Pubs

Friendly chat, questions, reviews, find old friends or relatives. Not limited to Sydenham only issues but keep it civil!
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samwallace
Posts: 2
Joined: 29 May 2013 21:19
Location: Sydenham

Pubs

Post by samwallace »

Hi,

Just moved to Sydenham, can anyone recommend some decent pubs (ones that serve real ale if possible).

Thanks.
stuart
Posts: 3680
Joined: 21 Sep 2004 10:13
Location: Lawrie Park
Contact:

Re: Pubs

Post by stuart »

Most of our pubs sell decent real ale. Most of our pubs have much else to offer. Its a case of matching your taste to the offers, where you are located and how far you are prepared to walk and, hopefully, not drive.

But if we are going to start somewhere the two central pubs are The Dolphin and The Golden Lion. They are bang opposite each other but couldn't be more different. The Dolphin is for cool people doing cool things - expensively. It has a wonderful rear garden. The Golden Lion is a classic boozer and Friday nights rock with the Blues. A fair number in each wouldn't be seen dead in the other. A few of us 'crossover' and enjoy both. Try 'em and see which you like and why and it may help us take you from there.

Or we could organise a proper STF pub crawl ...

Stuart
biscuitman1978
Posts: 1588
Joined: 16 May 2006 20:14
Location: Chislehurst; previously Sydenham

Pubs

Post by biscuitman1978 »

Stuart puts the Dolphin/Golden Lion relationship very well!

Further afield there's the Dulwich Wood House on Sydenham Hill and Bridge House Tavern in Penge, which both serve real ale.
maestro
Posts: 1157
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 16:32
Location: 2nd most struck UK bridge

Re: Pubs

Post by maestro »

The garden at the Dolphin has just been rated as being in the top five pub gardens in the South East London/North Kent area.

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/archive/20 ... st_London/
bensonby
Posts: 1656
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 12:28
Location: Kent

Re: Pubs

Post by bensonby »

When I lived in Sydenham I used to go to the Golden Lion regularly but I was also a massive fan of the Blythe Hill Tavern which is on the south circular towards Catford. Classic pub with a multi-room layout, garden and extensive real ale selection.

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stuart
Posts: 3680
Joined: 21 Sep 2004 10:13
Location: Lawrie Park
Contact:

Re: Pubs

Post by stuart »

bensonby wrote:I was also a massive fan of the Blythe Hill Tavern which is on the south circular towards Catford. Classic pub with a multi-room layout, garden and extensive real ale selection.
+1 (CAMRA Pub of the Year sometime in the recent past)
Checkmate
Posts: 254
Joined: 2 Sep 2009 09:53
Location: Syd, station end.

Re: Pubs

Post by Checkmate »

stuart wrote:we could organise a proper STF pub crawl ...
It's been FAR too long since a STF pint or three.
Eagle
Posts: 10658
Joined: 7 Oct 2004 06:36
Location: F Hill

Re: Pubs

Post by Eagle »

Always been a puzzle to me how The Blythe Hill Tavern has ever won anything let alone Camera Pub of the Year.

I am a great fan of real ale but always thought the Camera se london area of London a bit strange.

Golden Lion and Dolphin probably the best of a bad lot.

Just out of area try Grape and Grain Upper Norwood and Catford Bridge Antic Pub These both leave the BHT trailing in their wake.
JRobinson
Posts: 1104
Joined: 5 Jan 2010 12:40
Location: De Frene Rd

Re: Pubs

Post by JRobinson »

reasons I like BHT - Diddly diddly music, excellent Guinness, and very sociable, friendly bar staff.

