please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Now open as The Paxton and run by the Capital Pub Company. Ok beers but as with some of their other pubs like the Florence in Herne Hill, more like a creche than a pub with pushchairs as far as the eye can see.
I much prefer Beer Rebellion, the temporay pub in an old shop oppostie Gispy Hill station, just 2mins walk up the hill.
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This pub has now closed. It was extensively refurbished and re-opened as The Paxton (its previous name).
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Agree with others, the refurb does your head in. A recall it being fairly modern, but relaxing. Now it just gives you a headache. And with all the busy fussy seating arrangement a bloody great plasma screen with the football on. A pub clearly that can't make its mind up.
But in a game of two halfs, despite the Greene King takeover, and their awful beer, a very locally brewed ale was being served. A little too flat for my liking, giving the appearance of coming straight from the cask under gravity, but still to be welcomed. AND a young barman who was very interested in ale, another plus
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The food is very good and it attracts a nice mixed crowd. The beer (Tea, Junction) is kept pretty well. The decor is a little whacky but it works. My only complaint is that the service is a little haphazard, but the charm of the place more than compensates. Worth a visit.
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Went to the pub for the first time last night for quiz night, they were handing out flyers at Gipsy Hill for a �200 guaranteed pot. Suffice to say we didn't win (a bigger group would have helped!) but we had a sensational burger and lamb shank.
will definitely be going back
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I recently read a review on BITE which I thought was just brilliant. It read something like:
"This pub was akin to being inside Liberace's head, whilst he was having a nightmare."
Well, that's exactly how I felt about The Mansion. I think they've tried just a bit too hard. I mean, lampshades over chandeliers ... come on!
The redeeming feature was the Symonds Cider on draught. But, the barman informed us it was off and may not be returning.
I didn't like it, but if you want nice food and are a gastro pub fan, you may well love it.
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Good, friendly, attractive pub. Range of beers not the widest, and prices for food and drink are certainly not cheap. But it fits the bill for an occasional meal and drink or two.
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This place is far too food orientated for my liking, but it was very busy on the week night I visited so they must know what people in the local area want.
There are three hand pumps, but only Greene King IPA was available on my visit as one clip was turned and the other pump was unused. There is a standard and premium lager selection and my Guinness was well served, if maybe a tad expensive.
There is a plasma screen around the back of the bar, but this was off even though there was a champions league game on. I shouldn�t really be that surprised as the main feature of this pub is a large shiny piano. There is also a restaurant type area at the rear of the pub that has an open kitchen, but there were no diners whilst I was there as there seemed to be a couple of organised poker games in progress.
Contrary to some of the previous comments I found the staff to be extremely friendly and attentive and I would say that they were the best feature of the pub.
This isn�t my sort of place so I�ll not be returning, but I can see the attraction.
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I've been to The Mansion three times now and with each visit I have noticed slight improvements.
The first time my husband and I stumbled across the place and decided to pop in for a drink. The place was quiet and we were welcomed and served quickly. The only complaint I would have is that my pint glass could not have been described as clean... :(
The next time we decided to try the food there. I ordered the fish pie and my husband the roast chicken which was amazingly good. I cannot say the same for the fish pie. Having said that I would eat there again.
The place is OK but could work more on cleanliness. For example the ladies toilet bowl was solid brown on my first visit. The salt and pepper dishes are grotesquely dirty -you could serve sea salt or gourmet salt in an open dish, regular table salt no. Use a shaker! Sheesh!
The service is a bit slow and they tend to forget about you.... We were asked if we wanted dessert, we said 'sure we'll have a look at the menu'... It never came.... Eventually we had to go to the bar to pay so we could leave.
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Went to The Mansion today, nice enough place with friendly staff.
Bought 3 pints and 2 chips total cost �17.22.
Seemed a bit steep for a quick beer at the bar but they included a service charge which they didn�t tell me about.
Walking back to Gypsy Hill Station came across another pub The Colby arms. 3 pints of beer, old fashioned bakes, yorkshire pud�s, pork and stuffing on the bar, all on the house total cost �7.50.
