Brockley Jack, Brockley

This pub has had a substantial makeover and reopened at the start of the summer as a very friendly, welcoming pub with well-chosen decor and huge comfy sofas at the theatre end of the pub (you can buy drinks in the interval and take them upstairs to see you through the final act).


Having been very down at heel in the past few years, with an emphasis on attracting sports fans with its huge TV screens, it's now a smart establishmen and is more like an upmarket drawing room. (there is a discreet TV screen above and next to the bar which shows some matches, tennis etc on request. Pub quizzes are also a regular event.)

The furniture consists of generous round and square tables that comfortably seat for or five people to eat or gather over a couple of pints or glasses of wine. Tables are well-spaced out but not spartan, and there are larger tables round the back leading out to the sun terrace.

We have eaten here several times and found the portions just the right size - not overwhelming but not parsimonious either. There's the right mix of traditional pub fare and some less obvious dishes. Vegetarians always have two or three choices too - a refreshing change.

Non-smokers will love the fact that the beer garden is a sun deck with no smoking allowed - if only there'd been any sun to enjoy this summer. Smokers have to make do with a pen-like area accessed from the side door.

Beer selections are better than the wines, I'd say, but there's plenty of draught choices of both ales and lagers.

The best of the Brockley pubs by a country mile.

7 Sep 2008 18:20