please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Very winebar-esque but comfortable none-the-less.
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Absolutely shambolic pub quiz on Sundays - not worth the bother: questions irrelevant (mostly rubbish from Heat/ East Enders/ the tabloids not real knowledge), delivery and accoustics poor, only four rounds and it stretches on for far too long.
Music in the pub also very poor - it seemed to be the bar person's ipod and far too loud to allow conversation. Worst was the song selection - nirvana and other heavy rock which is fine for a late night club night or rock bar but not so good on a Sunday afternoon at 5.
In fact this Sunday it seemed like it was more of a teenagers' youth club being run for the benefit of the bar staff than actually a pub that seeks to welcome all people. I dont think I will be going back in a hurry
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Since it's rebirth the Phoenix has been growing in popularity with the local crowd (institute of psychiatry and hospital staff) and commuters. It's got pretty quick service, decent food, lots of seats, nice range of beer, and the upstairs bit is good. A bit smokey but the lovely smoking ban will come and sort that out =)
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What a pub, not what you expect when you step off the train. Loved the food had an amazing Sunday Lunch. Just wanted to sit in the "secret Attic" all day!
anonymous - 30 Jan 2007 14:31 |
This pub seems to be actually part of the railway station, so very convenient if you are waiting for - or have just got off - a train. Rather trendy, lots of sofas etc. Beer was nice, but took ages to get served.
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Quality of real gone down lately. Used to be the best pub in the area for the quality of ale, but alas no more. Will have to travel to Herne Hill or Dulwich Village for a qulaity ale.
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What has happened to this bar? The new manageress has moved the sofas from the non-smoking area onto the mezzanine floor.... why? The non-smoking area is so stark now and cold.....please put the heating on!
Staff today were rude and unhelpful! They need to realise that the Dark Horse is on the door step!!
From a disgruntled non smoking ex-regular!
anonymous - 11 Nov 2006 17:08 |
In there again last night... and i gotta say... i think they've turned a corner. Was in on my jacks "researching venues for an upcoming xmas lunch" and had a pleasant solitary pint. Good mixture of peeps in there: couples, loners, trendies and villans, and the service is no longer "a la fawlty towers". The decor, while smug, does at least live up to the magnificence of the building (it's listed).. something that no manager/brewery has managed since it was the original Phoenix.
I woulda stayed for another but come on be honest... could you drag out reading one of them new free evening london rags over 2 pints?
the xmas lunch is Dec9 BTW - we'll be the despicable mess on the long table nr the bogs
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i agree with most of you, got told to go look at the pub by the BIG company that owns it as the manager was leaving...
Best way to describe it was 'car crash'... Dumb and slow staff and the women, I presume manager' was the slowest person i've ever seen behind a bar...
Love the no vinegar for the chips comment cos god it's so true..
can we presume you get discount if you bring your own glass back to the bar cos everyone was..!!
Could be a great pub if only they employed some staff or just trained the one's they have.!
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dunno where tanderson7's coming from.. but then who does? this is the sort of gaff that makes you want to close all the doors and windows and feed somebody's exhaust fumes into... trouble is the tip is so big you could be there a week or two before the CO kicks in... and would have murdered the bar staff. (they are to a man staggeringly sh1t)
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The only thing I give this pub a rating for is the range of beers , useless staff especially the south african tit who claims to be the assistant manager! This plank clearly does not belong in the pub trade. NOTE TO TWAT 'you need to keep customers happy, you have precious few of them as it is'!!!!! They pay your wages!!!! plonker.
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Rude staff - poorly managed - but serves a decent bottled beer.
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Had the burger no complaints.
anonymous - 10 Sep 2006 11:28 |
Dreadful service from a female member of staff. She's not fit to be employed in London.
For a pub with supposedly big no smoking area, I found it very smoky, and came home stinking of fags.
One to avoid.
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tanderson7, the no smoking bit is going to get even bigger this time next year, when they ban smoking in pubs, just something to get used to I am afraid. Nice pint of waggledance the other day.
anonymous - 17 Jun 2006 12:07 |
not bad this one. perfect location. the non-smoking section takes up far too much room though. tomario -how many times are you gonna review this one, pal?
