Abbey Arms, Abbey Wood, SE2

This place seems to have changed a good bit in the near 15 years since Steve’s review. I would hazard a guess that the Abbey Wood Liz line terminus a 2 min walk away has had something to do with that! It looks like it has been jazzed up a good bit (inside and out) to appeal to at least a part commuter crowd and also as a place for young families to take the kids for a post school pizza. The furniture has been spruced up by the look of it also with some yello leather banquettes and a mixture of large and small tables with comfortable seating for those large family groups. The ceiling above the side of the bar not facing the entrance looked like a coloured Xmas light job lot from a producer insolvency! The bar itself is pretty traditional, sturdy wood construction, one side facing you as you enter the pub and the other side along the length of the pub on the way to the outside seating out the back. It did not however have the Cmas pressies on the drinks front. Two remaining hand pumps with clips turned round (poor show heading into rather than out of a weekend). Was a plain vanilla keg offering, Amstel, Cruz, Brixton Coldharbour, Moretti, Stella, Camden Helles, Heineken Silver on the lager front with Inch’s cider, Guinness, Neck Oil, Camden Pale Ale and something called Anchor Bay Pale Ale. Definitely serves a purpose but the barking dogs, kids running around made for a somewhat annoying stay. Serves a purpose, as Steve notes below, just not my purpose. My Camden Pale swiftly consumed now i have done 50% of the pubs in the SE2 postcode on a single visit. Onwards and upwards to the other 50% next!!

This pub wouldn't be out of place in the middle of a housing estate and having grown up in the middle of a housing estate I didn't mind it in here. I see nothing wrong with having a pint in this basic boozer whilst waiting for a train as the barmaid was very friendly and although the air was a bit blue and the locals looked a bit rough and ready I was made to feel welcome by most. There are five hand pumps, but unfortunately four are unused as only Pride was available along with a standard draught selection. There are a couple of plasma screens and a projector for the airing of Sky Sports, but as no worthwhile events were on during my afternoon visit a few of the locals were watching Judge Judy which I thought a bit depressing. There is a dartboard at the front of the pub and a good sized garden out the back that has a climbing frame at the rear to keep the kids amused whilst on a mind bending session. I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to drink here again, but it serves a purpose and is better than nothing.