Spent the rest of the afternoon there.
Will be returning to one next week. Guess where owners of The Mansion?
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Bad to average food at restaurant prices with clueless arrogant waiting staff. If you want a beer in the evening go to a local pub and if you want good food go to a restaurant. Looks good from outside though!
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What is elton mess?
I heard they were doing naked karaoke here and something called 'sweat wrestling'
Sounds fascinating!
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This place is a disappointment now. What a shame.
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I really like this place. Granted i'm just a weekender, despite living only about 300 metres from it, but the staff, food, service and the Sunday night jazz are fantastic. I think the decor is better for its muted tones now as the previous damask paper made the place too dark - Damask walls are hardly "quirky" seeing as they're a few years past their sell by date now that B&Q are flogging the same stuff and even "Bridge House", the place where the old owner bugged out to, hasn't continued that style. The food is delish - my only criticism is that they stopped doing the "Eton Mess".
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Well, it may have been gay before but it's bloody miserable now!
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Well, it wasn't great on atmosphere to begin with, I dread to think what it must be like now! Perhaps another visit to the nearest car boot sale for some slightly more upmarket decor wouldn't do any harm, similarly a humour injection for the management and most of the staff wouldn't go amiss.
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I used to live on Rommany Road until January this year so The Mansion was my local. Scott and his staff made this pub the best one for miles around in terms of atmosphere, food etc.
Ive been back twice since Scott decided to sell up (mainly because i work overseas now) and i have been so dissappointed. It is just not the same anymore and the whole atmosphere that used to be there has gone. Needless to say, i shan't be going back!
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Several months ago I'd have rated this as one of the best pubs I'd ever been too. However, it's recently been taken over and refurbished and now I'm not sure I'll go back. The quirky decor has been replaced by boring browns and beige, and the food - once the only thing that would tempt my "north London" friends south of the rive - is now awful. We went last night and ordered their burgers. Apart from the fact that the portion size is almost half the size it used to be, the burgers were dry, over-spiced, and luke warm. And to top it off, the once friendly staff have been replaced by rather subdued individuals.
I'm really disappointed that our favourite pub is no more.
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This pub has been under new management for a few weeks. I�ve been there couple of times since the new management took it and yes, I can see they are still in a settling-in phase, but I was impressed by the effort the staff put in to give me and my friend a good time. We had a meal and I had an absolutely excellent rib eye steak cooked to perfection. The staff were often around our table to ensure we were ok with everything. The menu is very inspiring and different from the usual predictable pub menus. The music they play is a little too middle-of-the-roady but the atmosphere seems right� even though their attempts to make the pub look minimalist has resulted in it looking a little too empty. I�m sure this pub is on its way to be excellent, just give them a chance to settle in.
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We've been to this pub a number of times for dinner and lunch. I have to admit the lunch service (a few days before Christmas) was terrible - they had 1 person behind the bar & 1 person serving food, but the pub was full!
However, on all our evening visits the food has been fantastic and the service has always been good.
It has a nice atmosphere and definately somewhere you can sit, chat and drink with friends for a long afternoon or evening
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Well - what can I say.... They gave our table away to someone else so we all had to sit around a small table, they took FOREVER to bring drinks, food, menus, cutlery, etc... The food was cold, they weren't particularly friendly and we heard others complaining on the way out!!!
I won't be rushing back.....
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Decent enough place. A bit poncy but sometimes that's a good thing when you're in the mood for it. I'd go more often if it didn't involve a steep uphill walk after a couple of pints... but great for those on the lower part of Gipsy Hill.
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Off an upmarket breed of gastro-pubs. Thoughtfully put-together decor with a series of photographs of Herne Hill traders on display which was an interesting touch.
But nothing remarkable really aside from this... no coherent sense of character aside from its aspirations.
Beer was ok... Guinness was respectable..
