I’m afraid the football at the Valley has not been much to
write about this season and I fear that it won’t get any better with the
current owner and CEO in place so I will be joining the protests for the last
game of the season this Sunday.
It’s become a tradition of mine to go on a pub crawl with a
few friends after the final game and this year will be no exception. I’ve chosen Deptford this year as its not far
from Charlton and has added or refurbished a number of establishments over
the last two years.
You can catch a 177 from just outside the Valley or a 53
from near the White Swan pub in Charlton Village, or use the railway. Either way it’s only a 20-30 minute journey.
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| Brookmill ale selection |
A five minute walk south of Deptford Bridge DLR station you’ll
find the the Brookmill on Cranbrook Road.
It was refurbished and opened as a Gastro pub in August 2016. They have a nice selection of 3-4 usually London
ales, from Wimbledon, Bellevue, Twickenham and Brockley to name a few. It has a high walled garden which is a perfect
sun trap in the afternoon.
Returning to the DLR a short walk west just past Deptford
High Street brings you to the Royal Albert.
One of the better Antic pubs it has three to four real ales, plus the
usual craft ales and a decent menu which is a cut above the standard pub fare.
The Royal Standard on Tanner’s Hill is worth a mention but I
have yet to venture there.
Going up Deptford High Street towards the Thames you’ll find
another Antic pub, the Job Centre. It’s
been rather quiet the last few times I visited, probably overshadowed by its
lack of
There has been a proliferation of new venues where the railway
line crosses the High Street. On the
right hand side down Resolution Way there is a trendy bar called Buster
Mantis. I haven’t tried this yet as a
little further along is Deptford’s first Brewery, Villages Brewery. The tap room is open on Friday evenings and Saturday
from noon. I recommend it for a choice
of beers different from the usual brewery line ups. I particularly like the Pontoon, a south
pacific red ale which combines citrus flavours with a biscuity caramel malt finish.
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| Little Nans Bar cocktail list |
On the other side, right next to Deptford railway station is
a collection of bars and street food outlets that are all worth a visit. The area is pedestrianised so you can sit outside and there is a a good vibe to it.
First there is Little Nan’s bar an eclectic mix of cocktails served in
tea pots, fresh cake and snacks . Next
door is
Archies that does delicious grilled cheese sandwiches with house made pickles and craft ale to wash it down. However, my favourite is Frankie goes to Bollywood, an alternative twist on Indian food. Dining at each is informal with good service, quality ingredients and won’t cost the earth.
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| Tandoori Fried Chicken and Bhangras & Mash at Frankie Goes to Bollywood |
Towards the top of the high street is Wine Makers wine bar
and restaurant. It’s a small
establishment offering wines, homemade charcuterie and a compact but thoughtful
and changing menu. Being fairly new is
quite packed of an evening but from the reviews it’s a welcome addition to the
Deptford scene.
For a more traditional pub I would recommend the Dog &
Bell tucked away on Prince Street, a stone’s throw from the Thames and five
minutes north of Deptford High Street. I
would choose this as my local. They always has a great selection of well looked
after and constantly changing real ale at good prices (£3.20-£3.40). The new Landlord has kept up the ale but
spruced up the pub and it has a nice friendly local atmosphere. Don’t forget to try a pork pie with your
pint.
A little further afield towards Surrey Quays is the Black
Horse on Everlyn Street, opposite the old fire station. Again a change of ownership has seen this pub
transformed with plenty of craft beers and an amazing collection of spirits served by friendly staff. The freshly made sour dough pizzas are a must
try.
Either way there is something for everyone in Deptford.
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