please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Pretty good range of real ale, not cheap and did the classic heavy penalty for ordering a half pint. Clean and friendly. I didn't notice any issues with the drinks i had, but might not have been in long enough.
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It is very expensive. Also, I've never had a decent pint of ale there. They normally have an interesting selection but it is poorly kept and this issue predates the current management so perhaps there is a problem with the cellar. Shame because in terms of decor etc its not a bad pub.
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Nicely done out with good beer although the focus seems to be more on the food now. Very very very expensive too.
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Under new management with a serious focus on food and three real ales (minimum) last time I was there.
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Apparently it's been sold.
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best pub in crystal palace....great variety of nights there...free pool on mondays...good beer and friendly customers...and nice pizzas...
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This hostelry is on top of its game... well run, decent beer, friendly atmosphere, quality live music....
Terenced offers a warm affirmative hand of friendship.
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Great pub. Good music, chilled vibe, decent beer. Live band nights are definitely worth checking out.
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Not sure I went to the same pub as everyone else who's posted here, but after 2 execrable pints of ale (one of which was returned as too rancid to even smell, and one of which just got left after 2 mouthfuls as stale and undrinkable) had to abandon ship and go elsewhere. Basically a glorified public bar, with minimal seating, no discernible comfort value and a damp musty smell (which may have come from the motley clientele). Whatever others may say about the White Hart,(where we promptly retreated to) it's comfortable, they know how to look after their beer - and while I have yet to try it, their food looks impressive.
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They have started having a market and bbq in the beer garden - I think it's on every Saturday now.
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Far better than the White Hart across the street.
You tend to get served without growing a beard in the Alma.
Smartened up and interesting hostelry nowadays.
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Back in the 90's this was my local - fabulous pub, run by big Brian and wife Mami - who was tiny! A wonderful deep red, dark, hard edged sort of place with many scenes of the battle (of the Alma) on the walls. Wonderfully old school run and populated by characters from a Brehct play.
Its good to hear theres a new era starting for my old favourite, will give it a visit when in the area.
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It's been improving a great deal lately. I think they could do with just a slightly wider range of ales (without turning into the overpriced and slightly pretentious White Hart over the road). The live music is a good move - I just never seem to know when it's on.
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Went for the first time last week, and thought it was nice. Friendly bar staff, a mock coal fire and comfy seats. :)
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Looking a bit less run-down agreed. Would be interested to see how an evening here shapes up..
Will look on with keen interest
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Totally agree with terenced. This place has been dragged by the ears from a dusty backstreet parlour with tawdry flashbacks of faded former glory to a buzzing Palace nightspot. The new management are stars!
There are some fab new events too. The Antenna recording studios over the way have made it worth staying in the Palace on Saturday nights again with 'Antenna Nights' and there was a brilliant funky night the other Friday called Jelly Babies, which might have been a one-off, but I hope not - it was the most fun my posse have had in ages. More of the same pleeeease!!!
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This pub has been cleaned up and smartened up. It retains its charm and hasn't gone all gastro but it's smart and looked after and has retained its regulars by the looks of things.
Just goes to show how lazy and unimaginative the previous owners must have been to let it slide into the state it was in.
Back on form.
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Like its shambolic charm or not, this pub certainly has character...
It appears to have changed hands, has had a few paint jobs, the carpet has been taken up. The ceiling also apparently fell down due to some badly fitted air conditioning unit right outside the blokes!
Its regulars know though that it is trying, and is still very much worth a pop in if your passing...
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This is the best pub in Crystal Palace bar none. It is a mess and in the dasylight I counted 6 different colours of paint on the walls but at least it has colour instead of "neutral" white to show off a few choice pictures. And the clientele are as colourful with a vast range of both ages and outlooks but friendliest people I've ever met in a pub. Good guiness and range of bitters. Lots of musicians frequent the pub and most play at some point. Pub recently bought and maybe they are going to do it up a bit but a message to you if you're reading this...please don't change it too much we all love the shambolicness and is why we come in..there are lots of pubs in the area that cater for the strawberry beer types leave us one for those who prefer genuine atmosphere over expensive poncey drinks. OK rant over try it if you like your pubs friendly and down to earth.
anonymous - 15 Mar 2007 16:24 |
Great for watching rugby matches, nice atmosphere and very good service. But that�s as far as I can go with this pub. It�s an average pub, nothing that let it standout from the crowd and it may have lost some clientele since the White Hart returned to its origins (formerly a chain).
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Doing well on an early friday evening in terms of numbers of punters.
Gents' toilets, however, frighteningly grim. Not just standard issue pub grim.
A cut above.... blocked urinal, mould, an evocative overwhelming aroma and "Unreliable" lighting.
It's better just to have an embarrassing accident at the bar I think. Seriously...
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Well, this place has at least had a lick of paint both inside and out...
New tables, the long baquet table have gone to be replaced by... shorter but the same sort of width tables...!
Its trying to get its act together, and I still have a liking to this place. It seems to be more enjoyable tho in a quieter moment where you can prop yourself at the bar, get in a couple of pints and some pork scrathings, and hope that its an occasion when the beers/ales are in a better than average condition...
