Adventure bar - East Dulwich (Lounged when no longer about same)

[Jeremy]

Keef - 30 is the new 20, etc.

[annaj]

I think what it comes down to is that those of us who didn't like it, and have said so on here (some politely and constructively, some not so much) are simply not Adventure's target market.

As Keef said, if the bar is busy with people who do like it, why would Toby come back and try and persuade people who don't like it and who he doesn't need?

I don't see myself going there again, but I don't feel it needs defending or that I need convincing. There's plenty of room in East Dulwich for me and it to co-exist without bothering each other.

It's worth remembering that, while the forum is a great resource and much loved by the people who use it, it is only an internet forum. Somehow I doubt that Toby is sitting in a darkened room, with an empty bottle of gin, sobbing noisily and obsessing about how to win over the EDF.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Eloquently put Annaj

[annaj]

Thank you.

Is eloquently the word of the day? ;-)

[SeanMacGabhann]

Evidently

Now stay on topic or Admin will 'ave us

[Keef]

I don't see myself going there again, but I don't feel it needs defending or that I need convincing. There's plenty of room in East Dulwich for me and it to co-exist without bothering each other.

Exactly right! I now find that I basically don't like anywhere except the Plough, CPT, and possibly Black Cherry, but if we all liked the same places, life would be boring, and they'd be over crowded so we would soon go off them, and then the world would just melt in confusion!

[citizenED]

Adventure Bar for next EDF drinks then?

[kidda]

is this thread meant to be ironic?

I've been drinking in adventure a couple of times and if I'm honest, I hope to avoid cantankerous, miserable kill joys, so please stick to liquorish.

[delinquent]

Ah me. The joys of t'interweb posting.

Frankly my issues with Adventure are nothing to do with being cantankerous or a killjoy - I love bars, I spend a lot of time in them, its why my head feels the way it does today - it's just that it's a tacky carbuncle of a place. Nothing wrong with skewing something young, which is what I feel they are trying to do, but its just very poorly executed as a concept and sticks out like a drunk and badly dressed trannie at a funeral. A concept I'd usually applaud because because, hey, vive le difference and all that but in this instance it just doesn't work. The drinks weren't even up to snuff either, so it's not like it particularly earnt itself any brownie points there either. Liqorice isn't exactly the world's best bar either, but it at least has the sensiblities to realize that the area isn't about garish, badly designed and poorly thought out venues the likes of which are ten a penny if you go down to Clapham. Which is why Clapham is the way it is. And frankly I personally would hate it if ED became anything like it, which is why I feel places like Adventure are wrong for the area. Obviously this is just my opinion but hey, that's what this forum is for.

[Jah Lush]

Cocktail bars... What the f**k? Sure enough I did my fair share of them when I was in my early 20s and if I feel like a Mohito or a Zombie or whatever I'll nip into the Black Cherry for a couple. But really, what's so adventurous about Adventure? It's possibly the perfect place for the local Estate Agents to smooze n' booze. I don't even need to go in there to know that I'd hate the f**king place and its clientele on sight.

[Mark]

I know it's only a week into being open but has anyone (who's been in, not just diss'ed its concept) actually liked the Adventure bar enough to make it a regular of theirs? Or go there instead of Liquorish or Black Cherry?

[Weegee]

On Monday, I popped into Adventure bar. I must say the staff were really friendly

gave me a warm welcome..chatted about their plans..

The manager came over after a while and asked me how my drinks were. They

were doing a special 2 for 1 on cocktails.

I haven?t see the bar in action on a Friday or Saturday night?so might

be a different picture?.but if you fancy a nice drink midweek then

check it out.

I do hope the bar staff keep up their friendly service to the punters!

[buggie]

Out of curiosity I went in on Saturday evening, liked the drinks I had and was miffed blokie wouldn't swap one of his for one of mine - we made it for the 2 for 1, didn't find them watery.

Wasn't expecting it to be achingly cool/inspiring/some where to rave about.

Found it quite amusing that there were a group who can't have been older than early 20's and looked ++ indie/achingly cool who were having a great time - even singing along to the naff music which amused me as they def didn't fit the "estate agent only" tag.

While there's no doubt things could be improved, as potential spot for a works do or a stop off for drinks on a night out it will serve the purpose.

Liquorish is really nice too - went in there later the same night, music was better, and packed so bit more of an atmosphere - but then didn't walk back to see what the adventure bar was like then.

Unfortunately for all morning the loss of inside 72, am guessing it wasn't popular or profitable enough for the owners to keep running it - but (as I'm sure has been mentioned already) that's not this bar's fault - it's like a favourite workmate being fired and taking an instant dislike to the person taking over the job, just because it isn't your mate.