Forresters Arms / All Inn One (opposite the southbound exit of Forest Hill Station) has some real ale, and also does Monday night poker nights.
Sylvan Posts in Forest Hill does real ale, but is a tad more expensive.
Bovine Juice
Posts: 273
Joined: 14 Oct 2007 11:35
Location: Penge

Re: Pubs

Post by Bovine Juice »

What ales does the Golden Lion do? Never been in but might be tempted if the beer is good.
JulietP
Posts: 294
Joined: 18 Apr 2011 21:14
Location: SE26

Re: Pubs

Post by JulietP »

If you're in the upper end, the Sylvan post in Forest Hill is definitely worth a visit - it's a converted post office which still retains lots of the original features.
Eagle
Posts: 10658
Joined: 7 Oct 2004 06:36
Location: F Hill

Re: Pubs

Post by Eagle »

Yes Juliet I agree.
Forest Hill at present better pubs than Sydenham.

Great shame that Sydenham pubs in general a disaster. With few exceptions.
Bovine Juice
Posts: 273
Joined: 14 Oct 2007 11:35
Location: Penge

Re: Pubs

Post by Bovine Juice »

Going back to the Catford Bridge Tavern - Camden Bars, who've taken it over, have tweeted to say they'll be opening a micro-brewery on the premises.
Eagle
Posts: 10658
Joined: 7 Oct 2004 06:36
Location: F Hill

Re: Pubs

Post by Eagle »

Oh thanks for that news BJ.

I have only been there about a dozen times but really like it.

At present Sydenham ale lovers are best going to Penge , Upper Norwood , Forest Hill or Catford.
G-Man
Posts: 611
Joined: 24 Jul 2008 09:30
Location: SE26

Re: Pubs

Post by G-Man »

The beer is awful in the Golden Lion. The Dolphin serves the best kept beer in my opinion. Funnily they are both owned by the evil enterprise inns. Do check out the Sylvan Post though. Great pub.

Many pubs are closing in Sydenham but check the town hall thread on the Greyhound. We really need more in the area and I believe it's something we need to focus on

And BovineJuice - that's super exciting!

G-man

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Bovine Juice
Posts: 273
Joined: 14 Oct 2007 11:35
Location: Penge

Re: Pubs

Post by Bovine Juice »

Apparently the Catford Bridge Tavern's last day as an Antic pub is Sunday. Not sure how long it'll be shut after that while Camden Bars take over. Hope they keep the staff as they are young, enthusiastic and superb.
shadyadie
Posts: 1
Joined: 21 Aug 2013 10:31
Location: United Kingdom

Re: Pubs

Post by shadyadie »

Bovine Juice wrote:Apparently the Catford Bridge Tavern's last day as an Antic pub is Sunday. Not sure how long it'll be shut after that while Camden Bars take over. Hope they keep the staff as they are young, enthusiastic and superb.
The reopening of the pub depends on the seller's time-frame and we have no control over this. We were meant to get the keys in 3-4 months so no idea why they're shutting on Sunday. I imagine staff will be found jobs in other Antic pubs in that time but if anyone there still wanted to work there when we take over I don't see why they shouldn't as staff have been kept on at previous pub acquisitions.

adie
(on behalf of so-called Camden Bars)
Bovine Juice
Posts: 273
Joined: 14 Oct 2007 11:35
Location: Penge

Re: Pubs

Post by Bovine Juice »

Hi Adie! - Bit surprised to see you pop up on here (you used to pop up on SoundsXP forum too)

I was in the CBT last night and the staff are all moving onto other Antic pubs. I'm sure the new pub will be as good as the old one but it's a real shame it'll be shut for a while.
Eagle
Posts: 10658
Joined: 7 Oct 2004 06:36
Location: F Hill

Re: Pubs

Post by Eagle »

Rod
Very few people ever went in it as beer usually crap , sometimes like a glorified amusement arcade and rubbish alleged music.

If only 10% of the people who keep complaining out TG being closed had frequented it , doubt if it would have closed.
leenewham
Posts: 5886
Joined: 2 Sep 2007 11:58
Location: SYDENHAM
Contact:

Re: Pubs

Post by leenewham »

It's been shut all the time I've been here. I don't care what it as like, it has no bearing on what it will be.

I wonder if Camden Pubs would be interested.
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