The Jam Circus Relaunch Weekend

What are you doing this weekend? We're having a party! Come and join us for our fabulour relaunch!🎈🍸🎈🍸🎈🍸🎈🍸🎈🍸🎈🍸🎈#brockley #croftonpark #se4 pic.twitter.com/6dG0YUYcsy

— Jam Circus (@jamcircus) October 3, 2017

The Marquis of Granby - past and present

This postcard of New Cross pub the Marquis of Granby in 1911 was unearthed by @se23LDN.

This new face for the pub was created in 2017 by Artmongers, paid for by Anthology.

The Marquis of Carabas

In July, local art collective Artmongers will complete the visual transformation of New Cross pub The Marquis of Granby, creating a mountainscape in the middle of the one-way system.

A brief history of the Brockley Jack

"The taproom and the whole architecture of the whole [Brockley Jack] are curious, and the sign nailed to the stump of an old elm in yard is painted on a mammoth’s bone which was dug up in the railway cutting behind the house."
— Walter Besant, London South of the Thames

The South London Club has published a neat history of the Brockley Jack pub and theatre. Click here to read it.

Coming soon: Suttons' Radio

Mark: There's no pocket to this zip. That's the way things are these days: 'Let's just put a zip here, a swastika there, why not? Who knows what these things were once used for. Who the hell even cares?'
- Peep Show

Pub group Antic London have renamed the Market Tavern on Lewisham High Street "Suttons' Radio" in honour of the shop, whose signage they uncovered while renovating the building.

BREAKING: We've changed our name in honor of the fab ghost sign uncovered by our builders! Photo: @alexgriem. #SuttonsRadio pic.twitter.com/FfQf5qsXtW

— Suttons' Radio (@suttonsradio) April 25, 2017

The pub is due to reopen later this month and you can sign-up for more news here.

The Catford Bridge Tavern reopens

After being ravaged by fire in 2015, the Catford Bridge Tavern has reopened. The pub is a local institution that endured a turbulent few years and many feared it would never reopen, so this is very welcome news.

We are open for business! #Catford #fancyapint #almosttheweekend pic.twitter.com/t3DHxUhegx

— Catford Bridge Tav (@CBTavern) March 30, 2017

The Royal Standard Pub Quiz

The Royal Standard on Tanner’s Hill is hosting its first ever pub quiz on Wednesday 22nd of March at 7.30 until around 9.30pm.

It’s £2 per-person for entry with all the entry fees going into the prize pot for the winners, with runners-up prizes too. There will be happy hour drinks offers during the quiz, including £3 selected pints (including Meantime Lager, Estrella and Urban Orchard cider) and 2 for 1 cocktails.

For bookings call 020 8692 6219 or email theroyalstandarddeptford@gmail.com

Half-price January at The Brookmill

St John's pub The Brookmill has a half-price offer during January. They say:

We are currently offering 50% off all food (exc the bar snacks) on Mon-Wed throughout January.

This is open to all members of our loyalty scheme, which is easy to join online at thebrookmill.co.uk or by signing up while you are eating.

This is for meals eaten both drink the day or at night and there is no limit on the group size so it’s a great opportunity to sample as much or as little of the menu as you fancy.

Honor Oak sold to Laine's

Pub group and owners of The Ladywell Tavern and The Old Nun's Head, Laine's has bought the lease for the Honor Oak pub from the current owners the Camden Dining Group. I don't know what that really means, but a proper journalist who knows about beer reckons it's good news.

fao @BrockleyCentral. This is an upgrade, I'd say https://t.co/DJTVZxaTtV

— Will Hawkes (@Will_Hawkes) December 8, 2016

Christmas reopening for The Ladywell Tavern

Work in progress on the refurbishment

The Ladywell Tavern, will be reopening on December 7th. Since closing it in August, the new owners have stripped the place back and given it a full refurbishment, charted here.

It may look like there is still a fair amount to do, but so confident are they of hitting their target that they're already taking Christmas Party bookings from December 12th.

Following the sad closure of The Ravensbourne Arms, this is a welcome bit of good news.

The Ravensbourne Arms is closing

I had been giving Antic time to confirm or deny claims that Ladywell pub The Ravensbourne Arms was closing, but now a proper journalist has tweeted about it, I feel it's time to share the sad (but still unconfirmed) news.

Just been told Ravensbourne Arms in Lewisham is closing because owner Antic has sold it pic.twitter.com/xB66Dayq0e

— Lynsey Demon Barber (@lynseybarber) October 27, 2016

The Ravensbourne is big and slightly out-of-the-way, but despite this, was regularly full, thanks to a bar team that was full of ideas and invention. Hopefully, the closure won't be permanent. It should certainly not be allowed to be redeveloped.

Antic do a great job of opening pubs, but being part of its stable must feel precarious, given how much chopping and changing the group does.

The White Hart, 184 New Cross Road

Photo via their official Twitter

The new-look White Hart is open. Externally, the pub is little changed, but internally, it's undergone extensive renovation thanks to its new owners. It launched over the weekend, but the kitchen is not yet ready. Big and classically-styled, it looks like another strong addition to New Cross' bar scene.

Please post your reviews here.

New New Cross House

I must say.. We are very proud! Come check it out! #Refurb #BrandNew #TheNewCrossHouse pic.twitter.com/4xrfMZq3kU

— The New Cross House (@NewCrossHouse) September 18, 2016

What once was green is now blue. The New Cross House is back - what do you think of the new look?

Double pub opening in New Cross this weekend

This weekend in New Cross, we're shaping up for a Fuddled Friday, as two of the area's biggest pubs are aiming to reopen, after dramatic makeovers.

The White Hart has received some long-awaited love and is hoping to open this Friday, while The New Cross House, will reveal the results of its recent face-lift over the weekend. The golden age continues.

