Review: The Old Nun’s Head

On a freezing January night, when you’ve had to take a bus, a train, and then a drizzly walk to find yourself in what appears to be the middle of nowhere, you want a greeting as warm and friendly as the one we received from The Old Nun’s Head. The wood-paneled bar, crackling fire, and comfy banquettes make it the perfect place to shelter from the weather outside; and with a food menu which changes daily, and a large selection of wines and ales, it would be tempting to bed down there for the winter.

Rather than a regular kitchen staff, The Old Nun’s Head plays host to a different street food pop-up each day of the week. On the day we visited – a Wednesday – we were treated to a meal from I Should Be Souvlaki; but if Greek food and an excellent pun aren’t your thing, come for a burger on a Monday, Tuesday or Saturday; Thai from Tam Ban on Thursday or Friday; or a traditional roast on Sunday. If they’re all as good as I Should be Souvlaki I’d willingly go back and try every one – assuming they’re all as reasonably priced; as I got a huge fluffy Greek pitta, stuffed with chicken, tomatoes, and tzatziki, with a side of feta fries, all for £10. The wrap was warm, messy, and delicious; the perfect street food, with the added bonus of not having to be consumed on the street.

The feta fries were excellent: think a Greek salad with everything salad-adjacent being replaced by chips.  As if we hadn’t had enough cheese, we tried the saganaki – a Greek cheese like halloumi but, claimed our waiter, better. I’m not sure if it was better – I can’t abandon my allegiance to halloumi that easily – but the little rectangle of salty, greasy cheese could definitely put up a fierce competition. To keep the food company, we had a very nice bottle of Castello Banfi Pinot Grigio for £24; bottles range from a very reasonable £17 to £27, and you can also choose carafes from £11.50, if you wanted to be abstemious (we did not, and decided we’d better make sure that the Pinot was as good from a second bottle).

With its friendly service, decent prices, and cosy atmosphere, The Old Nun’s Head is everything you want from a local pub. The only fault I can find with it is that it isn’t my local, and is in fact in Nunhead – and that eventually, we had to head back out into the wind and rain.

Reporter: Charlotte Couldrey @elfredabeetle

The Old Nun’s Head

15 Nunhead Green

SE15 3QQ

Website: http://theoldnunshead.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOldNunsHead/?fref=ts

Twitter: @theoldnunshead

I Should Be Souvlaki: https://www.facebook.com/isbsouvlaki/?fref=ts