Randomness Guide to London Menu

A refitted pub on Peckham Rye Common. As of April 2011, it has been acquired by the Capital Pub Company.

In a former life, this was presumably a hotel (the old fittings still say "Rye Hotel"), but now has been reborn as the familiar stripped-wood darkly-lit pseudo-gastro pub. There's a large front room with lots of natural light, though quickly getting darker around the side of the bar. Two rooms out the back have canopies and curtains, and there is an extensive beer garden beyond that, providing even more space outside during the summer. The indoor areas can get quite noisy during the weekends and at busy periods.

On a Sunday lunch visit, several of the larger tables in the main room were booked for families and the others soon filled up, as this place is predictably popular with the young professional parents of East Dulwich and environs. There were still places for small groups of two or three to sit (provided they don't mind children and baby carriages pushing past!).

They have a couple of real ales on tap which are regularly changed, and in March 2008 were Mauldon's White Adder and Everard's Pitch Black. They also have Leffe, Hoegaarden and a few other standard lagers. The wine list is extensive and large glasses range from £4-8, with bottles at £12-30; the sauvignon blanc Ewan tried from the middle of the list was excellent.

Food is served noon-4pm and 6pm-10pm Monday to Friday, noon-5pm Saturday, and noon-9pm Sunday. The Sunday roast comes in at around £11, including a vegetarian option with veggie sausages (Flickr photo). The latter was excellent on a March 2008 visit (the sausages weren't the familiar supermarket brands you usually get), with some lovely red cabbage and vegetables, and tasty, crispy roast potatoes, though the Yorkshire pudding was a little too crispy. One of my friends had the feta cheese salad for a main (£8) which was likewise lovely, with lots of cheese.

On another visit the following year, a halloumi and mushroom burger (£9) was served opened up, but it was easy enough to put back together and had plenty of taste, as well as some crunchy chips on the side, and served with dips photo.

See also:

• Fancyapint review
• Beer In The Evening comments
• Time Out review
• London Eating comments
• Southwark News review