Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 34 and Version 33 of Blythe Hill Tavern, SE23 1JB

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Good Beer Guide pub towards the Catford end of Forest Hill.

It's certainly a very pleasant pub, with several separate rooms internally photo (still with their old separate entrances, though you can get between them inside), and plenty of old sporting and Irish memorabilia on display. The main bar serves the front and back rooms, and a separate bar serves the smaller side room (where there's an Irish music session on Thursday evenings). There's a very large beer garden outside, which includes a children's play area. Good WiFi.

There are plenty of drinks options aside from Guinness, with four handpulls for ale on each bar. On Ewan and Kerry's July 2010 visit, these offered London Pride, Dark Star Hophead, Courage Best, and Adnam's Broadside. The ale was well-kept and good value. On Kake's August 2016 visit, the ales were Dark Star Hophead, Dark Star Hylder Blonde, and Sharp's Doom Bar. They also had several bag-in-box real ciders on; a staff member explained that some of these were left over from a cider festival the previous month. A pint of lime and soda was £1. On Rowley Birkin QC's visit in April 2019 there were still Dark Star ales (American Pale Ale (£4.10, good condition), and Hophead), plus Harvey's Sussex Best (£4, good condition), Butcombe, Courage Best and again several ciders.

When Kake visited on a Wednesday morning in August 2016, there was one other customer shortly after their opening time of 11am, and a couple more turned up while I was there. No music was playing. On Rowley Birkin QC's April 2019 visit, mid-afternoon on the Tuesday after Easter, there were 15-20 customers. Again, no music was playing.

According to the Spring 2008 South-East London CAMRA newsletter, the licensee (Con Riordan) has been with the pub for 20 years.

Ewan's verdict: A warm and welcoming local to which I'd happily return.

Accessibility: A step to get in at the front; there may be level access at the side though. Toilets not checked.

See also:

Last visited by Rowley Birkin QC, April 2019. Opening hours taken from sign outside, August 2016.

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