editor
hiraethified
... according to a fairly small set of voters on The Londonist:
What do we think Crystal Palace people? What's your top pubs?
The best pubs in Crystal Palace
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tommers
It was... Rebekah Vardy's account
Palace used to have a range of pubs but now a lot of them (the Alma, the Sparrowhawk, Westow House) are very similar. I remember when the White Hart was the posh one. Not any more.
Depends what you want I suppose. The spoons is a spoons, so cheap beer. I liked beer rebellion but I've only been in it once. Used to spend a lot of time in the GHT before the kids came along and likewise the Railway Bell. All decent pubs.
My favourite used to be the Alma though. Lock ins and you'd always end up chatting to somebody you'd never met before. That was about 3 incarnations ago now though I think.
The Grape & Grain is good cos of the beer. The pub itself is a bit of a warehouse and, when it was the sportsman, it was the only pub I have ever walked straight out of without getting a drink.
These days we seem to end up in the White Hart. Decent beer and burger offer on a Wednesday for 9 quid or something.
Depends what you want I suppose. The spoons is a spoons, so cheap beer. I liked beer rebellion but I've only been in it once. Used to spend a lot of time in the GHT before the kids came along and likewise the Railway Bell. All decent pubs.
My favourite used to be the Alma though. Lock ins and you'd always end up chatting to somebody you'd never met before. That was about 3 incarnations ago now though I think.
The Grape & Grain is good cos of the beer. The pub itself is a bit of a warehouse and, when it was the sportsman, it was the only pub I have ever walked straight out of without getting a drink.
These days we seem to end up in the White Hart. Decent beer and burger offer on a Wednesday for 9 quid or something.
DietCokeGirl
Fishing in the rivers of life
The Weatherspoons. Always, anywhere, the Weatherspoons.
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
None of them are amazing. Mostly quite wanky these days. The Hart is ok, same chain as the Commercial in Herne Hill, and the Grape has its heart in the right place. If only it wasn't so brightly lit!
The Grape is about to be taken over by Wetherspoons and there's a campaign for them to keep it exactly as it is.
I'm quite liking the Crow's Nest atm but that's a bar really.
The Grape is about to be taken over by Wetherspoons and there's a campaign for them to keep it exactly as it is.
I'm quite liking the Crow's Nest atm but that's a bar really.
Nanker Phelge
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
I've always liked the Royal Albert. Haven't been for a couple of years though.
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
Likewise, but there's a reason neither of us have been for a few years, which is that no one really goes there any more. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Nanker Phelge
Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
Last time we went to the Albert there was a guy at the bar talking loudly about fisting somebody.
That could easily have been me to be fair...
RubyToogood
RubyTwobikes
Why is this thread in the Brixton forum?
The Sparrowhawk is the festering pile of wank that served me a plate of unadorned vegetables when I ordered the veggie roast, by the way. This and the Alma are the type of pubs Brixton has to look forward to, I suspect.
Here is the petition for the Grape: https://www.change.org/p/wetherspoo...e_location=petition_footer&algorithm=promoted
The Sparrowhawk is the festering pile of wank that served me a plate of unadorned vegetables when I ordered the veggie roast, by the way. This and the Alma are the type of pubs Brixton has to look forward to, I suspect.
Here is the petition for the Grape: https://www.change.org/p/wetherspoo...e_location=petition_footer&algorithm=promoted
deadringer
meat pie sausage roll
Last time we went to the Albert there was a guy at the bar talking loudly about fisting somebody.
If you can't talk loudly about fisting somebody down the pub where can you?!!
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
Could a citizen of Gashland. keithy one of your devoted minions perhaps? or possible convert...Last time we went to the Albert there was a guy at the bar talking loudly about fisting somebody.
kayleighokeefe.co.uk/gash-land-2015/
aussw9
Well-Known Member
A faux gastro pub, ikea make over and selection of bland keg beer?
discobastard
Well-Known Member
I don't mind the Alma as they have some decent beer and a nice sofa. But I agree the Sparrowhawk is a soulless sterile fishtank of a place.
And every time I go into Westow House I see a fight.
tommers
It was... Rebekah Vardy's account
Yeah, sorry about that.
Pink Panther
Well-Known Member
I've lived round here most of my life. The area has eveolved from being a bit run down ten or more years ago, to being nicely vibrant around five years ago, to becoming a bit too gentrified right now. The pubs have more or less evolved accordingly.