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There is a lovely elegant relaxed atmosphere created by the lovely staff, the right level of music, the fire place and the very interesting d�cor which I don�t know how to define. There are candles, curtains, purple lampshades and a piano. It�s very spacious but it feels very cosy and welcoming. There are sofas as well as a proper sitting area like a restaurant. It offers a good selection of drinks and the attitude of the staff seems well balanced between professional and casual. Perfect to make you feel welcome and comfortable for whatever occasion you are there, being a party, a date or just a drink.
The food, produced in the open plan kitchen, seems of a high standard. It�s not just traditional gastro pub food but it has a bit of personality too. In these days it seems that the smaller are the portions and the trendier is the restaurant, but in here portions seem fair.
The only criticism I wish to express, utterly for constructive purposes, relates to the way the bill was presented. My friends and I were still catching up with life events when suddenly the lights were turned on and the waitress put the bill in front of me saying: �This is your bill�. That kind of destroyed a little bit all the effort the staff had been putting on throughout the evening to create such a nice atmosphere. A more gentle way would have been to approach me before and say something like: We are now closing and we will turn on the lights so we can start cleaning the bar. Do you mind if I print your bill so we can cash up the tills?�
In conclusion, I highly recommend it.
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we tried this place; it was nice and the dirnks where nice it has big celings and is spasious' the staff was fiendly and welcobing and it was not to deer like some pople say] the torilets were nice and it was relaxed it as no pool table and no dart bored and duke-box
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we've recently found the mansion, and like it so much we've been back 6 times. The food is excellent, the service is always brilliant and efficient and the atmosphere is always buzzy.
would definately recommend anytime of the week
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Very bizarre/interesting decor. Good food.
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After a couple of good but unremarkable visits last year, the Mansion seems to have experienced something of a renaissance in 2007! I have had dinner here on twice in the past month - on a busy Saturday night and on a quiet early weekday evening - best pub meals I can remember for a while!
Service - 9/10
Exceptional - charming, patient and attentive, impressive for a pub
Food
Venison Sausages - highly recommended !! excellent 9/10
Thai Green Curry - bit lack lustre 6/10
Risotto - good - 7/10
Drinks
Good selection - no Cider on tap, but do stock Weston's cider!
While the decor doesn't appeal to my preference for 'spit and sawdust', but the Missus is a big fan.
Overall - one of the best pubs in the area - up there with the Black Sheep - wins if you want food and garden!!
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I don't understand these comments about bad service at the Mansion. I went there for Sunday lunch a couple of weeks ago. Admittedly the food took 50 minutes to arrive, but within that time, a member of staff came to our table to apologise and gave us a free round of drinks. Later he came back to the table to check everything was alright. What more could you ask for?
It's a charming place, just what the area needs.
becca - 14 Mar 2007 12:33 |
Well. Popped in last night for a quickie, and The Mansion appears to be a victim of it's own success. It was very busy, and the usual staff seemed, sadly, not to be coping. My change was thrust into the palm of my hand with some force, which was very off putting. Went back up to Upper Norwood and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
anonymous - 26 Feb 2007 20:22 |
My favourite in the area.
The food is great, even if a little bit on the �heavy� side of the healthy-choice board sometimes, however you can treat yourself once in a while. I loved their burgers so yummi.
The service though let you down and does not stand with the outstanding features of this pub.
They can point you to your table but they don�t bother to either come to take order or to let you know that you have to order from the bar.
Last summer we ordered for the BBQ, however they did not tell us that we had to take the order outside to the chef. I honestly though it was their job.
The deco and the crowd are brill.
I would have liked to give them more than a 6 cause I really like them but they have to drop the attitude with their service and possibly provide some more indications.
They should take example from the Greyhound in Battersea!
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A very, very impressive pub. Excellent beers, if a little expensive. Delicious food, skilfully cooked (9.5 out of 10 for the gravy) - it honestly is as good as pub food gets. I hope they can maintain these high standards although, seeing as they have managed to do so consistently since the re-opening, I have nothing but high hopes for the future.
The building itself is hugely impressive and imposing, the layout is interesting and the decor and furnishing wonderfully bizarre. Charming little beer garden, to boot. The bar is small and can get very busy so perhaps they should think about putting more emphasis on the table service to keep things running smoothly.
