The New Cross House, New Cross

I've lived in New Cross for 15 years and the refurbished and renamed New Cross House (ex Goldsmith's Tavern) is an excellent addition to the area.
There's a good mix of people - students, locals, people I've never seen in other pubs around here, and a mix of ages. There's a real buzzing atmosphere and the staff are very friendly, there's even table service! The food is great, especially the pizzas (made to order and cooked in 5 minutes in a wood-fired oven). Broad range of music played at just the right volume whether it's quiet or packed, so you can still have a conversation. Lots of seating, including some comfy booths.
Big choice of lagers and ales, e.g. Estrella, Moretti, Meantime Brewery, Beaver, Adnams, Heineken. Good wine list plus red and white on tap available by the glass or half litre/ litre carafe.
It ain't cheap though - beers are around �4 per pint, up to �4.60 for Vedett - ok it's lovely stuff but it adds up over an evening. Still, we've found ourselves drawn away from our usual Marquis of Granby, despite the expense, as it's just a lovely pub.
The nearest equivalent would be the Royal Albert down the road, but the beer's pretty poor in there, and the menu's not as good.
Almost forgot - fantastic beer garden which will still be usable during the winter as they've tarted up the old stable building, added a mezzanine floor and a wood-burning stove - and you can smoke in it.
It can only be a good thing for New Cross to have more choice in where to go for a drink (but if I hear one more person say it's the new Shoreditch.........)

21 Jun 2011 18:39

The Hobgoblin, New Cross

I agree with other reviewers that the atmosphere here is good, but the beer is awful! On various occasions I've tried all the lagers on offer in the vain hope of spotting a bubble, but no - they're all flat. And expensive. Last night I pointed it out to the landlord, who just poured my pint into another glass and topped it up. But it was still flat! For �3.30! Definitely the worst pint in New Cross.

12 Mar 2010 09:11