please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Yes, we took a quick peek and things still seem much as the last poster says.
The outside paintwork has been cleaned off however, and it looks like they're going for a more tasteful colour, which would be an improvement.
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Quirky pub behind Kings College Hospital at Denmark Hill. As with all Antic pubs, the place feels unfinished but it works.
Mismatched furniture and lights, exposed brick work, open plan kitchen, trendy music playing at an acceptable level, cool bar staff and a decent selection of ales.
4 beers on the hand pumps, selections from Adnams, St Austall, Brains and Shepherd & Neame. My choice of Shep's Early Bird was decent and served in a jug. All ales at £3.50 which is fine for me. Not as cheap as the Fox but this is not a 'spoons after all.
If you're not a local then this pub is worth the short stroll from Denmark Hill station.
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Now reopened as The Sun and serving some of the shortest measure pints I have ever seen
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|Now boarded up and closed
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I really can't understand how come the oik at the Sun and Doves can complain and have the negative posts taken off this site to make the pub look better than it is.
Never fear, I saved a few of the negatives going back a while. :)
"Lager warm, food dull, toilets smelly. Best go for a cup of tea"
"The staff are consistently rude - the female staff obviously have a preference for serving the lads as myself and various female friends have been ignored on several occasions"
"Overpriced. Great if you think you're trendy or if money has no meaning. Food is average."
"Pseudo yuppie pub."
"Baby-Friendly", ergo full of smug punters"
"Food can be ok but overpriced and running out of food (it happens regularly), particularly on a Sunday"
"Went in on Sunday afternoon. One of the staff was wandering around talking loudly about being bored and how they should be allowed to go home. Others seemed to be just playing around. Drinks selection pretty dull, toilets blocked and poorly lit. Plenty of graffiti in there too. Probably should have said something but they way the staff were behaving I suspect there wasn't anyone in charge."
There now. Isn't it better to have a llittle balance?
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I'm not a frequent visitor except for the pub quiz on Wednesdays. I missed a few over the Xmas period but did get to last night's, which was a laugh, the quiz master is funny and seems to have a dreadful record collection and there is always a friendly atmosphere. It wasn't as busy as usual but guess it may be because its early in the New Year. They do seem to put on stuff most nights of the week (like the nearby Cambria) I guess you can't please all of the people all of the time (especially if you just fancy a quiet drink) but given the number of pubs closing each week I say good on them!
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This pub is average. They have a big sign inside the front door saying Coolharbour Lane� it�s on Coldharbour Lane� geddit? However I have one major beef. I do like to go to the Wednesday pub quiz as its nearby, and it�s a bit of fun. I wasn�t sure whether it would run between Xmas and new year so checked on their website for the 22nd Dec to confirm it was on, and to make sure the journey wasn�t wasted. When we got there it had been cancelled. Now that�s irritating but these things happen. This last Wednesday the 29th was also confirmed online as having a quiz, but when we got there we were told that this had also been cancelled �what with the trade as it is�.
Now I realise these things are run on quiet nights to bring punters in, and that that night it was quieter, however a few teams had made the effort, and I think to cancel two consecutive advertised nights at shortest notice shows contempt for the patrons � we still bought drinks of course so it was win win for them. Being disrespectful to loyal customers may well come back to bite you on the bum Sun and Doves, not good business practice.
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I agree with the previous reviewer: "there's something going on more or less every day of the week." That's the problem: this pub never just lets itself be a pub. Every night is a quiz night or a movie night or a fundraiser night, and I'm always passing it by because you can't ever just stop in for a pint and a chat.
That said, if you ever show up here on a Saturday or Sunday at a minute past noon, you'll be treated like a severely hungover king by the doting staff, and that's worth something. They serve good beer, including some acceptable draft ales in any season, at okay prices, and the food won't kill you, either. The owner may do well to come down to the level of the rest of us mere pint drinkers who don't want to use our local as a platform for arguably subjective community activism, but still not a bad place to find yourself if you find yourself in Camberwell, and certainly not unfriendly.
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I've visited this pub on numerous occasions over the years and have always found it to be an enjoyable experience. There's something going on more or less every day of the week and there are regular art exhibitions that grace the walls.
They have a lovely garden out the back and sometimes a fiddler comes to play on a Sunday afternoon in the summer.