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This is a great pub. For all us non-smokers, this has the biggest non-smoking section of any pub I know!
By the way, talk to the staff (and manager) when ordering drinks/food and appreciate them too - they are really friendly.
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As said below nice pub good beer but the staff really let this potenial gem of a pub down
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How moody is the manageress? If you don't like dealing with the public get another job. Its a shame asthis could be a cracking pup
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Good beer, good surroundings, poor quality of staff
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Nice pub good range of quality of ale as well. Had a pint of schaellion last night, which was gorgeous.
A quick question, how acome the assistant manager is always friendly and chatting to the customers, while the manergeress is always in a mood, and not that friendly?
anonymous - 23 Feb 2006 13:53 |
a really great pub, great building, good food, great atmosphere. excellent beers. never change!
anonymous - 31 Jan 2006 11:43 |
As the only pub open on boxing day it wins my vote as pub of the area now, unlike George Canning.
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Cracking pub with a good range of beers. They have a good quiz on sunday nights as well, though we struggle with it most weeks.
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Increasingly tempting alternative to the Canning...
anonymous - 18 Nov 2005 13:55 |
Absolutely gorgeous pub! A real hidden gem. Food looks mouth watering and the decor is really tasteful. Huge selection of wine...maybe too huge. A really good addition to the already booming pubs of East Dulwich. Long may it last!
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Yes, the most sour barmaid in South London works here. If you don't spot her within the first five minutes, you're officially blind. In fact, the critical eye unit at King's uses this place as a testing ground. Jesus, people, some prozac already? I mean the Maudsley's only next door...
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I agree with anonymous - 10 May 2005 16:04 and don't usually post on sites about pubs, cos you gotta take the rough with the smooth, but.... I have been living and working around the Denmark Hill area for over 7 years now so have seen this pub in all it incarnations and this has to be the worst. On the plus side it does have a great range of beers and wines a bit pricey but hey. On the -ve side, the food is tasteless, overpriced and overrated a bit like the overall feel of the place.
The service is a disgrace with the staff putting more thought and energy into the clothing they are wearing than actually providing good service. I won't go into details but on various occasions when i have had issues with the staff and tried to talk to them i have been sneered at, told they were "too busy to listen to me" (when there was only one other customer waiting)and on one occasion when i asked to speak to a manager about staff behaviour the manager defended the staff straight away. In the past i managed a 1,000 capacity bar/venue and i had 17 year old working for me who would rings around this lot. Okay for a quick one if you miss your train, but it takes more than some "clever" lighting and some couchs to make a good pub.DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!
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Thats fcking funny that review below,..."sucked up all the vinegar",......nice,....i preferred this gaff when it was a deserted O'Neills,...licka paint,..licka paint.....ikea it up a bit and low and behold....kicking now by all accounts,...fickle world
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Come and behold the wonder that is “The most miserable bar woman in the World” that lurks in here (in the 18-25 category). Gasp at her inability to use her face muscles, be astonished by the reluctance to look at you at anytime, marvel at her tendency to make bitchy comments about people in the pub to her collegues whilst you wait for your pint (which you are damn fortunate to be receiving, make no mistake about it). Truly a real South London gem that has to be seen to be believed. If you are really lucky she might offer you a fight.
The menu is the usual gastro-pub slightly overpriced nonsense and EVERYTHING has “may contain nuts” slapped on it as a disclaimer, which is a ridiculous situation, a sure way to unnecessarily lose custom and smacks of plain lazy management. Carnivores and squirrels will be happy, vegetarians get next to no choice, but they can always eat the pervasive nuts if they are allowed. There was no vinegar for my chips the last time I was in, presumably the barmaid had sucked it all.