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Is it me or is this pub getting stranger and stranger of an evening? Down at heel, down on its luck and not a picture of health and happiness...
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The Alma won't win any prizes for decor. Tatty seats held together by gaffer tape and stained carpet are the order of the day.
It does have a shambolic charm and even if the light doesn't always work in the toilets and the jukebox doesn't always work, it has more character than a night in a chain pub.
Does Adnams on tap although not sure how well-kept it is.
This place is up for sale though or so I'm reliably informed so may not be around in current guise much longer. Drop in there for a beer. It'll be something to tell the grandchildren.
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Its a pub of hidden charm. If your going to pop in for a quick one, its not going to do it much justice. It certainly can have a grotty feel, and barstaff who are a bit zoned out (they once cut the jukebox off for a chosen cd behind the bar, and then claimed it was 'live music!'). However, if you sit at the bar, they will come up and offer you another one before you finish your pint, and hence the hidden charm...
When they do really have live music, it is very atmospheric, with local talent in. One of the most original nights out in the triangle. It too is a pub that takes huge advantage of longer opening times, again a hidden charm...
Altogether, if you aren't going to put huge demands on a drinking establishment, this is a nice pub to visit. Once was me and a friends pub of choice in the area, now we have branched out a little, but it still pulls us back alot.
Jukebox plays a good selection too and there is a pool table if that takes your fancy...
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Oh dear! I've lived in the area for many years and have only just tried the Alma for the first time, and it's not good. The carpet and furnishings look at least thirty years old, the carpet almost worn through to the underlay and the upholstery pockmarked with holes and cigarette burns, patched up with gaffer tape and the stuffing hanging out. The walls are painted a garish scarlet and there's a broken stairrod on the staircase just to enhance the dilapidated impression. Even the television projector screen appears yellowed with age. If this was my home I'd be too embarrassed to invite anyone around.
The beer seems almost incidental - I'm not usually one to allow my surroundings to get the better of me, but it really is that bad. I didn't dare risk more than a half of Adnams Bitter, the sole real ale; it was drinkable but clearly past its best. Alternatives were Fosters, Carling, Guinness, (fake American) Budweiser and John Smith's Smooth - the beer range from hell!
The place looks on its last legs. Admittedly I was in here on a very quiet Bank Holiday lunchtime (half a dozen or so punters in there); maybe there's a friendly and lively crowd in here during the evenings, but my experience of the Alma was truly depressing. I can't believe it will still be operating in its present guise for much longer.
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went there last week while on a mini pub crawl it was a sunday afternoon(3pm) we were the only customers there. makes me think this place is on the down or has already hit rock bottom not a bad place just NOT good
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Unpretentious pub with a pool table and a great jukebox. Have yet to sample the live music but have heard it's a really good night.
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Got great live Blues on Saturday afternoons in the beer garden making it unique in this respect for almost the whole of South London.
Tom - 3 Aug 2004 22:25 |
Been there a few times, its a great place to go, VERY friendly bar staff and customers, me and my friends have always felt welcome, Really GREAT management!!!! probably be there next saturday!!! Hope to see any new comers xxxxx
Caroline - 20 Apr 2004 14:30 |
We, Junk Time Party, played there last night (Fri 12th Merch) - good friendly crowd - check it out. Aparently it's due for a refurb soon - hope it does not loose it's atmosphere.
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If you are into new music, keep a watch on this Pub as on friday nights you can check out some of the best upcoming bands in south London....
NME - 27 Feb 2004 13:57 |
it used to be a hole, but now its turning into a regular live music venue, with decent bands on friday nights, open mic nights on thursday nights and apparently they are starting poetry nights on sunday nights soon... its just nice to see a dead pub transforming into colourful one without even a hint of a re-furb!
Jakob - 7 Jan 2004 13:05 |
Well it certainly has got better, lively Friday nights yet quiet during the week, friendly locals and a fun atmosphere. In desperate need of a facelift inside and out but could well be a very popular place in a year or so.
Andy - 3 Nov 2003 14:03 |
Well... since the 10th July 2003 this pub has changed somewhat... in fact new management took it over only 3 days after this visit! How do I know? Cos I am part of the new management... and I would dearly love for you to come back and visit... Potential - oh yes indeed hence why we took it on.
Thursday nights - live jam sessions
Friday nights - the latest in "live" music... the hottest up and coming bands
As for the car... sorry folks this is gone... and we're currently trying to sell the caravan if your interested... :-)
Cheers for the write up... I look forward to meeting you all.
Hamish
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Gotta Laugh, if a pub was to epitomise 'potential'...this is it.
The 'beer garden' has two picnic tables, a wrecked car on blocks, a urine stained mattress, an abandoned caravan, and about twenty empty gas cannisters. This is all spread within the alleyway beside the pub and the service area behind the pub and adorned with coloured lights (of which four out of five are broken). worth a visit.
Phil - 10 Jul 2003 11:07 |