Until 2009 the Grape & Grain (under various previous names) was terrible - you'd frequently see Police Incident tape outside and Plod swarming all over the place if walking home from the station on a Friday or Saturday night at 11.30 or so. It was taken over by a couple who turned it into a real ale mecca before selling it a couple of years ago, since when it's gone downhill again. I was still a regular until March, when they unfairly dismissed one of the barmaids in disgraceful circumstances (can't be bothered to go into further detail) so I haven't been in since. New owner is an accountant who is only interested in squeezing as much profit as possible out of the place (owns a yacht and pays staff minimum wage apparently) and employs a buffoon as a manager. Frankly I can't say I'm sorry Wetherspoon's outbid him for the freehold, which expires in December 2016.
I mostly use Westow House now, although avoid in late evening sessions, particularly at weekends. Best range of real ale (8 handpumps including many from microbreweries and Dark Star Hophead as a regular, and there's a 50p a pint discount for CAMRA members which is not advertised, but you will get it if you show your card.
The Postal Order (Wetherspoon's) has upped it game on the real ale front recently, serving well kept beer at around £2.50 a pint.
Railway Bell is a back street local, and one of the few Young's tied houses to retain the traditional Young's feel without going all poncy, but I'm not a great fan of Young's beer.
Beer Rebellion is directly opposite GipsyHill station, serves up to eight real ales @£3.50 a pint. It tied to the Late Knights microbrewery based at Penge, serving their beers as well as those from other breweries.
The Royal Albert is an old fashioned boozer, although I haven't been in for a while now. Never been in the Gipsy Hill tavern, but I understand it doesn't sell real ale. The rest are all a bit 'gastro-creche' for me, as well as being rather pricy.
Until 2009 the Grape & Grain (under various previous names) was terrible - you'd frequently see Police Incident tape outside and Plod swarming all over the place if walking home from the station on a Friday or Saturday night at 11.30 or so. It was taken over by a couple who turned it into a real ale mecca before selling it a couple of years ago, since when it's gone downhill again. I was still a regular until March, when they unfairly dismissed one of the barmaids in disgraceful circumstances (can't be bothered to go into further detail) so I haven't been in since. New owner is an accountant who is only interested in squeezing as much profit as possible out of the place (owns a yacht and pays staff minimum wage apparently) and employs a buffoon as a manager. Frankly I can't say I'm sorry Wetherspoon's outbid him for the freehold, which expires in December 2016.
I mostly use Westow House now, although avoid in late evening sessions, particularly at weekends. Best range of real ale (8 handpumps including many from microbreweries and Dark Star Hophead as a regular, and there's a 50p a pint discount for CAMRA members which is not advertised, but you will get it if you show your card.
The Postal Order (Wetherspoon's) has upped it game on the real ale front recently, serving well kept beer at around £2.50 a pint.
Railway Bell is a back street local, and one of the few Young's tied houses to retain the traditional Young's feel without going all poncy, but I'm not a great fan of Young's beer.
Beer Rebellion is directly opposite GipsyHill station, serves up to eight real ales @£3.50 a pint. It tied to the Late Knights microbrewery based at Penge, serving their beers as well as those from other breweries.
The Royal Albert is an old fashioned boozer, although I haven't been in for a while now. Never been in the Gipsy Hill tavern, but I understand it doesn't sell real ale. The rest are all a bit 'gastro-creche' for me, as well as being rather pricy.
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Thimble Queen
Called away to another place
ska invita
back on the other side
Went to the Crows Nest last night... Really liked it...
I'd liked to know more about it.. How long has it been in this incarnation? Do they have dj nights on there? Has anyone had any good/bad experiences?
It seemed like it was leaking a fair amount of sound... I'm wondering if they've had issues with the sound police
I'd liked to know more about it.. How long has it been in this incarnation? Do they have dj nights on there? Has anyone had any good/bad experiences?
It seemed like it was leaking a fair amount of sound... I'm wondering if they've had issues with the sound police
oryx
Sitting on the bok of the day
Haven't noticed this thread, but like the term 'gastro-creche' - must remember to use that one!
We had an Urban night out in CP recently - Westow House is very noise and crowded, but friendly enough, the Grape and Grain is also noisy, the White Hart is good - hadn't been in there since its O'Neill's days!
ska invita
back on the other side
yeah i liked that gastro creche tooOn Sunday we checked out the Railway Bell too, which is really tucked away, really nice pub physically, super friendly bar woman who managed to call you darling twice in every sentence (a good thing), and three older guys sat at the bar who were friendly too and wanted to get into conversations.
I don't normally like stepping into the privacy of someones back street pub but this one felt different somehow. A fair few screens up so i expect they show sports.
nice wrought iron work around the bar
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Guineveretoo
Mostly bewildered
They used to do comedy nights in that room, and they were brilliant. I saw some excellent comics who then went on to make names for themselves.