It get's quite lively on a Friday and Saturday and I've met some interesting people in here, all quite arty types but not up their own arse types.
The food has always been good and you get quite a lot of it so I reckon it's good value. I do like their selection of hot toddies too.
Last time I came here on a Monday and bangers and mash was �5, I think it's a Monday special. And excellent bangers and mash it was too although I could have done with a bit more gravy but I like gravy.
I've always found the staff to be friendly. I've had no complaints. Just a bit more gravy though.
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Just take a look at the menu and see what you actually get for your money.
�10 for sausage and mash even IF the spuds are 'pedigree' from Percy Throwers own veggy patch and even IF the sausages HAVE been rolled between the inner thighs of a nubian virgin is a pisstake.
Then take a look at the wine list and compare it with the Waitrose list. A 200% mark up on wines in a top London restaurant may be excusable.
A 200% markup in a grotty Camberwell boozer with overpriced beer as well certainly is not.
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rubbish
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This is a nice pub with a good atmosphere. Coldharbour Lane would be pretty rubbish without it!
However, the food is a little lacklustre, and sometimes overpriced. I don't mind paying for good quality food, but I had a really awful breakfast in the once - the ham tasted like it was from a can. would be good if they changed the menu more often. Also, some staff members can make good coffee, others can't.
Staff are quite friendly though, and you can quite easily spend a few hours in there just reading a paper. Overall, not bad.
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In agreeance with PMG.
We went in there a few Sundays back and were told to take a table and await someone to take our order.
Sitting there thirsty for ages before someone came up to us and asked if we had ordered drinks already and looking incredulous when we said we hadn't.
Is this a pub or not? They need to work out what it is and improve their methods.
What would be nice is really very simple:
Walk in, stand at the bar, order, receive and pay for a drink and then sit down to drink it.
anonymous - 18 Jul 2008 12:04 |
Overpriced. Great if you think you�re trendy or if money has no meaning. Food is average. Bombay mix was a disappointment.
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strange furniture but generally a nice pub, slightly out of the way but attractive
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we come here quiet alot it is ! of our beast places in this hairier it is near teh busstops qans their are ciken shops and chi-knnes takawae hear the pople are ferndley the torlest art cleaned the marnager is fernley and the barfasts are. it is near the hospitle but has no dart bored or paul aor cardes,
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Hmm whats a pseudo yuppie pub I wonder? if its a good welcoming pub with decent food, good range of drinks (although slightly limited real ale) and amazing garden then I guess the Doves is it. Check out the website for details of teh weekly films(Tues), quiz (Wed) and music (Sun)
Only objection to it in the past was that the main bar got very smoky but now the ban has come in there is no problem
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Pseudo yuppie pub. A big focus on food but they do offer one real ale (rare for this area). Good outdoor seating and free movies on Tuesdays.
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Pub quiz now back to former glory
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Quality jazz and other music on a Sunday night - including this week an appearance by Jamie Cullum - in Camberwell! At the Doves!
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Pub quiz this Wednesday was a bit shambolic - sound system poor and the question master not the best; I hope the increase in quantity of pub quizzes does not dilute the quality. Also the real ales were off which was rather disappointing. However food was good and waitress very attentive
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I believe pub quiz is now every Wednesday
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Thats not to say its not good in winter; in fact you might say good all year round
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Fantastic - best in the summer when you can sit out in the large rear terrace area
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Whats there not to like?
Excellent free live music every Sunday evening
Free films on Tuesday evenings
Pub quiz last Wednesday of every month
Good food, good drinks, good vibe
(see website for details of films/music)
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Top notch
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Not much has changed really, main thing seems to be a new bar and general smartening up of the place. This is still one of the (if not the) best pubs in South London
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The S&D is closed for refurbishment this week (27 Nov) and will reopen on Friday 1 December - first impressions of the refurb will be reported at the weekend.
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10/10 - the best pub in South London
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"Baby-Friendly", ergo full of smug punters signally not getting drunk, ergo somewhere i think i've been once in my life (that's right, after a christening!)
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Thanks Sophie
YOu're right about the website and updating it often and in a timely way has been a perennial issue that should be resolved soon.
IN the meantime you could subscribe to email invitations that do get sent out every week.
[email protected]
Regards
Mark
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Excellent pub quiz on the last Wednesday of every month
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Dear Mr Landlord
After the rant about the Pubco (is it really advisable to do this in public? - might you poison your relationship further when they hear that you have been slagging them off) please could I ask that you update your website more regularly.
