please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
It's been re-named The Signal for some time now. This is a pub that I think I've only ever been in once before and that was many years ago when it was called the Hob. My recollection of the pub & my visit on that occasion apart from the layout is non-existent.
My most recent visit is a Tuesday night in January and by 7pm its nicely full. Most people drinking in couples or groups with a table of 7 having a meal in the lower part of the bar. I didn't see or smell any food so on this I cannot comment.
On the L shaped bar are at least 14 shiny keg taps with lagers, Guinness, cider and a couple of keg ales. The cask pumps have 3 ales on which were Brixton's Effra Ale, Brockley Brewery IPA and Truman's Swift. My £4.20 pint of Effra Ale was very good.
The pub feels quite dark but I think that's down to the mood lighting, there's several lights hanging from ceiling across both parts of the open plan area. Wooden flooring throughout, a piano by the door and 2 really cool old school desks with attached seats. Great to sit in one of these and write this review !
To the side is a covered smoking area / garden and upstairs is a Bar, Rotisserie and Grill.
Service was good, the ales was very good, it had a nice buzz about it and is opposite Forest Hill station.
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Fri 12th April 2013 - first visit in at least 10 years, and I thought it was great. Went to see a band. Great crowd, and a surprising amount of dancing going on. The real mega plus point was that after the band, a classic rock covers band called Chain, the DJ (or the man who puts the music on !) played more classic rock, and not some horrible disco dirge as happens all too frequently in other places.
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Rather shabby down at heel pub that seemed overwhelmingly populated by older men. Not somewhere I'd rush back to but the pint of Harveys I had was perfectly well-kept.
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I think the Hob is a great pub and personally find the last comment about the pool table attracting a "grotty crowd" rather snobby. It's not the Dartmouth Arm but I think it's all the better for it. It has a good mix of people (which personally I like) a good quiz on a Thurs, live music, comedy etc.
You can order food in from outside which is also unusual as it's rare to find a pub these days that isn't trying to flog you chunky skin on chips at an extortionate price. It's a pub for people who like pubs, not people who like pub restaurants. To my knowledge it's also the only pub in Forest Hill to let dogs in and the staff always offer my dog a bowl of water which I think is a nice touch.
I think it could do with a few more furnishings, curtains or a couple more sofas perhaps as it does feel slightly bare, but other than that I think it's a really good pub and I've never had a bad night in there.
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A very good pub for comedy (the upstairs bit often has big name comics trying out new material for a few quid) but I've never found it to be a nice place to drink. The pool table tends to attract a grotty crowd and it never feels very homely in there. The guest ales are very good but it's not the most friendy pub I've ever been into.
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Seemed a plesant enough pub. There were three real beers on which were all kept well enough, Harveys, Doon Bar and Oxford Gold.
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Thought this was a really good venue. Lots to do. Only downside was �3 a shot of Sourc ... but I doubt many readers of this site will care about this drink !
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This pub is okay so long as you go in with low expectations. The decor is dark and to be honest it doesn't look like much effort was put into the refurb. This pub is let down by the owner who puts more time and effort into promoting the comedy club (this is held upstairs from the bar) then he does in promoting the pub as a whole. It does have live music but this is very hit and miss and tends to be aimed at an older generation. It is good for quick drink but not somewhere you would choose to spend an evening out and it doesn't do food either which means it looses out to such places as, The Capitol, The Dartmouth Arms, Question Bar and The All In One, in fact pretty much all the other pubs/bars in Forest Hill.
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Doesn't seem to be any nicer after the refurb
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we went her to watch some comdy but we couldnt find it so we went home
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Went to a great comedy gig on Sunday night here spoiled only by the terrible beer. Bought a Kronenbourg which was flat - when I questioned the staff about the bubble content she took an empty pint glass and used it to tap the top of my pint hard, which obviously produced a few bubbles, and then snarled "see - it's not flat". There is no choice - despite the large number of taps they only had Kronenbourg, Guinness and one ale (can't remember which) out of about 10 different taps. Steer clear of the pints and steer clear of the pub unless you've got a very good reason...
anonymous - 13 Mar 2007 13:26 |
Only real ale on was Landlord when visited. Had a look at their comedy flyer which promised around 5. Not sure what the story is there.
anonymous - 10 Jan 2007 01:46 |
This is an ok pub in the week although the real ales can sometimes be a bit ropey and they are far too keen to kick you out at 11. Good crowd and staff very nice tho. At weekends it turns into a bit of a chav disco which is a bit of a turn off.
anonymous - 25 Nov 2006 02:09 |
Went in on a thursday night for the "comedy Quiz"
Absolutely brilliant, did not want to leave!
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Nice pub with friendly staff, a quality pinball machine and ok pool table. Have yet to go in the evening, but was there when a DJ was setting up and the old school house he started playing was spot on. My only gripe was the price of the Beer �6 for a pint of strongbow and a pint of 1664!!!!
