Camberwell news and chitter-chatter

[editor]

Yes. If you're fundamentally opposed to the idea of somewhere like Camberwell having a swanky place selling £8+ cocktails, you won't enjoy it, but I personally think it's got a lot going for it. There are some questionable elements, like the theme and the related decor (although the muralled toilets are pretty incredible), and they have a rather cringe-inducing cocktail 'inspired by John Healey's tales of alcoholism' which is served in a can of special brew...
But on the plus side, the cocktails are of a very high quality, the music is always very good, it's table service so no waiting at the bar, and it's theoretically open late (depending on how busy it is). Somewhere to go for a treat every so often, and nice to have the option to do so, I think.

I've often plugged it on Lambeth Weekender, and always wondered what it was like. Thanks for the update!

In fact, do you mind if I add your review to the Buzz guide?

 

[mango5]

Has anyone been to the Communion Bar with its curious ecclesiastical theme?

Over described weird cocktails (Grass Arena: Inspired by John Healy's tale of homeless alcoholism and chess - Carlsberg Special Brew, chilly infused Deward's Whisky, home made cranberry syrup & Buckfast tonic wine) and so dark you can't read the menu. The recorded music was blasting to an almost empty room. We left in a grump without ordering anything.

The programme of live music and spoken word events looks good though, probably need a reason to go there.

 

[editor]

Over described weird cocktails (Grass Arena: Inspired by John Healy's tale of homeless alcoholism and chess - Carlsberg Special Brew, chilly infused Deward's Whisky, home made cranberry syrup & Buckfast tonic wine) and so dark you can't read the menu. The recorded music was blasting to an almost empty room. We left in a grump without ordering anything.

The programme of live music and spoken word events looks good though, probably need a reason to go there.

I'd like to add a bit of that to the review too, if I may!

 

[Get Involved]

I've often plugged it on Lambeth Weekender, and always wondered what it was like. Thanks for the update!

In fact, do you mind if I add your review to the Buzz guide?

Sure

 

[mango5]

I'd like to add a bit of that to the review too, if I may!

I'm not recommending it. It was cold, dark, uncomfortable and undrinkable. But I would try again if someone else wanted to go for the live stuff.
Also that bar is not technically in Lambeth, just as Camberwell is not in Brixton.

 

[Get Involved]

I'm not recommending it. It was cold, dark, uncomfortable and undrinkable. But I would try again if someone else wanted to go for the live stuff.
Also that bar is not technically in Lambeth, just as Camberwell is not in Brixton.

I'd suggest you give it another go, unless, as I say, you're the sort of person who doesn't enjoy cocktail bars full stop. I'd definitely suggest actually trying a drink there before calling it undrinkable. The rest is subjective I guess, but I personally think the atmosphere is nice - although it does always seem a little empty, so I wonder how well they're actually doing. Another thing to note is that you can order tapas from Angles and Gypsies above to eat in the bar.

 

[mango5]

I'm a big cocktail fan but found the descriptions off-putting. I want to support the place (regular lunchtime visitor to A&G and often pop round to get takeaway pastries for breakfast) but think it's gone off the boil lately in the restaurant. For example, the chilli sauce is now served in miniscule portions.
As I say, I'm holding off til anyone else I know actively wants to go to the bar. Wanna organise an Urban visit?

 

[editor]

I'm not recommending it. It was cold, dark, uncomfortable and undrinkable. But I would try again if someone else wanted to go for the live stuff.
Also that bar is not technically in Lambeth, just as Camberwell is not in Brixton.

Lambeth Weekender also covers Southwark, and Brixton Buzz has always covered bars outside of Brixton

 

[mango5]

Oh, I just never see it round here

 

[buscador]

I hear that the British Queen (corner of Picton St and Brisbane St) has been sold to developers. Not, frankly, a great loss to the pub world, but will be much missed by all the locals who use it.

 

[editor]

I hear that the British Queen (corner of Picton St and Brisbane St) has been sold to developers. Not, frankly, a great loss to the pub world, but will be much missed by all the locals who use it.

Got any more info on that?
Lovely looking pub.

 

[Freddie8]

No, it was rarely busy, and it was so quiet during the day that it had stopped opening before 5pm or so quite some time back. I'm not really sure how it can have been 'exactly what the area needed' when most in the area could not have afforded to go there more than very occasionally. Unless what you mean is that the area needed its mostly poor residents to leave and be replaced by people who can afford £10 for a weekday lunch.

How do you know how much the local residents can afford?

Well said Maggot.
George & Bill, I happen to know a lot of people living in that area, and most of them are happy to spend £10 (and frequently much more) on lunch. Furthermore if you're unable to do so yourself, quite frankly, you've failed.