I love to come to the S&D and would do so more often if I knew what was on. I know there are films on Tuesdays, regular live music and a quiz night but not walking past the door every day dont have an opportunity to find out about them until after the event.
Excellent pub by the way, great garden and art and service much improved in recent months - one of the best in London
Sophie
anonymous - 27 Sep 2006 16:49 |
A pub that poses profund questions - why are we here and is it art? Apart from such existential matters this is a very good pub.
Excellent range of foods and good drinks. Particular highlight is smoothies and cocktails. Not the cheapest place around but worth it for the atmosphere
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Great on summer Sunday evenings when there is live music. Service does seem to have improved greatly since my last visit. Food looked tasty but was only being served until 9:30 so I wasnt able to try it
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Withnail - I don't know if they keep an eye on the reviews here but they certainly do now have table service outside (and very attentive it was too). Great beer garden. I've taken advantage of the good weather this week and had a business lunch there on Tuesday and the food was great (trout, caesar salad and some meaty pasta thing). Tagged along with a group from the Institute of Psychiatry today and it was pretty good for a quick sandwich although one girl's bruscetta was burnt. Our waitress was superb and very friendly - certainly wouldn't be out of place at Belvedere or Mirabelle (probably dining rather than serving :-)
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A query re: the S&D - why don't they offer table service in the beer garden area? Surely would improve their revenue and the staff would benefit from tips.
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To be fair staff situation here does seem to have improved recently but get the feeling they need a manager/supervisor to get things to gel. Food can be ok but overpriced and running out of food (it happens regularly), particularly on a Sunday which must be their prime revenue day, does not look good. The food in the Castle on Camberwell's Church St is far better - brunch there then go to S&D for the beer garden.
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Not bad at all - although as others have reflected staff did seem a bit distracted on not really on the job
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Really very good pub. Unfortunately, it's location will probably always limit it's success. Service could be better, but still well worth a visit if your in the area. Good beer garden and nice vibe.
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Very good for breakfast at weekends - a fry up and bloody mary goes down a treat if a little expensive
anonymous - 15 Dec 2005 22:22 |
Agree with previous contributer - its got a lot to offer but seems to fall down a bit in the delivery.
I want to like it and regard it as a local but I never come away feeling contented.
anonymous - 7 Dec 2005 23:33 |
This pub has a lot going for it: garden is to die for; beer is good (& real, some of it); atmosphere is buzzy; there's a kitchen (closed due to running out of food, so can't comment,but they did run out: someone likes it). However, it also boasts the worst bar staff I have seen in years. It doesn't help that there's a clock directly on the wall opposite: yup, you guessed it; I had no choice but to look at it. So, the very cute airhead barmaid took 8 minutes to take an order for her friend with two meals, two drinks, one chat & the obligatory credit card transaction (why do girls always do this?). She then served another friend who was deep in the (unhappy) crowd rather than those who had been waiting the longest. The barman to my left took 18 minutes to work his way around to me (I give him credit that he worked strictly from right to left). An example of inexperience: a round of eight shots (Sambuca's I think). How do you pour them? Put them in a straight line next to each other & touching, pour away, spill 1 - 2% - 30 seconds? Not if you arrange them all nicely in a circle & fill them all gently one at a time. Spill = 0%, time taken 4 minutes - that's another punter gone as we were all dying of thirst (it was hot last night). On my side the standard order included a beer...but all the clean beer glasses were the other side of the bar...how many times did he weave his away over there, grab 2 glasses, weave back? I'm sure that's not rocket science (yes there was a space beneath his bit of the bar, I had an eternity to check that out). Basic training is what's needed: these guys & gals look 21 & act like it's a student bar for them & their mates. It's not good enough for central London, you will lose custom Mark: they need basic customer service training, fast, or I won't be back. If you want a recommendation of where it is done properly, go to the Firefly on Clapham Common Southside & watch the staff, you will learn a lot.
MikeS - 28 May 2005 11:40 |
excellent beer garden - pubs main (perhaps only) selling point. Beer selection is awful (may be tied in to ridiculous supplier agreement as most UK pubs seem to be!), food uninspired and way over priced. But the worst thing has to be the staff - female staff tend to be rude, male staff better but serve at a snails pace. Perhaps they're heavily medicated! Also why no table service, particularly in the beer garden area.
