What makes a good pub.

[ozzie]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum and quite new to the ED area.

I am originally from Greenwich and my fave drinking holes were along the river, The Trafalgar Tavern and The Cutty Sark in particular. I like to have a big old open fire roaring in the winter and a nice outdoor area in the summer, good selection of real ales, good food & wine and friendly, open, easy to talk to people.

What does the forum think about the qualities needed to make you want to go back to a pub regularly? can you recommend any pubs that have the qualities that I have mentioned above?

I have tried the food in the Palmerston and can recommend the Ribeye steak.

Best regards to you all and I look forward to your replies.

Oz.

[bon3yard]

The Herne Tavern on Forest Hill road would fit that definition perfectly.

[LuvPeckham]

The Rye Hotel is close in my opinion, but only 2 guest ales at any one time ... rest is good food, wine and conversation (and Star and Leffe and ....)

Welcome to ED OZ

[SeanMacGabhann]

Welcome to the area and forum Oz

Only pub I know with a fire is the Dulwich Woodhouse - which is on the Sydenham side of the woods

[ratty]

The Plough is a bit like that! ;)

Don't go to the Rye unless you like rude staff and overpriced wine!

[SeanMacGabhann]

oooh ratty I'm going to have to say "whoaahhh"

"not cheap" wine I'll grant you but is it overpriced? If it's the same stuff that Threshers sells for 3 for a tenner then yes it is but if it's just good wine, that's different

Can't say the staff are always friendly but I can't say that about anywhere. I went to the Rye on Sat for first time in yonks (yes just after I saw you in the Plough -ahem) and the staff treated me like a long lost friend

me = a fan of the Rye

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I'm getting me to Greenwich. I do like a nice fire.

[david_carnell]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

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

> oooh ratty I'm going to have to say "whoaahhh"

>

> "not cheap" wine I'll grant you but is it

> overpriced? If it's the same stuff that Threshers

> sells for 3 for a tenner then yes it is but if

> it's just good wine, that's different

>

> Can't say the staff are always friendly but I

> can't say that about anywhere. I went to the Rye

> on Sat for first time in yonks (yes just after I

> saw you in the Plough -ahem) and the staff treated

> me like a long lost friend

>

> me = a fan of the Rye

Hehe....if I remember rightly they tried to treat me as more than that! Lovely people. The Rye Hotel was a good place for a summer beer in the garden.

Not seen anywhere with a fire although I think the Old Nuns Head might. and they do a lovely Sunday roast.

[buggie]

... the rye has roaring fires, but understandable I think its seasonal and that they won't have them going in June!!

Their roast dinners have improved no end and are now the best locally IMHO.

[mockney piers]

The George Canning does a nice fire (albeit gas) but doesn't fit too many of the other criteria. Nice spot though.

 

[KalamityKel]

Piers... y the woman?

[Cassius]

ratty Wrote:

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

> The Plough is a bit like that! ;)

>

> Don't go to the Rye unless you like rude staff and

> overpriced wine!

I'm not impressed by the wine list but Greg rocks.......

[SeanMacGabhann]

funnily enough I saw Gregg in The Plough of all places last week - just didn't expect that

[Cassius]

It's weird when you see people out of context as it were! Real 'double-take'

[mockney piers]

KK, that's the lovely Sarah, top Geordie lass, barmaid, part time teacher and art student.

[ratty]

A rye member of staff followed a friend of mine round a pub, harrassing her for an alleged unpaid tab, in front of all of her friends. Now my friend EXLUSIVELY drinks Pinot Grigio and this was for some bottles of Red! Despite telling the despicably irritating woman this she continued to harrass and accuse!

That's what I call rude! As such the Rye is boycotted by ratty forever (unless I am in particular need, nearby or my mates are going there! :p)

I don't actually think this woman works there anymore!

Maybe I should drop it!

[Keef]

My favourite 2 pubs in the area are The CPT, and The Plough.

Plough has a great selection of beers, and good staff, plus a nice big paved garden.

The CPT is my regular haunt. It's 2 pubs in one, has an old "lounge bar" complete with fire which is cosy in the winter, and a "public bar" (old name) which is a more modern side and has the big screens.

To me the staff make the pub, and the CPT staff are great. However, they're all moving on, so no idea what the place will be like in the future...

[Brendan]

Nice people, both the punters and staff, make a good pub.

Sure there are all the other things like location, amenities, selection of drinks, food etc. but if a pub ticks all of those boxes it attracts too many, ?not so nice people? to put it politely. This immediately disqualifies it from the first and foremost criteria.

?Tis a sad yet amusing irony.

[Brendan]

Oh and pets. A good pub should have a dog and/or a cat.

[clive3300]

Keef Wrote:

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

> My favourite 2 pubs in the area are The CPT, and

> The Plough.

>

> Plough has a great selection of beers, and good

> staff, plus a nice big paved garden.

>

> The CPT is my regular haunt. It's 2 pubs in one,

> has an old "lounge bar" complete with fire which

> is cosy in the winter, and a "public bar" (old

> name) which is a more modern side and has the big

> screens.

>

> To me the staff make the pub, and the CPT staff

> are great. However, they're all moving on, so no

> idea what the place will be like in the future...

I used to live close to the CPT. proper old gin palace gone to ruin. friendly staff and some interestingly wierd locals. The best is during a rainstorm, the staff calmly walk over and deposit buckets at various points (particularly that iron cast iron pillar) as the water pours through.

I miss it a lot.

[Brendan]

Oh and my rudeness is unacceptable.

Welcome to East Dulwich and the Forum Ozzie.

[ladida]

I'm with Keef on this one. The CPT is great for the obvious reasons of the locals, always good for observational value, some more than others (no names mentioned! You know who you are!), bar staff (soon to be gone - boo) and friendly atmosphere. The Plough is now far superior than it has been for the past 20 years (used to pop in there on the home from school), comfortable surroundings, a good selection of beer, not over priced, a nice garden, nice food, a cashpoint opposite and Keef's band!!!!!!

[ozzie]

Hi all,

Thanks for the info and the warm welcome.

There are a few places there for me to try out and report back on.

I did read in the Southwark News that the old nuns head does a good sunday dinner.

The Wood House I think is a Young's pub. I do like Young's & Fullers beers, must be the Thames water that they put in for extra flavor, being a Greenwich boy it runs through my veins.

On a darker note, back in April, Harriet Harman was criticised for walking around Peckham with a police escort and wearing a stab vest...

http://200weeks.police999.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/harman67.jpg

In your honest opinion, are there any pubs in ED that I should avoid or have to watch my back in? are there any pubs that you definitely wouldn't recommend?

I am off work today and may take my constitutional walk up through the village and Dulwich woods to the Woodhouse for lunch.

I look forward to seeing your comments.

Toodle pip...

Oz.

[david_carnell]

In East Dulwich?!? Nah. Nothing like that.

The Castle will get mentions from others but although it is probably the "saltiest" pub in ED, pubs in other parts of London make it look like the Savoy. And although rowdy it's certainly not dangerous.

Unless you want a fight, that is! In which case the Bishop on Lordhsip Lane on a Friday/Sat night seems to be gaining a reputation. Can't say I've ever seen it myself but watch out for deaf muggers!

[ratty]

And if you want to see a little bit of tuft then the Gowelett can often provide it for you! :O