Dulwich Wood House
Going back to the original subject of this thread, I notice that the Dulwich Wood House is now open - has anyone been in? I will have to check it out in the next few days and see what its like. They also have a new website - looks like they are focussing much more on the food.
http://www.dulwichwoodhouse.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.dulwichwoodhouse.co.uk/index.htm
I got invited to an opening-night preview!
They've changed the interior a lot. They've flipped the bar and dining areas around, so the bar is at the back and dining at the front. The dining area is a proper wait-to-be-seated restaurant set-up with quite luxurious decor. It was dark so I couldn't see what, if anything, they've done with the garden.
Food and service was a bit hit and miss but it was their first night after all so hopefully they'll settle in.
Given how much they're playing up the food angle, I was surprised it's basically a standard "pub-grub" menu - pies, burger, fish and chips, lamb shank etc. And not that cheap either (over £5 for a soup starter sounds a lot to me).
Management seem keen though and they've got a full weekly schedule including quiz night, movie night, poker night and even a Wii night! So it sounds like it'll be worth keeping an eye out what they're up to.
They've changed the interior a lot. They've flipped the bar and dining areas around, so the bar is at the back and dining at the front. The dining area is a proper wait-to-be-seated restaurant set-up with quite luxurious decor. It was dark so I couldn't see what, if anything, they've done with the garden.
Food and service was a bit hit and miss but it was their first night after all so hopefully they'll settle in.
Given how much they're playing up the food angle, I was surprised it's basically a standard "pub-grub" menu - pies, burger, fish and chips, lamb shank etc. And not that cheap either (over £5 for a soup starter sounds a lot to me).
Management seem keen though and they've got a full weekly schedule including quiz night, movie night, poker night and even a Wii night! So it sounds like it'll be worth keeping an eye out what they're up to.
Looking at this other site, it would appear that the recent makeover has not gone down too well:
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/ ... e/Sydenham
Now that the novelty has worn off, what do you think of the place?
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/ ... e/Sydenham
Now that the novelty has worn off, what do you think of the place?
My wife and I went for lunch on Thursday lunch time and enjoyed our second visit since the refurb. We felt, again, that it was a tad expensive for a lunch (45 - starters/mains/2 beers & 1 wine).... but the food was not bad at all and the service impeccable. I regularly visited before the decorators descended, and loved it as a haunt for a pint on the way home. It certainly isn't the place it used to be. However, with the rate of pubs closing in London, my view is that it's better a place like the wood house adapt and try to compete than to die a slow death and be bought up by a developer to be turned into flats.
There are still plenty of pubs within 5 mins walk of the WH to go for a 'proper' pint - Woodman/bricklayers/foxes/windmill/talma.
In my opinion it is still a lovely pub for a visit, albeit having changed a great deal.
There are still plenty of pubs within 5 mins walk of the WH to go for a 'proper' pint - Woodman/bricklayers/foxes/windmill/talma.
In my opinion it is still a lovely pub for a visit, albeit having changed a great deal.
-
SydenhamHillAndy
- Posts: 116
- Joined: 20 Jul 2007 15:01
- Location: SE26
Hi,
The Wood House is my closest pub and I've been in a few times since the refurb.
Firstly, I'd recommend the Wednesday pub quiz (8.30 start) to anyone - they have some great questions and the quizmaster is always entertaining.
In the summer when the garden is open again and the terrace is warm enough it is going to be a great place to be. Unfortunately during the winter the terrace is too cold. A few observations:
The general renovation is a bit too corporate. It doesn't have the coolness of some of the other recent upgrades in the area.
The restaurant prices are okay but they have a cook and not a chef so they need to come down a bit. (I say cook because the food is patchy and the menu unchanging).
Seems to be too much restaurant and not enough bar. With the quality of restaurants in Crystal Palace it isn't a natural choice for a night out.
They are trying though and I wish them the best. Please support the pub quiz, I think they also do poker on a Tuesday but I haven't been to that.
The Wood House is my closest pub and I've been in a few times since the refurb.
Firstly, I'd recommend the Wednesday pub quiz (8.30 start) to anyone - they have some great questions and the quizmaster is always entertaining.
In the summer when the garden is open again and the terrace is warm enough it is going to be a great place to be. Unfortunately during the winter the terrace is too cold. A few observations:
The general renovation is a bit too corporate. It doesn't have the coolness of some of the other recent upgrades in the area.
The restaurant prices are okay but they have a cook and not a chef so they need to come down a bit. (I say cook because the food is patchy and the menu unchanging).
Seems to be too much restaurant and not enough bar. With the quality of restaurants in Crystal Palace it isn't a natural choice for a night out.
They are trying though and I wish them the best. Please support the pub quiz, I think they also do poker on a Tuesday but I haven't been to that.