A hugely enjoyable pub experience and I look forward to my next visit.
jossv - 18 Jan 2007 10:57 |
Scotty, well said mate. Best pub in the area for miles!
And Aga, theres a beauty. Not happy youre letting her go though.
Cheers mate
Matt
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Went back to the Mansion tonight. When I went in I received a warm welcome from the staff who recommended the organic cider (I've had so many the name escapes me....!) and had another great evening.
Part of me wants to shout about this place from the rooftops... part of me wants to keep it as a secret that I can impress friends with...!
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I haven't been in here for a year or two... and what an improvement. OK, it's been turned into a gastro-pub, but surely that is preferable to the soul-less place that it was before? And having two real ales in good condition can only be a good thing.
It caters as much to drinkers as foodies which is a good thing - you don't feel like you're walking into a restaurant. Most of the pub still has the feel of a proper pub.
Two real ales were available when I visited: Young's Special and a particularly tasty specimen called Czechmate, apparently made with hops grown in the Czech Republic.
This impressive Victorian building is worth having a look at from the outside: a wrought iron balcony extends all the way across the front of the first floor, and the central 'tower' has some ornate woodwork under the eaves.
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Have been back again, hoping to recreate the experience of my first visit - and they've done it again!
Love this place - just a pity I have to stagger up Gipsy Hill on the way home!
anonymous - 29 Oct 2006 10:26 |
Went here the other night for the first time since it opened for a birthday with family. Had a great night. The staff were friendly and competent. The food was great and very reasonably priced considering what some chain restaurants charge for a meal and drinks. Loved the pub and the way it has been decorated. Will certainly make this a regular trip. Happened to go on the same night as the pub quiz which was very well done.
anonymous - 26 Oct 2006 16:45 |
I am just back from a lazy Sunday afternoon in a brilliant pub in South London. Friendly staff, a relaxed atmosphere and really tasty food.
Walking home I realised it was the first pub in absolultely AGES that I have been to, and haven't had to justify some bad aspect of it. You know the thing, when you go and the beer is cheap, but the tables are sticky. Or the food is great, but you had to wait ages for it. Or the food is cheap but the staff are weird.
No, here everything came together. Friendly staff, good service, great food. I can't wait to go back.
Well done The Mansion, Gypsy Hill.
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WOW....the first word Im going to use to describe a delightfully delicious pub. So hidden, yet such a find....I treasure to experience. Its not very often that I take the time to write up a speech on BITE...although....I decided that this pub was well worthy. After visiting I was quite impressed. It was my first time in Peckham, and I felt like I had been living there for a long time.... quite strange... it almost felt like something you wish you could have, but you never do... I LOVED IT...This pub's food was amazingggg, the sunday roast....awesome...even the good looking lady staff :) ILL BE GOING BACK HERE if I strole through Peckham again!!
Scott Jeffery....Canada
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The best pubs in London are currently owned and managed by Scott Blenkhorn, one of the most influential chefs of the 20th century. If you ever are taking a stroll through peckham visit the Rye Pub and eatery, or through Gypsy Hill, visit the Mansion. Exquisite Dining at its prime. When visiting this pub in particular I felt the need to find out who was providing such service. Its a shame that people post such comments as recieved on Sept 12th...below. It brings shame to people who obviously try quite hard to provide exquisite dining to those that APPRECIATE IT! I would definitly recommend this pub...
Mark Maclean - Pub Tester
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I�ve only been coming here over the last 2 months and WOW! What a great place! Your local pub serving better than West End food. I mean, you�ve only got to look at the food and know straight away that it will taste great. Exotic flavours for the discerning suburban palate. Furthermore, how much more reasonable do you want to get for your Sunday Roast with all the trimmings at �9.95. If you ask me they should charge more. And there�s the wine list�� A large selection of wines encompassing the globe for the layman and connoisseurs alike. And I have it on good authority that this will soon be going through a transformation�.. No doubt for the better. The only thing I have to say is that the cocktail list looks dated, but hey they�re still evolving and I�m sure that will change.