[theboytopper]

I've just caught up on this thread after being out of the area for a while and quite frankly I'm baffled by a new bar being resented (it seems) mainly because it took over from a dirty hole of a bar made from chipboard!! I always wondered if my hangovers had more to do with the state of the place than the amount I drank!

Corporate chain mentality???? Have any of you bothered to go in and enjoy the place for what it seems to offer: fun atmosphere, decent drinks and (shock horror!) friendly staff that do seem to actually know what they are doing - rather than run a Daily Telegraph critique over it? Wonder what would happen if a real chain opened down our little Lordship Lane - pichforks and burnings at the stake????

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

Toilets are much better than before.

[SeanMacGabhann]

"caught up on THIS thread"??

Suggests you have been abreast of others young man/woman/boy-girl

A few references have been made to the old bar but I don't think any criticism I have made on the new bar refer directly to it - I have judged it entirely on it's merits. Dulwich Park Fairy is correct as well - toilets are better now

[Mark]

theboytopper, I don't think it's a case of it being resented for being a chain except by one or two people, I get the feeling most people on here have tried it and just don't like it. Take the EDT and the Bishop, people don't really give a toss that they're part of a small chain, only those who have nothing solid to argue about bring it up as a point of issue.

I tried the Adventure bar and I'll give it a second go, but I have to point out that all the pubs and bars "down our little Lordship Lane" have friendly staff, it's not a new concept round here.

[theboytopper]

Fair point Mark, I agree that people do seem to use this entire site (certainly not just this thread!) as a venting block rather than actually discussing opinions/options/news etc...

If you can tell me these friendly venues though I'd be delighted to try them as I've never found the EDT or the Bishop to be overly hospitable. Actually, the most friendly place I've been around here since I moved here this time last year is the cafe next to the Palmerston!!!

[Mark]

In my opinion the EDT, the Bishop, the Black Cherry, the Palmerston, Liquorish and the Plough all have friendly and welcoming staff, I've never seen any of them be inhospitable in the last couple of years. If you want to move onto other categories like shops and cafes don't try the stationers or the fabric shop, they eat children.

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

The guy at the fabric shop is nice.

[macroban]

"Mr Ralon" has always been friendly, kind, and helpful to me over a couple of decades.

[bignumber5]

theboytopper Wrote:

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

> I've just caught up on this thread after being out

> of the area for a while and quite frankly I'm

> baffled by a new bar being resented (it seems)

> mainly because it took over from a dirty hole of a

> bar made from chipboard!!

I thought inside72 was a dive that was trying too hard to be cool, so am i allowed an opinion?

(Actually, still yet to go to Adventure, but don't do solo drinking and now can't find anyone to go with! So no opinion to express... as yet...)

I've never understood the EDF hatred of chains, because any small business with ambition that is successful will eventually become a chain: once upon a time there was only one starbucks, one maccy d's. I don't go to either of them, not because they've done well and so become a chain and that offends me as an armchair lefty, but because the product in question is shite in both cases.

I'm not put off going to Adventure by the fact that there's another one or two somewhere else - to that i say well done owners, good to see anyone in a position to expand their business, whatever it may be.

I am put off by reports of a cocktail bar that serves low quality, low strength cocktails.

I am put off by that fact that all of my local friends have all been there already and none are willing to entertain the possibility of going back.

Bugger all to do with the number of branches it has.

[Mark]

The guy at the fabric shop upsets people (sometimes)

The guy at the stationers scares people (sometimes)

The staff at the bars on Lordship Lane, including the Adventure Bar, are friendly and welcoming.

[edited thrice]

[Moos]

The guy at the fabric shop is fine in my experience.

The guy at the stationers is fine in my experience (as a number of people on the thread you quoted agree).

[kidda]

well the reports of low strength cocktails seem to be some what contradictory to the hangovers i've been recovering from.

i'd even be as tempted as to say the reports of 'low quality' drinks are probably from the same people who decided they where not going to like the place before it even opened.

A pattern is forming...

I have tried black cherry and the embarrasing liqourish, who people think do 'proper cocktails', news flash kids, its not proper because its expensive, its just a ripoff.

I'll wait for some hugely articulate response now, from some person who refuses to use monosylabic words in a sentance to shoot me down, but here's the kicker, you guys that hate Adventure are giving it all this free publicity, Toby (who i'm fairly sure isnt sitting drinking gin, in a darkened room) probably hasnt replied to this thread becasue he's to busy counting all the money, from people who have read this thread and decided to go down and check it out, like me.

So next time i'm in there i'll have a drink to all the guys on this forum.