A Tour of Deptford's Pubs and Other Drinking Establishments

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.

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.

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.

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.

Deptford Pub Walkabout

You may remember many moons ago that I wrote a piece on a pub crawl from Charlton to Greenwich

(Link here wrongsideofthethames.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/charlton-to-greenwich-pub-crawl.html).

Since then I’ve done a few more of these and it was fellow Charlton blogger Hungry Ted who suggested that I should put pen to paper to share these with you.

The introduction of the pedestrian bridge over Deptford Creek means that there is now a pleasant walk west from the Greenwich foot tunnel along the Thames rather than walking along Creek Road.  The river side is all built up with modern high rise flats but the view down the Thames is still spectacular and you can take in the statue of Peter the Great (Glaisher Street) a one time resident of Deptford, on the way. 

As you follow the path away from the Thames around a huge tract of land that was once Convoys Wharf you come to the Dog & Bell on Prince Street.  This is a quiet unassuming pub untouched by the need to gentrify or attract the hipster crowd, tucked away down a quiet side street away from the hustle and bustle of Deptford High Street.

The bar billiard table in the corner is a rare sight in pubs these days as was the lack of music which encourages good conversation.  On our walk we noticed the tell tale signs of number of former pubs nearby and this is the last surviving pub in the area that served the dockers from the massive but now mostly derelict Convoys Wharf.

It survives as an independent real ale pub and the walls bear witness to this with certificates for pub of the year from the local CAMRA group amongst others.  They always have four or five guest real ales there and the few times I’ve been the beers have always been new to me.  We plumped for a pint of Gravesend Shrimper, a best bitter from Loddon Brewery.

It's then a short walk down  Deptford High Street to the Job Centre (jobcentredeptford.com)and the contrast could not be more different.  This is part of the Antic pub group and as appears to be the trend with Antic pubs the place looks like it is part way through a refit but to be honest I don’t really care as long as the beer and atmosphere is up to scratch.  The music is loud and the beard count in the double figures but they do serve a good pint.  There are approximately five ales on cask and many more on tap again with a nod to London beers.  The London Fields' Hackney Hopster was pouring particularly well that night served in the hipster's vessel of choice, the toby mug.

They currently have a kitchen hijack where every weekend the latest street food merchant runs the kitchen.  On our visit it was the turn of Prairie Fire BBQ (slow cooked meat smoked the Kansas City way), and jolly good it looked but we were there for the beer.

The trip back to Greenwich took us along Creek Road and past the Duke (www.thedukedeptford.com) a more modern pub run by the Inn Public group but still retaining that local bar feeling.  It has two cask ales which change frequently.  The offerings on the night were Sothwark Brewings LPA and Truman’s Zypher, both well kept and well served.  The Duke has music most nights but is spacious enough that you can still avoid the music and have a good conversation if you want a quieter evening.

Creek Road takes you back into Greenwich where the Lord Hood, a truly local pub, is often overlooked but serves a decent pint of Gypsy Hill Brewing's South Paw as its regular bitter.  There has been an ongoing development battle surrounding the Lord Hood and its not clear how long this local will last so you should visit while you have the chance.

In all, four decent pubs all offering something different and a reasonable three mile walk (including the trip through the foot tunnel back to the Isle of Dogs) which will burn of roughly a pint and a half of those beer filled calories.

Don't forget that SE London CAMRA hold the second Kidbrooke Beer Festival at the end of April.  More news on this event at the following link  wrongsideofthethames.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/a-few-local-beer-festivals.html