Upland's Pub/Restaurant

[LibraCarr]

Hi to all and a hippy new year.

I have visited the Uplands on many occasions for a drink. I am curious to know what the forum thinks of this pub/diner.

Regards,

Libra Carr.

[Unkle_Paulie]

Me and the missus frequent there often for food, especially for the Sunday roasts. Do not have a single compliant and highly recommend it.

[PeckhamRose]

Seems quite nice and friendly. I remember it when it was a rock venue pub in mid 1980s. Not sure that it's better now but sure is different, and just as friendly ;)

[Damo]

You could certainly call it "unpretentious", its a closer relation to the CPT than the Palmerston.

One of the few drinking places near LL where you can get a seat on a Fri/Sat night. In fact, you usually have a pick of about a dozen.

Does Becks Vier and the Grolsch Wheat beer on tap, nice. Food is trad pub grub, certainly not gastro.

For a quiet (though sometimes the barmaids turn the music up a bit loud) or quick drink, it hits the spot.

Disclaimer - I live round the corner so its easy to get to and I have gone off busy pubs, see most of LL

[Jeremy]

Used to live near it, never liked it. It sounds as though they may have changed the menu though - last time I went there (maybe 4 years ago) I think they were trying to be vaguely upmarket with the food, and the results were barely edible.

[Keef]

I have nothing against it as such, but just find it a bit souless. A friend once described it as like drinking in an airport lounge, or cinema bar, and I'd say that's pretty spot on.

With regards the food, it was great when it first changed to it's current look, then as Jeremy said, went down hill. Culdn't say what it's like now, but the place has changed hands a few times, so may well have improved with new management.

[Jah Lush]

It's pretty damned soulless in there. It's okay in the summer when you can sit outside though. It also came last with no votes in the EDF Bar of the Year which might tell you something about it but don't let that put you off. Try it for yourself and make your own mind up.

[Keef]

I think it should be an EDF drinks venue.

[Jah Lush]

I agree. Perhaps the the next one after the Dog. I know Mark suggested it once but was soon shot down in flames. It's the people inside that can create the atmosphere.

[Keef]

Eaxactly, a pub is just 4 walls and beer, if you have enough of you in a group, you can have a good time anywhere... Except The Vale of course ;-)

[Brendan]

It has certainly got lots of space for us.

[*Bob*]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

It's the people inside that can create

> the atmosphere.

And what's inside the people inside.

[Jah Lush]

Indeed *Bob* indeed.

[MrBen]

Not been in for a couple of years now. Not even sure who owns it these days. Last time I was the only customer but the nice lady behind the bar was very friendly and went out her way to find me some nice wine. Agree entirely with Keef that it is lacking in atmosphere and feels a bit cold. A space of this size and location has solid potential and I'm not entirely sure why it doesnt work at the moment.

I think I'd probably give it a make over - it doesnt seem to know whether its a gastro or a traditional boozer and to me its not convincing as either. And I think thats its problem.

They could divide up the space a bit, put in some soft seating and atomspheric lighting, redo the blue and gold exterior to something trendy but traditional (respecting its history), get a great chef in, nice well trained bar staff, a retro juke box and a pool table as their differentiator ([plenty of space and where has a pool table/juke box in SE22 these days? They are cool again!) and relaxed DJ's a la Gowlett on Thurs, Fri Sat nights. And what ED pub could exist without the obligatory "character dog"? A sausage dog or labradoodle might work.

MrBen is available for business consultancy and turnarounds on once great bars that have fallen by the wayside.

[david_carnell]

It's not just the atmosphere that's cold. If you're a bitter/real ale drinker, don't bother. My pint, of I think Boddingtons or Tetleys Smoothflow (which was the only non-lager choice), nearly froze my hand to the glass.

Also, my girlfriend ordered a cocktail (not perhaps something a pub should excel at - but either do it well or don't offer it) and it resembled a pint(!) of alcoholic ribena. Not unappealing, just not a cosmopolitan either.

[blinder999]

haha we had a very similar cocktail experience there. Clueless girl randomly pouring in loads of booze.

[peckhamboy]

where has a pool table/juke box in SE22 these days?

Not quite SE22 but the Gowlett has a pool table

[SeanMacGabhann]

So does the Castle

And that's SE22

And very close to me

[suzilucy]

Gowlett has a pool table

Happy days!!!!

Was thinking only this weekend where to venture. Cheers Peckhamboy :))

[Rolo Tomasi]

Come down for the pool suzilucy. Very friendly crowd wit plehnty of encouragement/banter and no jerks!

[figgins]

Here's an idea - how about more pubs/bars NOT Having DJs? Just a thought...

Quite like the Upland on Sundays...

[Keef]

I like music on in bars, but not really DJs. EDT is a pub I like, but have avoided many many times because I've known that as soon as I go in there on a weekend evening, my conversation is finished due to stupidly loud music for a venue that size!

[SeanMacGabhann]

I haven't been in the Gowlett when the DJ was playing so can't comment

The acoustics in EDT are amazingly loud - I always had it down to the number of people nattering away and not the music tho

Lord knows what it was like on New Year's Eve

[Brendan]

People always say ?if it?s too loud you?re too old? Well bollocks to that! Even when I was 19 I didn?t like stupidly loud music in pubs (or at parties or in cars). I like music very much but if I want it so loud I can?t talk then I will go to a bloody nightclub.

[Brendan]

Sorry very off topic there. :-$