The Cambria, SE5

Although on a backstreet, this is quite a substantial corner pub with tall windows under a high ceiling. The partially opened-out interior forms a 'U' shape, although there are the vestiges of a dividing wall along one branch (with the kitchen and dining area beyond). Mix of furniture, and decor dominated by a number of chandeliers and various antique-style mirrors, candlesticks, etc. Just Doom Bar (£4.20, and although lively in good form) from one of two handpumps.

There were two real ales on in here – Doom Bar and Adnam’s Southwold (£2.10 a half). This place styles itself as a pub and kitchen, but when I visited early evening on Wednesday there was a sign saying that the kitchen was closed that evening as they were hosting a wine tasting event. The pub itself has gone all gastro of course, with bare-boarded flooring, re-cycled dining room tables and chairs, a black painted ceiling, and arty dark grey floral wallpaper. There was a bowl of lemons and limes on the bar counter as well. There’s a nice wood framed fireplace at the back on the left, and some (grey painted of course) fielded wood panelling on the wall on the right, but otherwise any original heritage features are long gone. It’s all very “bling” as well, with gilt framed mirrors and no less than eight chandeliers adding loads of glitter. But the drawing room elegance that they seemed to be trying to create was diminished somewhat by the enormous TV screen showing (with sound enabled) some daytime TV programme, plus Guinness rugby bunting string along under the windows. I’m not sure what market they’re aiming at – I could be wrong but rugby and wine tasting don’t really seem to go together, although I guess that there’s nothing wrong with trying to appeal to more than one target market. It’s an “OK” pub, but not worth going out of your way to visit.

Randomness Guide to London - Cambria entry