Benches have arrived #thebeginningisnear pic.twitter.com/fz9sXvMTz7

— The White Hart (@thewhitehartSE) September 8, 2016

NXH right now 😩 we just can't wait to see the outcome - launches on the 16th and 17th!! Bring your little bums down🍾 pic.twitter.com/d1WgoFLqj6

— The New Cross House (@NewCrossHouse) September 3, 2016

Lewisham Way pub threatened

@BrockleyCentral the old albertines pub is now applying to become ... 100% flats. Surprise surprise. And sad. pic.twitter.com/NZqNPR4j4A

— Nick Marsh (@choosenick) September 7, 2016

For a long time, BCers have been predicting this would happen. And now it has. The owners of the Lewisham Way pub formerly known as Albertine's have applied to convert it for residential use.

First, the pub was run into the ground. Then it closed and an attempt to refurbish it was made. Then the building caught fire and parts of it were converted to residential use during its reconstruction. Then a cursory attempt was made to find a landlord. Now they want to convert it.

The Council has refused the application, but that's rarely the end of the story. The owners should forget their dreams of a cash grab and get on with the business of reopening this pub.

Pubs all over the area are being reborn, attracting new customers and thriving thanks to a bit of investment and competent management.

Despite being a main thoroughfare and good connections, Lewisham Way has precious few pubs and this location at the corner of Friendly Street would nicely complement Meze Mangal. A reopened Albertine's could easily succeed and a growing local population needs more communal spaces, rather than fewer.

New Chandos

The Chandos, the journeyman pub on 56 Brockley Rise, has been given an impressive makeover, which extends to a handsome new pub garden. It got some minor remedial work last year but this is on a far more ambitious scale. The photo is from a set on SE23life. Click here for the works.

New and revamped pubs and bars are opening at the rate of one a week at the moment.

The Brookmill pub & kitchen, 65 Cranbrook Road

The Brookmill pub in St John's is now open. Looks great. Click here for details and let us know what you think in the comments below.

 Enjoying opening night at our new neighbourhood local, @thebrookmillpub pic.twitter.com/5jCzKgYqGL

— David Green (@itsdavegreen) August 30, 2016

A message from the London Beer Dispensary...

Via the Brockley Central Facebook page, the team behind Crofton Park's excellent London Beer Dispensary writes:

Hey folks, Darren & Sam here, former Area Manager of Late Knights and Head Brewer of Late Knights Brewery. We understand that twitter has been going crazy with all sorts of gossip today, so thought we would clear a few things up. 

The London Beer Dispensary, Brighton Beer Dispensary and The Brewery in Penge are no longer under the company of Late Knights for a number of reasons, of which we wont delve into. 

Sam and I have started up a new company, along side Mr. Lawrence, to keep these places trading and push forwards. The brewery itself will be renamed and rebranded, still with the desire to be the heart of the great community that it's in. 

We don't intend to change anything at the LBD, with the same great staff, beer and burgers. We have brought back Sunday Roasts and Lillian is taking care of all the hangovers with the Bloody Mary station on a Sunday. 

 In terms of the brewery, our sole focus is to brew consistently great beer that we can sell in our own bars as well as to free trade, keeping ourselves as local as possible. We will be looking to have this out in 6-8 weeks, with a few brewery names floating around, which we'll hopefully have decided by the end of the week. 

We still see the LBD as the heart of Brockley and have thouroughly enjoyed integrating ourselves into the amazing community that we feel honoured to be a part of. 

Feel free to pop in at any point and chat to Lils, Sam, Edd or Cadi behind the bar and we look forward to seeing you all again in the near future.

Brookmill Pub reopens on August 30th

The Brookmill Pub on the St John's / Deptford border will open its doors on August 30th. They are planning to open to minimal fanfare, with a view to staging a proper launch in September.

The pub has undergone a major refurbishment from its new owners (who also run The Great North Wood in West Norwood). They promise it will be "a community hub offering gastro food and drink, served in a cosy environment." They say:

Chef Olly Marlowe previously of both Michelin-starred The Glasshouse and Chez Bruce, food will be the star of the show. The menu itself celebrates classic pub grub with The Brookmill’s signature twist. Expect dishes like ham hock and gruyere pie with onion purée and roasting juices and Roast cornish cod with ‘nduja risotto, salted almonds, aioli and pecorino.

Proudly served and supported are craft beers from neighbouring breweries such as Brockley Brewery, The Kernel Brewery and Brick Brewery. Natural and organic wines come a little further afield from Davenport Vineyards in East Sussex who pride themselves on a no nasties product. Coffee comes from local roastery, Volcano Coffee.

The pub will be dog-friendly and make the most of its garden, which will feature a mural displayed in partnership with Deptford Does Art. A small programme of events is to be announced after opening.

The Brookmill offers membership for locals looking for an extra bang for their buck. Claim redeemable points on every pound spent at the pub plus a free meal on your birthday.

Sign up via the landing page on the website.

The Ladywell Tavern: World's End

The Ladywell Tavern has closed abruptly for refurbishment. The new owners, Laines, who know a thing or two about running good pubs, promise that it will only be for a couple of months and that it will be worth the wait.

Martin writes:

Good luck to the new owners - the place has been through so many changes that I'm hoping it can settle down a little. It's all happened very quickly though - the Ladywell Food Assembly has had to cancel and refund all its orders that were supposed to be handed out on Tuesday, and it seems they were only notified when everyone else was on over the weekend.

I'm hoping it's not going to be like the last refurb which took place during the closure of the high street which went on for months. If only because I'm lazy and the Tavern's only a couple of minutes walk away.

I'd love for it to get back on its feet as the place has so much potential.

Follow the pub makeover on Twitter here.