The pub had a pop-up kitchen in there for a while, but I believe they have now left. Do they do food?
colacubes
Mr Hot Cookie
On Sunday we checked out the Railway Bell too, which is really tucked away, really nice pub physically, super friendly bar woman who managed to call you darling twice in every sentence (a good thing), and three older guys sat at the bar who were friendly too and wanted to get into conversations.
I don't normally like stepping into the privacy of someones back street pub but this one felt different somehow. A fair few screens up so i expect they show sports.
nice wrought iron work around the bar
It is indeed a lovely pub. Been in a couple of times recently following a recommendation from TruXta I think. They do indeed show sports. They had the footie and darts on last time I was there.
stdP
One Swiss dinosaur in Polly Gosling's anorak hood
Also missed this thread but now feeling obliged to contribute.
Gipsy Hill's my local station and Beer Rebellion wins hand (and trousers) down for the choice, price and taste of the beer and the staff are really lovely - they've all tasted the stuff they sell, are pretty good judges of palette and are more than happy to give you a sample. Staff, general ambience and some of the clientèle look a bit hipsterish but in my experience it doesn't detract from a lovely little boozer, very little in the way of snobbery. They'll also do you a milk carton of their cask/keg beers to take away if you like and they've got a really nice selection of bottles for on-and-off premises as well. However it's something of a victim of its own success - it's quite small upstairs and typically rammed full any time after 1700... which is a shame as it's quite nice to pop in for a swift 'alf on the way home from work. Downstairs is nicely spacious but is, unfortunately, rather dank and dingy and at during weather like this frequently smells rather damp. I'v e not been in the vicinity of it's bigger brother yet but Deserter recommends it also.
In terms of the triangle... well only been living here about six months (with frequent visits before that) but we've settled on the White Hart as our favourite pub. Nice proper pub decor and mostly unpretentious pub grub, served well. Good enough selection of beers that they know how to keep, nice and knowledgeable staff (think it's the one place I've been to where they didn't try and put ice in my laphroaig). Frequently busy. Excellent pub quiz on mondays along with 10% off their seasonal ales. I'm not a sports guy so I'm happy that half the pub doesn't have a view of the telly which shows sports.
Sparrowhawk's got nowhere near enough of a decent selection of beers or whisky's, busier and pricier. Westow House and the Alma both a bit to gastropubby for my liking but OK in their way, similar to what they did to the Paxton down the hill. Royal Albert a bit soulless with not much in the way of choice inside. Not tried the Grape and Grain yet as whenever we've been passing it, much like the Westow House, it's always been rammed and noisy.
Railway Bell we've not even managed to stumble across so thanks for pointing it out, we shall no doubt visit it shortly...
Gipsy Hill's my local station and Beer Rebellion wins hand (and trousers) down for the choice, price and taste of the beer and the staff are really lovely - they've all tasted the stuff they sell, are pretty good judges of palette and are more than happy to give you a sample. Staff, general ambience and some of the clientèle look a bit hipsterish but in my experience it doesn't detract from a lovely little boozer, very little in the way of snobbery. They'll also do you a milk carton of their cask/keg beers to take away if you like and they've got a really nice selection of bottles for on-and-off premises as well. However it's something of a victim of its own success - it's quite small upstairs and typically rammed full any time after 1700... which is a shame as it's quite nice to pop in for a swift 'alf on the way home from work. Downstairs is nicely spacious but is, unfortunately, rather dank and dingy and at during weather like this frequently smells rather damp. I'v e not been in the vicinity of it's bigger brother yet but Deserter recommends it also.
In terms of the triangle... well only been living here about six months (with frequent visits before that) but we've settled on the White Hart as our favourite pub. Nice proper pub decor and mostly unpretentious pub grub, served well. Good enough selection of beers that they know how to keep, nice and knowledgeable staff (think it's the one place I've been to where they didn't try and put ice in my laphroaig). Frequently busy. Excellent pub quiz on mondays along with 10% off their seasonal ales. I'm not a sports guy so I'm happy that half the pub doesn't have a view of the telly which shows sports.
Sparrowhawk's got nowhere near enough of a decent selection of beers or whisky's, busier and pricier. Westow House and the Alma both a bit to gastropubby for my liking but OK in their way, similar to what they did to the Paxton down the hill. Royal Albert a bit soulless with not much in the way of choice inside. Not tried the Grape and Grain yet as whenever we've been passing it, much like the Westow House, it's always been rammed and noisy.
Railway Bell we've not even managed to stumble across so thanks for pointing it out, we shall no doubt visit it shortly...
flypanam
Sausage to fortune
There was food there when I lost popped my head in but that was in October.