 

[mango5]

Furthermore if you're unable to do so yourself, quite frankly, you've failed.

Wow, what a stupid remark. Quite frankly, that judgement is a sign of a truly dickish attitude. Personally I hope that a £10 lunch remains a rarity in Camberwell and that £5-6 remains the norm even in the trendier places.

 

[Crispy]

Well said Maggot.
George & Bill, I happen to know a lot of people living in that area, and most of them are happy to spend £10 (and frequently much more) on lunch. Furthermore if you're unable to do so yourself, quite frankly, you've failed.

Wow.

 

[Greebo]

<snip> most of them are happy to spend £10 <snip> if you're unable to do so yourself, quite frankly, you've failed.

To do what? To be the type of person who values others by the size of their bank account? I feel sorry for your parents as I'm sure this was not how they raised you to behave.

 

[George & Bill]

Well said Maggot.
George & Bill, I happen to know a lot of people living in that area, and most of them are happy to spend £10 (and frequently much more) on lunch. Furthermore if you're unable to do so yourself, quite frankly, you've failed.

Lol! Of course, in a diverse area such as that, I'm sure it will be possible to find people whose lunch budgets range from 30p to £30. I'm also reasonably confident that a typical budget would be well under a tenner. I'm afraid I have to point out that it seems to be CCC which failed - the high-budget lunchers of Southamton Row environs evidently didn't think enough of it. I certainly never felt like I'd failed when I went into one of the huge range of other places in Camberwell where I could get lunch for a fiver or so (or, indeed, when I at a lunch that I'd cooked at home for a few pence).

(Love how Maggot will 'like' a post that supports him, even when it does so via patent absurdity)

 

[Maggot]

(Love how Maggot will 'like' a post that supports him, even when it does so via patent absurdity)

I love how you 'like' that post too!

 

[George & Bill]

I love how you 'like' that post too!

'Liking' a post that is negative towards you is ironic/passive-aggressive. 'Liking' a post which is supportive of something you've said, but also clearly the work of a moron ('if you can't afford to spend £10 on lunch, you've failed'), is just rather pathetic.

 

[Freddie8]

'Liking' a post that is negative towards you is ironic/passive-aggressive. 'Liking' a post which is supportive of something you've said, but also clearly the work of a moron ('if you can't afford to spend £10 on lunch, you've failed'), is just rather pathetic.

So you actually want to come across as "passive-aggressive", yet accuse me of being a moron, and others of being pathetic. Well done George & Bill.

 

[mango5]

Hi guys, new here, please be gentle

You've settled in quickly.

 

[George & Bill]

So you actually want to come across as "passive-aggressive", yet accuse me of being a moron, and others of being pathetic. Well done George & Bill.

For me, being passive-aggressive towards someone who has already demonstrated themselves to be an idiot is not really a massive problem.

 

[Maggot]

'Liking' a post that is negative towards you is ironic/passive-aggressive. 'Liking' a post which is supportive of something you've said, but also clearly the work of a moron ('if you can't afford to spend £10 on lunch, you've failed'), is just rather pathetic.

Well obviously I liked the bit supporting me, and I 'liked' the last sentence ironically.

 

[George & Bill]

Well obviously I liked the bit supporting me, and I 'liked' the last sentence ironically.

So you just love being liked even if you know the person liking you is a dick...

 

[editor]

I'd like it best of all if people stopped bickering now.

 

[mango5]

Just peered through the whitewash of former woolworths/peacocks to see the back of the building has been removed. Major restructuring going on. Anyone know what for? It's been closed for aaaages.

 

[Freddie8]

So you just love being liked even if you know the person liking you is a dick...

Articulate as ever George & Bill. Loser.

 

[George & Bill]

Articulate as ever George & Bill. Loser.

If you think my (judiciously deployed) crude language makes me inarticulate, then I guess you're not just hopelessly out-of-touch, but also objectively a moron

 

[mango5]

Has Safa finally bitten the dust? Ten years ago, from the perspective of living in Walworth, it seemed to be one of the best things in Camberwell (along with Tadim).

 

[colacubes]

Has Safa finally bitten the dust? Ten years ago, from the perspective of living in Walworth, it seemed to be one of the best things in Camberwell (along with Tadim).

Shame if it has. Was 1st meal we ever had in our current flat as the previous residents had left a takeaway menu behind It was excellent back then ten years ago, but was a bit shoddy last time I had it.

 

[mango5]

Yes. It's definitely gone off the boil lately and seems to be more often closed than open in the evening. Might just be summer holidays though.