That said, this is the best version of the Phoenix since it burnt down. The rubbish O’Neills feel is long gone; it’s comfortable, there are decent tables, chairs, lighting, decoration and importantly – beer, and when you leave you don’t stink of chip fat like at the George Canning.
anonymous - 10 May 2005 16:04 |
Hurrah for the refurbishment! Seems to have improved no end from the ONeills and Firkin of old.
anonymous - 7 Apr 2005 17:47 |
The refit has done wonders for this place; it now serves an amazing range of beers (Belgian and German a speciality) and the decor and general feel of the place has changed immeasurably - although still keeping the elements that used to make this nice years ago, it's now comfortable and well lit.
I've eaten here twice and was less impressed with that side of it, but for having a leisurely drink and whiling away some hours it's unbeatable.
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now my favorite pub in the area.. after being MAJORLY refurbished (thank god), and called the pheonix again. very chilled with lots of comfy sofas, big fires, good food and super friendly staff. (especially the manager tom.. used to be at the crown and greyhound) wide range of wines and beers/ales as it used to be. especially recomend the upstairs section which overlooks the rest of the bar. a good reason to come to denmark hill. a fantastic pub for those in the know... definatley 10/10.
anonymous - 29 Dec 2004 13:24 |
To be honest this place is the pits. NO ATMOSPHERE, rude staff, poor food (normally burnt and takes ages). I'd suggest you only visit if your train is very very late.
jon - 22 Jun 2004 22:58 |
was waiting for a train and went searching for some much needed sugar (energy levels running low) found this place instead and thought a quick half will do me fine... waited near 10minutes for the lad ybehind the bar to know i was there "on the phone" four other people in the bar... got chatting to one of the locals he was well prepared with two pints he knew the waiting time other than the wait the service was fine and friendly ... changed to a pint after the wait though
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After a bad start and bad vibes from all and sundry for taking over former Firkin pub, this O'neills is being run well by attentive staff AND a 'almost as cheap as Wetherspoons' booze list!
the old railway memorabilia diverts ones gaze away from the absurd ursatz 'paddy' decor.
Melanie Davies - 1 Jun 2004 18:56 |
As the phoenix it was a great pub, always busy and a cracking atmosphere. Now a plastic shithole.
thomas - 29 Jan 2004 14:33 |
Yuk. The tables are sticky, the bar is sticky, the floor is sticky. Sticky with crapness.
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Yet another mail order imported manager with the instructions
"just Add water"
Please, next time the crate turns up. RETURN TO SENDER
A non return customer - 8 Dec 2003 04:04 |
Went in and could'nt believe it! I should have known one franchise or another would get it's hands on the place.
Plastic rubbish. I remember one of the Mental patients from the institution down the road coming in one Sunday lunchtime, years ago, downing another stunned customers pint in one and was just about to take someone elses when his minders came into claim him. Funny how they knew where to find him!
At least he knew a good pub and a pint when he saw one. He showed better judgement than the creators of this place.
Bob V - 11 Nov 2003 19:44 |
I worked in Camberwell and looked forward to a Dogbolter in The Phoenix & Firkin (BR & David Bruces Firkin Pubs) built the pub after a major fire in the Ticket Office. It used to have a friendly staff and a good range of beers and lagers.
Congratulations O'neils, Bass, M&B or whoever the pub is actually run down by, you wrecked our pub! Go to the Wetherspoons instead it has more atmosphere.
Too many cracks and a thousand sorrows, may the devil know youve died 10 minutes early (normally reversed as a blessing).
0 is too much
Tim c - 16 Oct 2003 18:12 |
This was the pride of Camberwell pubs, it once has very good food and celebrated the local history of steam at Denmark Hill, I hate to think that that collection of old pictures ended up in a builders skip, but now spoilt beyond recognition by the fake plastic Irish strategy of the 0’Neills clan the McDonalds of pub chains. Looking at the drop in punters over the last two years since the change I am not alone in my sentiments!
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Yes the manager has some sort of hang up regarding puttting on the big screen for sports on Easter Monday so I got my hang over elsewhere.
Donald Shannon - 22 Apr 2003 08:04 |
The Phoenix literally arose from the ashes of fire-gutted Denmark Hill station. Still retains many railway touches including an enormous railway clock.
art - 14 Mar 2003 16:06 |
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