The Brockley Jack, Brockley Road

The Brockley Jack is the southern gateway to Brockley. Built in 1898, it's a huge, handsome monolith, comprising a pub and a theatre.

By common consent, the pub had fallen on hard times in recent years, losing a lot of its character and clientele and becoming estranged from its theatrical neighbour, with theatre-going footfall failing to translate in to drinking customers.

A few weeks ago, the Jack closed its doors for a quick facelift and the effect is a success. It appears to have nicked a few style tips from Jam Circus - marrying natural wood and bold, patterned wallpaper. The result is saloon pub meets Edwardian drawing room, which is a good thing.

On Saturday, when we snooped around, there seemed to be a good mix of people, from regulars who looked like they had never left their high perches in the middle of the bar, to a large, jolly, indeterminate group enjoying a late lunch.

We've not yet tried the food or experienced a weekend in full swing, but the initial impression is that the new-look Brockley Jack is a 'classless' pub, with a fair amount of class.