editor
hiraethified
No. I haven't really got time to chase up pubs to help them with their own promotion if they can't be arsed to do anything themselves!
Another Camberwell pub in trouble - Hoopers real ale pub in Camberwell
- Thread starter Guineveretoo
- Start date
Guineveretoo
Mostly bewildered
It's a real shame Hooper's isn't succeeding too well. I only discovered it in 2008, shortly before I left London, and that was through real ale connections (plus also people mentioning it on here). Location far from ideal, although we enjoyed the walk between there and the Hermit's. The Hoopers beer choice used to be cracking, festivaldeb and I both rated it highly.
Does it not do food any more? It certainly used to.
Does it not do food any more? It certainly used to.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
Last day of trading to be Christmas Eve apparently.
editor
hiraethified
That is a shame.
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
I've witnessed the rare phenomenon of a pub reopening on Camberwell New Road. The Clarendon Arms - formerly a slightly dodgy-looking bar called Miliki Spot - has been reopened as a proper pub. No idea of the story behind it, but it's there. Didn't get a chance to pop in for a beer but maybe I will soon. It's on Camberwell New Road at the junction with Wyndham Road. Here's a pic:
Anyone know it?
Anyone know it?
George & Bill
semiotically superfluous
It is of course good news that anyone would think of opening a new pub business at the moment - but what makes the Miliki Spot a 'dodgy-looking bar' but the Clarendon a 'proper pub'?
Maggot
The Cake of Liberty
The name.
And the fact that it doesn't have plasticised letters on the windows, in a style, shape and typeface reminiscent of a Soho Sex Store to boot.
To be fair, I'm sure it was a perfectly adequate (African themed?) bar, but there's something that doesn't ring true as a pub visually from outside.
To be fair, I'm sure it was a perfectly adequate (African themed?) bar, but there's something that doesn't ring true as a pub visually from outside.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
From google it seems it was a Nigerian Pub as Miliki Spot, and was the Clarendon Arms before that.
George & Bill
semiotically superfluous
Wow. So it has the all-day opening of a pub, sells beer like a pub, has a pool table, and is in a pub building - but because it had been re-named to appeal to West Africans, it's not a pub? That's quite a suggestion, Maggot.
George & Bill
semiotically superfluous
It wasn't an 'African themed' bar, it was a pub run and largely (though by no means exclusively) used by West Africans. Having some garish signage does not stop a place from being a pub
No, but it stops folks easily recognising it as a pub that would appeal to them. There are certain visual expectations and associations that you play with your peril - it takes a bold brand to try and circumvent those conventions, and the successful exceptions generally don't rely on hastily tacked on lettering and a confused approach.
Not saying it was a bad place - I've never drunk in there - but I can see why punters were seeing it from the outside and not being drawn in.
Not saying it was a bad place - I've never drunk in there - but I can see why punters were seeing it from the outside and not being drawn in.
George & Bill
semiotically superfluous
Well that's a totally different discussion from that of whether or not it's a pub.
TBH I wonder whether you'd have questioned its status as a pub if it had exactly the same signage (and for the record I think the Clarendon is actually less appealingly and thoughtfully designed), but was called 'The Old Red Lion' or similar. At least Maggot just came out and said it.
Guineveretoo
Mostly bewildered
I can also see why people were not drawn in or, at least, those looking for a traditional pub.
I tried to go there one time, because I liked the name, and thought it might be a bit quirky. It seemed to have odd opening hours, though, and was closed, despite it being a Sunday afternoon, which I thought was a bit odd. We looked through the windows, to see what sort of place it was, and we decided it probably wasn't ever designed for a place to go on a Sunday afternoon, to chill out. It also didn't seem to do any food of interest to a vegetarian, iirc.
Anyway, we never did go again, despite going past it loads of times, and I guess it is too late now. I will certainly give it a go under its new name, if I am passing and in the mood.
It looks like it also too late for Hoopers Bar, as well! I wonder what will happen to it now....
golightly
economically inactive
George & Bill
semiotically superfluous
No I agree, I wouldn't have gone to the Miliki for a relaxing Sunday afternoon either - but I'd be surprised if the Clarendon, which to me also looks like a decidedly basic setup, has much by way of comfort or decent food (let alone veggie options), either.
Guineveretoo
Mostly bewildered
Yeah, me too!Yeah, I liked the name too. It always reminded me of the Clockwork Orange.
Guineveretoo
Mostly bewildered
Well, Hoopers didn't even make it to Christmas Eve, apparently - it is now shut, with nothing seemingly known about what will happen to it. Hopefully, it will be taken over by someone with a bit more nous, and stay as a pub, but it seems unlikely....
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