The Florence, Herne Hill

The Florence really seems to have stirred up a reaction here.

I've lived in Herne Hill for some time and have drunk in this place both when it was Ganley's and also now it is The Florence. I have to say I think it is a massive improvement, what a great pub we now have in Herne Hill.

The choices available in terms of drinks is much wider now both in terms of different brands and also strength of beer (previous posts stating you can only get premium strength products are just wrong). The service is more pleasant and the atmosphere is much more accomodating.

The references to it not being for 'real' people I think are really ignorant. I assume you are referring to young professionals/middle class people/people just different to you as unreal? - not very clever. I think this sort of pub is encouraging variety and bringing the area up to date. Having worked in the pubs and bars industry independently for years I have visited thousands of pubs up and down the country and am a farily good judge of what makes a pub work. I can say with confidence that Ganley's was not a bad pub but was certainly much more restricting in terms of the range of people it marketed itself towards.

I think there are a few scared people who have posted here. Go on try something different to brands like Foster's and Guinness, it won't kill you. Try drinking in a pub with people who are from different backgrounds to you, again it won't kill you and you might actually make friends - just because there are different types of people in a community doesn't mean you lose community spirit!

I think this is a great little pub doing some really interesting things. I can still watch the football and drink in a trad boozer in the Half Moon and if I fancy something different I can head to The Florence - brilliant

9 Jun 2007 17:01