BITE user comments - homeboy
Comments by homeboy
The Joiners Arms, Denmark Hill
It may be on the main drag, but this is one of Camberwell's hidden gems. If you overlook the toilets (which need to be overlooked), you've got a solid 'locals' pub with a great jukebox, good range of beer (apart from any hand pump ales which is a huge shame), a chilled candlelit front bar at night, and a back bar which was just amazing last Friday. The furniture leaves a lot to be desired, and they've never heard of mood lighting, but there was a guy playing some great music, a really cool atmosphere and the staff were really spot-on. The guy behind the bar (John/Sean?) made us feel as if we'd been born there! Thanks - we'll be back - a lot!
3 Feb 2009 17:50
Not sure I went to the same pub as everyone else who's posted here, but after 2 execrable pints of ale (one of which was returned as too rancid to even smell, and one of which just got left after 2 mouthfuls as stale and undrinkable) had to abandon ship and go elsewhere. Basically a glorified public bar, with minimal seating, no discernible comfort value and a damp musty smell (which may have come from the motley clientele). Whatever others may say about the White Hart,(where we promptly retreated to) it's comfortable, they know how to look after their beer - and while I have yet to try it, their food looks impressive.
6 Sep 2008 14:45
A great addition to the area: great beer (Dark Horse, Leffe), cute attentive bar staff and a beautiful dining area. Never busy (which is probably not what the owners want!) but 2 things might help - a) add a little heating and b) for the prices charged maybe a little more generosity with the portion control? Excellent food but where quantity is concerned, not really good value for money. But hey ho, I'll be back!
28 Dec 2006 01:32
What a great idea - take a small, busy, friendly, gay backstreet boozer, rip the physical and emotional guts out of it, paint it magnolia, try to fill it with straight posers who want to pay over �3 for a 330ml bottle of lager and show sport that no-one watches (because there's never anyone in there!).Then stand back as a large group of former loyal, high-spending and well-established locals desert the place(almost without exception) in droves. Very satisfying when there are more ex-locals round a table in a pub across the road at 7pm on a Monday evening than in the whole of the Gladstone at 9pm on a Friday night. Failure hopefully imminent - then let soneone who knows what they're doing take over!
2 Nov 2005 10:45
The Joiners Arms, Denmark Hill
Everthing comes to he who waits. We've been watching the changes over the past few months and the Joiners is looking really good. At last they've given in to pressure and have 3 reall ales (in great condition too)and Addlestones Cider. Popped in last Saturday and along with the Adnams Broadside, a cracking band called Select Edit made us late for dinner. It was worth it. Now definitely one of the best watering holes in SE5 - with some work on the toilets it might almost be perfect.
9 Aug 2010 13:56