the vale pub - changes afoot

[chrisharvey]

i'm sure you will pleased to hear there are changes happening at the vale pub.

we (chris & antonia) are taking over the pub.

we have our own ideas on what we would like to bring to ED, but are very keen for input and suggestions from local residents.

we're looking for local artists who wish to display their work.

we're planning live music, so if your a local musician or band member PM us.

we're very excited to soon be part of your community - we'll keep you all posted on developments.

[Peckhamrye]

Really pleased to hear that! Our last few experiences there have been awful. We would like to see decent (and not necessarily posh) food, and some real ales. It's a great space and could be a fabulous pub. Good luck!

[Peckhamrye]

Oh, and going on Twitter would be good, it's very active food/drink wise in SE22/SE15. I am @peckhamryeeats.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Good Luck - welcome to the neighbourhood. Keep showing Millwall games and serving roasts.

[chrisharvey]

thanks for your encouragement and advice.

i'm a real ale drinker so lots of local ales planned.

we've got a quality chef lined up - food will be a bit different (not too posh)

[ratty]

Will the old management have any involvement? Nearest pub to my house but we always walk past nowadays having been treated poorly there in the past!

[chrisharvey]

No - we're all new (and shinny)

we actually like people - you will be treated accordingly

[Sue]

This is very good news :)

Decent ale, live music and reasonably priced well cooked food would all be great!

[rbrtdngl]

Very good news and the best of luck to you both. I would second Peckhamrye and Sue's comments. Are you planning to close the pub for refurbishment? Looking forward to seeing you soon.

[chrisharvey]

yes, we will have to close briefly for the work to be done.

it's a done deal but still waiting (on the brewery) for official dates.

i must say the guys in there have actually been very good to us, allowing us to start some of the internal stuff.

we will keep you all posted on opening date as soon as clarified.

[Jeremy]

This is good news. Certainly better news than the Wetherspoons rumour which was going round a few months ago!

[skiddywill]

A washing machine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVy5aebeXlI&t=5m10s

and at least one cheap pint

[PeckhamRose]

... and some Belgian fruit beers now and again that aren't twice the price of other beers.

(Like at EDT!)

Looking forward to seeing you in there. Don't go past often but will definitely pay a visit.

Will it still be primarily a sports pub?

[brain_opera]

Hooray, I'm glad to hear this, they have always been horrible in there. It's my local, and I avoid it.

It would be nice to commemorate a bit of Dulwich Hamlet- it's a local team, and has a long history. Maybe even a picture of Edgar Kail?

[chrisharvey]

i'll look into the fruit beers, though initially that's likely to be restricted to apples (real apples).

we're definately in favour of conversation over screen gawping.

one screen will be kept for what we term significant events - but we will definately not be described as sports bar.

[Ladygooner]

Sorry to hear you won't be showing too much sport - my only reason for going into The Vale in the past - but good luck in your new venture and hope to be comin back again for the food and ambiance

[milk76]

Good luck to you both. If you can change it from being the local football and fruit machine venue, and bring in some quality food, then with its size and garden it could be the best pub in Dulwich.

[Otta]

Great news. What sort of live music are you thinking of? I'm in a band which plays mostly original rock type stuff, would that float your boat, or are you thinking of something a bit more... Jazz?

[Sue]

My vote would be for blues, but it would be great to have a really wide range of different types of music.

Also there was an Irish session in there for a while which was very enjoyable.

Will all the live music be in the main bar, or do you have a separate room as well somewhere which could be used for ticketed music gigs? (I'm thinking here with my promoter hat on rather than my punter hat :) as I guess unaccompanied folk music in your main bar may drive some people away!)

[bon3yard]

Excellent, boycotted the pub years ago after a couple of run-ins with the ill mannered Bernard Manning lookalike who I think was managing the place. I like my pubs old school but preferably without the bigoted attitude to accompany it. Good luck guys!

[chrisharvey]

sorry footy gone, fruit machines gone, quiz machine gone (real quiz coming).

we have a number of bands lined up, not genre specific - always keen to explore new ones - please send us a link.

all music/bands will be playing at the rear event area, we will pay the musicians - no tickets and no charge for the customers.

this is a pub which will have live music - we're not going to become a venue.

[Sue]

All sounds good :)

[bsand]

Great news - the only way is up !

[colville09]

What about a ukulele club?

[El Pibe]

Excellent news, we can bury the "Never The Vale" tag once and for all.

All I ask is that the beer is potable, it's a great location and one of the few spots in the area with a half decent garden.

It has long been less than the sum of its parts, so if you get the basics right, make the place welcoming the rest should take care of itself.

Good luck you shinny happy people you!