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I have lived in the area for 5 years now and consider the Sun & Doves a god send. Felt it had one major drawback though - some members of staff - not v. friendly to say the least. However, on recent visits we have witnessed a massive improvement - all staff; very amicable & helpful - this makes all the difference ! Food is excellent and the wine choice always good. Garden priceless. We love it. Thanks.
Gemma - 25 May 2004 16:38 |
A small comment. Why did the lovely Pub sign stand have no sign on it for many years and then subsequently get taken down. With all the pretences to be an arts establishment inside why does the Sun'n'Doves choose to ignore a very old English artistic tradition of having a pub sign? A opportunity missed?
That said, it's great after work hangout, especially in the summer.
doug - 20 May 2004 11:25 |
best olives in the world
andy - 28 Feb 2004 12:40 |
Having lived on Coldharbour Lane for a year I would have come back more frequently if the food prices were 2 quid cheaper across the board.
That said, fantastic beer garden in the summer, usually pretty quick to get served, and the ever changing artwork is always interesting. Also the first place I saw the Fuzzies chewable toothbrush (see what I mean in the men's loos).
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Nice to see the Boss chipping in. Shows willing. This pub will always do well due it's location to the hospital. Not sure about the art stuff on the walls - no you sell much of it? Drinks OK. Usual prices. Some, not all, of the staff can be very stuffy. Always has that little chap in there who did a lot of the building/painting work in the pub - something v comfy about that.
Parsnip - 19 Jan 2004 15:44 |
I own this pub and appreciate the frank comments being made here, all honest feedback is good, if sometimes not pleasant to hear. We're making a lot of changes to the Suna nd Doves in the next couple of months which I expect will help Eliza and her friends feell like they're getting a better deal when they visit.
At the moment we're working on improving the food and service and at some point in the new year we'll be refurbishing comprehensively.
In the meantime I'd appreciate any comments, particularly about bad experiences at the bar. I'm very happy to deal with them directly.
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Are we talking about the same pub here? If i'd read these comments two years ago I would have agreed but in the last twelve months this place has gone downhill. The staff are consistently rude - the female staff obviously have a preference for serving the lads as myself and various female friends have been ignored on several occassions. The food has improved slightly in the last couple of months (i.e. has been hot when served, and order has been correct) but with unfriendly staff and no obvious concern with customer care we have been rather reluctant to go there. Unfortunately it's my local and sometimes convenience prevails!
Eliza - 16 Dec 2003 12:51 |
this is a really good pub. however, i hate to say it but the food selection could be better. skewers are well and good but on a sunday i would like to eat a hamburger or chicken sandwich. with the exception of the occaisional bangers and mash there is nothing hearty on the menu and what is there is frankly too pricey.
still i do like to drink there and the staff are greta
anony mouse - 4 Nov 2003 16:21 |
Love this pub, fabulous garden, lovely interior, comfy sofa area good wine and food, good music inside and really pleasant staff.
anonymous - 14 Aug 2003 10:53 |
Mark the landlord is very welcoming. Staff a bit student union bar like.
Otherwise very friendly, Great food, nice decoration BUT a little bit pricey.
Well worth a try!!
Lee Garrett - 11 Aug 2003 14:04 |
First pub in the area to become... well, applicable to the way people live. It's been in its present guise for nearly eight years and has shown art all that time, one of the first pubs to do it. Child friendly (got an award in 2002) and pretty laid back atmosphere.
They're going to do a big refurb early in 2004 and get the beer colder.
nicky - 17 Jul 2003 18:12 |
Simply the best drinking place in Camberwell. great landlord, lovely garden, good wine list and tasty food. regular good quality art exhibitions. Beer could be colder.
anthony - 17 Jul 2003 16:09 |
Great pub with a fantastic beer garden, lots of seats, good atmosphere. Food is reasonable - best nachos around. Brilliant place to spend a summers evening. The pub is not bad either - so OK in the winter too.
Rachel - 10 Jul 2003 12:36 |
Absolutely the best beer garden in the area - loads and loads of space outside and in. Does food - which is ok; staff not overly friendly but polite enough; mixed crowd of people; sometimes good art (from local students I believe) on the walls
Tredder - 8 Jul 2003 15:12 |