SydHillAndy, I would love to share your enthusiasm for your local but I just see it as losing a nice traditional pub and gaining a mid priced, mid quality gastro pub.
I only used to go there occasionally; to meet a mate for a few quiet beers or after a walk in the woods. But now the bar area looks like a hotel reception (as mentioned in the reviews on the link above) and it all seems so false.
Shame. Is there still a dartboard?
I only used to go there occasionally; to meet a mate for a few quiet beers or after a walk in the woods. But now the bar area looks like a hotel reception (as mentioned in the reviews on the link above) and it all seems so false.
Shame. Is there still a dartboard?
-
SydenhamHillAndy
- Posts: 116
- Joined: 20 Jul 2007 15:01
- Location: SE26
Unfortunately the dartboard is no more (Nintendo Wii night on Thursdays though)....
Although the work is completed on the Dulwich Wood House it would appear that their planning application was refused (now in appeal state)
http://planningonline.southwarksites.co ... ey=9529533
I don't know what happens next. The entrance sure is ugly now although the pub looks generally better for the lick of paint.
Although the work is completed on the Dulwich Wood House it would appear that their planning application was refused (now in appeal state)
http://planningonline.southwarksites.co ... ey=9529533
I don't know what happens next. The entrance sure is ugly now although the pub looks generally better for the lick of paint.
I think the new entrance looks great and makes more sense where it is. Are you saying they need retrospective planning permission? If so I really hope they get it.
I have eaten there a few times now and its been pretty good. I had the aubergine linguine a couple of days ago and it was fantastic.
My only criticism is that its a bit confused about whether its a proper restaurant or not. I think if you're eating in the restaurant part rather than the bar area then they should bring you a basket of bread before your meal, and some of the meals should have potatoes/chips and veg included so that there are more options for when you just want a quick meal without the fuss and expense of loads of side dishes (which are all too much for one person anyway).
Apart from that, great – very friendly service too.
I have eaten there a few times now and its been pretty good. I had the aubergine linguine a couple of days ago and it was fantastic.
My only criticism is that its a bit confused about whether its a proper restaurant or not. I think if you're eating in the restaurant part rather than the bar area then they should bring you a basket of bread before your meal, and some of the meals should have potatoes/chips and veg included so that there are more options for when you just want a quick meal without the fuss and expense of loads of side dishes (which are all too much for one person anyway).
Apart from that, great – very friendly service too.
Did you say Aubergine linguini , remind me to stay away. What is wrong with good old British Fare. Steak and Kidney , Liver and Bacon etc followed by a nice crumble or spotted dick.
Cannot believe they were stupid enough to put in all the changes without planning permission. I do hope the council stand firm out of principal.
Cannot believe they were stupid enough to put in all the changes without planning permission. I do hope the council stand firm out of principal.
I went there with my wife and parents.
It's beautiful inside, really well done. I hope the council see sense and grant them planning permission. After an afternoon walking around the woods after Christmas it was a welcome stop.
Unfortunately they seem to have a few problems.
1. The waitress palmed some change.
2. The food is poor. Fish and chops were just under a tenner, but had a tiny amount of oven chips and two bits of fish that looked great but were all batter an no fish. My sausage and mash looked great, like something out of a cookbook. Problem is the mash was lumpy. There was hardly and gravy. The sausages were dry and tasteless. Again this was pretty near to 10 quid and to be honest it was crap.
We thought we would try a dessert. I had spotted dick and custard. THe custard had no flavour and was like water. It was awful. My dad left most of his apple crumble which had soft breadlike topping and about 3 bits of apple.
It's a shame, because it looks great. But at those prices I expect the food to be special, a treat. If I hear good reviews I may try them again, but for now I feel as if I have been cheated out of my hard earned cash for nice looking but very poor, sub-standard food.
I didn't see any liguine on the menu.
MUST do better.
It's beautiful inside, really well done. I hope the council see sense and grant them planning permission. After an afternoon walking around the woods after Christmas it was a welcome stop.
Unfortunately they seem to have a few problems.
1. The waitress palmed some change.
2. The food is poor. Fish and chops were just under a tenner, but had a tiny amount of oven chips and two bits of fish that looked great but were all batter an no fish. My sausage and mash looked great, like something out of a cookbook. Problem is the mash was lumpy. There was hardly and gravy. The sausages were dry and tasteless. Again this was pretty near to 10 quid and to be honest it was crap.
We thought we would try a dessert. I had spotted dick and custard. THe custard had no flavour and was like water. It was awful. My dad left most of his apple crumble which had soft breadlike topping and about 3 bits of apple.
It's a shame, because it looks great. But at those prices I expect the food to be special, a treat. If I hear good reviews I may try them again, but for now I feel as if I have been cheated out of my hard earned cash for nice looking but very poor, sub-standard food.
I didn't see any liguine on the menu.
MUST do better.