Honestly, how can anybody fault an establishment so dynamic and so vibrant? The Mansion adds glitter to a place that needs it, and they�re in good company too with the 3 restaurants across the road from them.
And as for you Mr. Anonymous of the 12th of September, you sound like the kind of person who is out to have a bad time. Why don�t you give yourself and those around you a break and stay in! So embittered, I wonder��.
anonymous - 11 Oct 2006 16:17 |
well i agree with "straight guy", i think this is a fabulous pub and just what we need in the area. the atmosphere is great and the new chef is brilliant. loved the lamb shank i had last week. no it's not the cheapest place around but i'd rather pay a bit extra and get quality than some microwaved plastic pulp. keep up the good work guys
anonymous - 10 Oct 2006 10:14 |
didnt realise that my local was run by a gay mafia!! what a joke!!this pub is so welcome in our neighborhood. great people and resonably priced food make it a hit..what is wrong with some people. I think it has brought some sparkle in an area that needed it and by the look of how busy it is this last comment is just jealousy.the new chef is doing a great job and the staff are always so nice even when it is busy.I have been coming here since it has opened almost a year ago and I think the staff and owners are always trying to meet the customers needs and i dont think they care of peoples sexual orientation!!loosen up a bit and go to the mansion for a good time and if you cant handle the city then move to the burbs.xx Yours Truly "A Straight Guy"!
anonymous - 4 Oct 2006 04:22 |
Now run by the gay mafia, who look down on those who aren't scene queens or hip enough. The food's pretty good, but only a yuppy can afford to shell out a tenner for a burger or a fiver for pitta and houmous. Used to work there and found myself constantly embarassed trying to explain why everything was so expensive. The clientele are generally idiots with delusions of grandeur. The decor is like a brothel, although everyone seems to have convinced themselves it's "upmarket". Of course, all upmarket means is an opportunity to charge gullible customers over the odds in the mistaken belief that paying more makes them better people. What a horrifically flawed place. If you're considering heading there, I'd recommend staying in instead.
anonymous - 12 Sep 2006 15:25 |
This place just got better!! Went in the other day and tried some food off the new menu. WOW! Some of the old stuff is still there but the food kind of suits the decor now. The "candle lit" garden with the (get this)astroturf, looks great too! Well done guys, keep this going adn they will be flocking in.
anonymous - 10 Sep 2006 22:17 |
Short measures too!
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Over priced drink, over priced food, awful music, slow service. Apart from all that it's ok.
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It's pleasant enough, and the beer garden at the back is very nice, but all rather expensive as they're aiming for an upmarket crowd. �2.90 for a pint of bitter and �9.50 for a burger?
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Good pub with large garden, but slow service on Friday night - enough staff, but they were frustratingly slow and spent too much time fannying around crushing ice and chopping fruit when they should be serving thirsty punters
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Any pub where you get a 'Dame Flora' recommending it as a 'camped up treat' is going to be a bit gay. Very nice though
anonymous - 1 May 2006 18:19 |
Hooray for The Mansion! A grown up, camped up treat of a pub. Full of chandeliers and fancy mirrors, a showy little number, but don�t let that put you off if you�re a plain Jane. The food is well cooked, fairly priced and well-thought out AND there�s seating on a Friday night. Good choice of beers, some potent cocktails and friendly staff. It is trendy but in a good humoured rather than pretentious way and the customers are a mixed bunch of the all dressed up and the all dressed down - which is nice. Just one thing � what�s with the flickering lights � irritating and wrong!
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Same guys that own the Rye in Peckham. Same good food and nice service.
anonymous - 1 Feb 2006 13:09 |
Just opened in December 2005. This is a really nice pub with a cosy atmosphere and pretty smart decor. I believe it was formerly known as the Paxton but from what i can gather from word of mouth it has been made slightly more upmarket. The food and drinks are fairly pricy but mostly in keeping with the Crystal Palace type price range.
Overall a really nice place and well worth a visit.
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