chairs and tables but they are more basic, and in fact a lot of people seem to like to stand and watch sport on the big-screen TV when there's football or rugby on. Not that I have ever visited one but I think the main room may be rather like a German beer hall.
  
  Apart from the rough-and-ready feel of the place, the other reason I like it is for the beer. They always have a decent range of cask ales on, and they are generally well kept, I believe.
  
  I've never had food, but someone who ate a meal here told me that the serving size was enormous and it was very reasonably priced. It's 'pub grub' type food.

• Abaigeal D.

  star star star star star 30 August 2026

  I stopped in when in London for the day recently.  I saw a sign from the back, and when I walked around to the entrance, I could see an escalator in the Waterloo Station through a window across the street.  
  
  In addition to a handy and interesting location, the Hole in the Wall has a cozy interior with copper table tops (I'm a sucker for copper table tops in a pub).  It was a quiet, drizzly afternoon when I stopped in, and there was just one other customer in the front bar where I sat.  When I ordered a pint, I didn't have anything specific in mind because I don't really know much about beers or ales.  The bar mistress thought about my description (something kind of light), and came back with two samples for me to try.  How thoughtful!  She was extremely gracious serving someone who really didn't mind what I was given, and that made her attempt to find just the right ale for me even nicer.
  
  Because they had WiFi and because the rain picked up, I stayed for awhile and let my tired feet rest.  It was the perfect break, and I have a very nice memory of my visit to the Hole in the Wall.