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Excellent - live music in Forest Hill, and it's rockin'. Just what the area needs. And it's great to see three real ales available - this pub was without proper beer for a few years. The management are doing a fine job. Only one problem, and it's a big one. I've visited the pub on two Fridays and both times the real ales were in extremely mediocre condition - no life in them. Is this because they can't shift it fast enough and it goes off? Or aren't those pipes getting cleaned properly? Maybe they should downsize to two real ales only.
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An imaginatively run and rather "individual" establishment that is quite unlike anywhere else you will have been.
Is a bit hit-and-miss; Saturday night could see only a smattering of people or there could be a fairly riotous party, like the last night before Prohibition, so the atmosphere can reach either end of the scale.
Friendly and unthreatening. The bouncers are very pleasant chaps, although I wouldn't care to test them.
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good live music, but really rude management
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I drink here every now and again on a saturday with my partner and have always found the place to be okay.Sadly it tends to have small bursts of violence by the arsehole chavs they let drink there but the bouncers and staff to their credit are quite good and do sort it out most times. Entertainment is only better in one other pub in Forest Hill.
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I agree with the comment below. This pub doesn't look posh, but the staff are excellent, there's a great range of beers (I'm into the Wychwood Organic Crop Circle in bottles at the moment!), and its comfortable. Add bands and comedy from East Dulwich Comedy and its a real asset to Forest Hill.
Also very close to the railway station for when work has been just... too much!
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One year ish since my last review. Still a great pub. Bar staff are nice
Bouncers are OK too (so rare)
Beer cheap (not horrible Sam Smiths either)
Quick service
Open late at the weekend
Pool table
You can get a seat.
Cashpoint across the road
Taxi office opposite (through the tunnel under the station)
Comedy upstairs on Saturdays.
We took 11 people there on Saturday and they all thought it was great (especially being open until 2am.)
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good night on sat enjoyed the comedy upstairs, beer well priced, nice friendly atmosphere, someone trod on my foot and apologised profusley, nice range of ages 25-40's on till 2
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Went here for the Karaoke after reading Jay Levers review and although the Karaoke was Okay the place was awful we left early and will not be returning back ever
Vinnie - 15 Nov 2004 21:11 |
Fantastic pub with an excellent karaoke on a Friday. Pretty mad though cos halfway through it turned into a nightclub with a fantastic light show.... wicked
jay lever - 12 May 2004 17:57 |
I had a dodgy pint and was sick as a dog for days
ian - 26 Apr 2004 14:54 |
Well ive seen some things in a pub before,but i wasn't exspecting to see cute rabbits running around in the place.There is a nice mixture of really friendly people in The hob.fantastic band 3am played last night it was absolutely rocking they will be back the 1st friday of every month and so will i.
Louise Clarke - 7 Feb 2004 11:39 |
Been here three times now since first visiting on the offcahnce after having a meal next door. Great place. The barstaff are friendly and efficient, the beer is cheap (2 pints of Fosters, 1 guinness and a Smirnoff Ice for �10!)
The inside is dark but spacious with a pool table and some excellent music playing from 60s-90s. A self-confessed 'student friendly' pub and open until 2am on Saturday (we found out as we stumbled out at 2.15am!) I'll definitely be back.
Tim - 29 Jan 2004 12:52 |
was it called the pie and kilderkin circa xmas 1992? there was a crazy chef that cooked a wonderful dinner and talked madness and a lovely part-time barmaid, deirdre, I think, who lived nearby. originally from the midlands. does anyone remember her.
michael - 29 Oct 2003 06:30 |
Cracking Pub with a really chilled atmosphere. The bar staff are really friendly and receptive to new ideas. Great mix of people and a fun vibe!!
Gill McKenna - 22 Aug 2003 11:07 |
Once again this is definatley the place to be in Forest Hill. Great live bands at the weekends.
Brilliant bar staff always polite and freindly.Watch out for the theme nights with all staff in fancy dress. have a go at YMCA on the tables whilst the staff dance on the bar. Great place to be
PHILIP WALE - 21 Jul 2003 17:54 |
A WARM AND FREINDLY BAR, WITH GREAT STAFF. THE WATER FEATURE IN THE BAR ADDS A REAL RELAXED FEEL ABOUT THE PLACE.
THE STAFF ARE REALLY FREINDLY GREAT LIVE MUSIC AT WEEKENDS
GOOD RANGE OF WINE, COCKTAILS AND SHOOTERS.
ALSO LOVLEY RABBITS IN THE BEER GARDEN
PHILIP WALE - 21 Jul 2003 17:49 |
This is the best pub in Forest Hill, I have been drinking in there for 2 years and the entertainment is brilliant.
From foam parties to beach party's 60's and 70's and even firework displays from the roof
One to visit a must
John Huges - 16 May 2003 17:19 |
