Crystal Palace Tavern

[david_carnell]

Having only just moved to the area, I went on a bit of a pub crawl over the weekend. I visited the Gowlett, the EDT, Page2, The Uplands, the CPT and the Bishop.

Without doubt, the CPT was my favourite. Friendly staff, well kept beer (increasingly rare) and a good atmosphere.

Bottom of the list is a toss-up between the Uplands and Page 2 - both serving icy-cold ale with a sneer and high prices. The Uplands probably just scrapes home last due to my girlfriend's laughable excuse for a "cocktail" and the souless atmosphere.

I'll be going back to the CPT.

[upland]

ssshhhhh! the cpt is our best kept secret.

[Ant]

We love the CPT. :)

[mockney piers]

Uplands - CPT

Yep, they're about the two ends of my ED pubs spectrum too!!

*edited as memory returns on a monday morning*

*ahem, THAT unmentionable pub may be bottom after all*

Let me see...

[bad]NTV, Uplands, Magdala, Palmerston, Clock House, Bishop, Gowlett, Castle, Hoopers, Inside 72, Black Cherry, EDT, CPT[great]

Can't speak for plough as hadn't been there for years, and now refurbed.

*and yes AD, I realise this is greater East Dulwich*

[Brendan]

Best pub in ED. Except as my other half points out, if you want to drink wine.

[Ant]

In which case, off to Green and Blue with you.

[Brendan]

Pah. With her more likely. ;-)

[Fear 'n boozin]

The Gowlett's better than the Castle? I don't think so. Hmmm. Anybody fancy doing some research into this over the weekend?

[citizenED]

Mockney, do you count the Rye in Greater ED?

citizen

[mockney piers]

Probably a bit far, also left out the george canning/phoenix and fox on hill, though they're all my locals, but I have to say yet to visit either the rye or the herne, or page2 for that matter.

Yes, you're right Fear, will promote the castle immediately.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Rather than a straight list I've grouped mine into those I genuinely like and will happily visit regardless of occassion, those that are not so good but can be ok if circumstance, mood and timing come together, and those I would rather not go to if I can at all help it

The groups themselves don't necessarily mean any kind of up/downmarket description, nor are they in strict order (although some from the top 2 groups do swap places sometimes)

I'm not saying if you go to any of the ones in the top group YOU will definitely have a good time but they work as general rule of thumb from me

The Good Guys

Inside72

CPT

EDT

Bishop

Plough

Green & Blue

Franklins

Liqourish

Depends - Can be great, but equally...

Castle

Drum

Magdala

Palmerston

Clock House

Hoopers

FHT

Herne

Gowlett

Not today, not tomorrow...

NTV (aka The Vale)

Uplands

Honourable mentions just outside this catchment go to The Nuns Head, The Rye, Bar Story, The Hob in Forest Hill,

[Fear 'n boozin]

CPT, EDT, Cherry, Green & Blue, Inside72, Hoopers, Castle

Franklins, Drum, Bishop, Liqourish, Magdala

Clock House, Gowlett

Palmerston, NTV (aka The Vale), Uplands

The CPT is a good thing :)

[DaveR]

I was working out my list of acceptable boozers, then read Sean M's post and found it was basically identical, even including Franklins - often overlooked but a nice place for a quiet pint or two. I was once in there with wife and another couple, relaxing drink and a chat, when three young blokes fell in through the door - dodgy haircuts, shiny shirts, obviously on a LL crawl. It took them about 10 seconds to take in the overwhelmingly civilised nature of the place, at which point they fell out again.

I confess though that I used to live v. close to the Vale and occasionally went there for a last pint on the way home - even v. pissed, you know it's all wrong.

[Keef]

The CPT is my second home, so no surprises I'd put it top :)-D

Down "The Lane", I think Inside 72 would be my top choice, but it's too small, and not nice when it gets chocka.

Black Cherry next.

EDT and The Bishop okay I guess, but too busy.

Mag is a bit souless, but I do like the big round tables, and the pizzas are good.

Not tried the new Plough yet...

Agree with Sean RE Bar Story!

[jim_the_chin]

what are you all doing in inside 72? trying to pick up teenage art students?

i like it but it's often hard to have a conversation, or a seat, and i do feel about 90 years old when i go in there due to the brevity in years of much of the clientele.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Like many bars I don't go to 72 on a Fri Sat night - but if I pop in of a weekend afternoon it's usuallyquiet enough to have a natter/read a paper/listen to best music selection in ED

[Jah Lush]

Spot on as usual Sean. I may be getting on a bit but I never feel THAT old even if I do pop in there on Fri/Sat evening. Young at heart I suppose and hedonistic to the core. But also I love to pop into the Drum as maybe a starting point to an evening out and then maybe onto the Black Cherry for cocktails and I do have a soft spot for the EDT as I've been going in there on and off for the best part of 25 years. One thing about the CPT though is it is almost unique - apart from The Castle - in that it is one of the few remaining PROPER pubs left in East Dulwich and long may it stay that way.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Cheers Jah

What's been most interesting about the answers so far is that there is a near-consensus on the good v bad. Anyone want to stick up for the Vale/Uplands?

[Jah Lush]

I will but NTV. Although the Uplands is still one of my least favourite of the local boozers, it's pretty damned soulless inside. The outside seating area has improved a little, which helps if you're like me and enjoy a smoke. Also, they do a fabulous bottled Pear cider in there too but that I'm afraid is about it.

[Keef]

Agree with Sean RE music in Inside72. That's the reason I rate it.

[SeanMacGabhann]

FearnBoozin - now I'm at home I can see the pics in your post - big grin!

[citizenED]

My work one blocked them too, Sean. Home, sweet home. Jah, you sure you been going in the EDT for nigh on 25 years - you must have started very young.

citizen

[jim_the_chin]

jah, the drum always reminds me of trees lounge - the steve buscemi film not the forest hill road place. not sure why, it seems to be a few regulars draped over the bar when i go past.

agree sean, i like the music in 72, it's quite unlike anything in ED and should be congratulated for it.

does anyone else think that the bishop and f*****s will sit quite appropriately across from each other? it's a nice place and all but i can just see the flash young employees populating it at lunchtime. best put wd40 on the loo cisterns bishop-folk.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I had the same thought about the estate agents and The Bishop - we'll see. There are times of the week when one could ask the question "how would anybody be able to tell?" but mostly I like th Bishop just fine

And Trees Lounge is a top shout too

[MadWorld74]

No good wine in the Seepy Tee though. I like The Plough. I like Inside 72 as well but fear I'm not trendy enough to hang out in there in the nu rave style.

Went to The Gowlett a while back and the aggressive and non plus-ed bar staff in there frightened me off!