The Station, Hither Green - pub details
Address: 14 Staplehurst Road, Hither Green, London, SE13 5NB [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 577) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Hither Green (0 miles), Lee (0.7 miles), Ladywell (1 mile)
Pub facilities/features:
- TV, Big screen
- Food served
- Wireless internet access (provided by The Cloud)
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> Current user rating: 5.2/10 (rated by 35 users)
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> Local guide: London pub guide
other pubs nearby:
Hansburys, Lewisham (0.4 miles), Woodman, Lee (0.5 miles), Famous Swan of Lee, Lee (0.5 miles), Dirty South, Lee (0.5 miles), Northbrook, Lee (0.5 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of the Station, Hither Green
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 41 shown - see all reviews
| The previous reviewer had it absolutley spot on – I can’t think of anyone less suited to running a pub than the landlord mentioned. The sad fact is that he was marginally better than the previous incumbent who couldn’t even be bothered to stock beer! However, a few months ago said landlord was ejected and replaced by an Irish family-run set-up and it’s much the better for it. Praise the Lord they even have 2, yes 2!, real ales on tap – last time I was in it was a very nice Youngs Ordinary and the less-good Old Speckled Hen (great ads though). The service is improved out of all recognition being both friendly and prompt although there is still a tendency to frown upon people not drinking enough whilst watching the football. I believe the pub is in a state of limbo at the moment while the new manager negotiates a full takeover but it is to be hoped that completion is sooner rather than later. There is no food at present although late Sunday afternoon normally sees the appearance of cooked food on the bar - a very nice touch and a sign of someone making an effort.. Hopefully when things are finalised the big room at the back will be re-opened, the seating for football-watching will be better arranged and a regular menu will re-appear. Even as things stand though, it’s a vast improvement mactheknife - 30 Nov 2011 09:52 |
| The Station Hotel has been my local for over 10 years and I have often been tempted to abandon it for some of the reasons others have highlighted below. I have kept the faith, mainly due to lack of competition in the area, while clinging to the hope that it may one day live up to its potential. Bizzarely, my decision was made for me last week when the landlord barred me from pub! My heinous crime was to ask for half a pint! I kid you not. Having strolled down for a quiet couple of pints and to watch a game of football. With the match and my second pint almost finished, I decided to squeeze in a quick half before heading home. I was told by the landlord who was serving that they wouldn't serve halves while the football was on and that if I wanted a half I would need to pay the cost of a full pint! I was shocked by this, as I'd never heard anything like it in this or any other pub. The landlord claimed that this had been the rule since he had been there for over 2 years, but for me squeezing in a cheeky half at the end of a football match has been a regular part of my ritual (and I have watched a great many games in there over the years). When I pointed this out and chose to hang on to what little was left of my 2nd pint the manager became verbally aggressive and told me that I could finish my drink and leave! The moment my glass was empty the barman, who was keeping a close eye on me) pointed this out and asked me to leave. As a respectable, 43 year old social worker who has not been kicked out of a pub in the past 25 years this was absolutely unbelievable, particularly having seen some of the levels of yobbishness that this landlord has turned a blind eye to at times. I stood my ground and said that I had come in for a quiet drink and to watch a game of football and would not leave until the end of the match (which was in about 5 minutes time). The landlord then threatened to phone the police, which was ironic, as half of the clientele would probably have scattered if the police had turned up! As I called his bluff on this one, he gave me one last option, which was to stay to the end of the match, but then I would be barred. I pointed out that I would not want to go back to a pub which treats its customers like that, so I would gladly choose that option. At one stage during our discussions the landlord explained that he paid a lot of money to be able to show the football and that he did not want 'people like me' coming in to watch. When I asked what he meant by that, he paused for thought (?) and actually said to me 'People who can't afford to have Sky TV in your house!' You really couldn't make any of this up! I should point out that I am a clean cut, well turned out and well spoken kind of guy who had been simply standing quietly on my own watching the game and had been careful throughout this incident not to shout, swear etc (although I felt like it). I Just thought I would share that anecdote and urge you all to steer well clear of this pub. It's a real shame, as the Station has always had real potential to be something bigger and better than this and to become the focal point of this very mixed local community. While I agree that trying to go too ‘gentrified’ or gastro would be a mistake, there is plenty of scope for going a little bit upmarket, to become the kind of place that all the locals can feel comfortable going in. Sadly this clearly won't happen while the current landlord is in place. It is some consolation to know that this is unlikely to be a very long tenure. In the meantime, if you are in the area I would recommend the Holly Tree, a friendly, welcoming little local nearby. HGBlue - 16 Jan 2011 10:25 |
| I'm happy to be shot down, but as an outsider it seems to me that Hither Green has aspirations above its station (no pun intended). It should be a decent area where people can afford to live, not somewhere ordinary people are priced out of the market by yuppies wanting delis and totally unnecessary shops instead of decent, down-to-earth places. That's why it would be a shame if The Station was gentrified and changed from what it currently is - a normal boozer for normal people. Sure, the ale selection may not be anything to write home about, but it has most things that you need in a pub, the food is pretty decent and reasonably priced, the staff and other drinkers seemed friendly enough when I was there, and the toilets were clean. Sadly there's not enough of these places around any more. duchyjim - 2 Nov 2010 14:39 |
| Other reviewers mention the "Chav" element and some of the regulars are what you'd call working class but try talking to them: they're okay. This place has so much potential and it's beginning to realise it. The last time we visited as a family, there seemed to be an invisible division between what could be the saloon and lounge bars respectively. The regulars were towards the front of the pub, where all of the entertainment is and the larger section was largely deserted. Get some comfy seating in there, attract some gentrified custom and we're their. This is a nice pub overall. Not the best and it could capitalise more on its monopoly in the area but it's a good boozer. It has a pool table, football table, pinball machine, golf arcade game, Nintendo Wii, dart board and juke box. The foods pretty good (and reasonably priced) and it has a rough diamond friendly feel about it. The locals are just that: locals. And The Station is a locals' pub. It's still a public house though and if more people got in there, it would be so much better. Maybe if they do, the management will continue to make the improvements which they've clearly started on. Skaboy - 24 May 2010 09:28 |
For the sake of fairness, I've been told that there are several sets of pumps on the station, and that Pride was still on, so you should ignore my comments about there being no beer. Mind you, if the landlord had shown a minimal level of graciousness, I would have stayed long enough to find out. redistou - 4 Dec 2009 12:33 |
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