The Pawleyne Arms, Penge

What a shame...

For 25 years this pub was a true diamond in the rough, a rose amongst thorns... Sadly most good things do not last, and that is certainly the case with the Pawleyne.

The pub itself, infact any pub, is just a building with a license to sell alcohol. You can then go so far as to make it clean, make it tidy, but ultimately, it is the people that make the difference.
The people at every level of a pub from landlord / landlady, to bar staff, and then the life blood of the pub, the customers, it is them that turn a building with a license into a place you'd return to again and again.

That said, the recent departure of the greatest landlady in South London history, has had grave consequences for the Pawleyne.
The writh wrath, unwelcome by staff and punters alike for all these years now have free reign to return, and returned they have, turning 25 previous years of chavlessness around in a blink of an eye.

The same happened all those years ago after Leo (God bless his soul) ran a tremendous pub at the Goldsmiths. After Leo's untimely departure to the great pub in the sky, The Goldsmiths swiftly fell to the dark side, and has never really returned, despite several attempts.

I don't foresee anything changing soon, in fact, the way the pub is now, I only foresee a Tesco Express in it's place in 12 months time.

Terrible shame, terrible loss, terrible times, and with a heavy heart, I have to say that the current Pawleyne, of the last quarter of 2012, and into the new year, is ( Sigh) a truly terrible pub.

I'd rather drink urine off a stinging nettle.

5 Jan 2013 08:44