Duke Of Catford, Catford, SE6

Official site of Duke Of Catford - dukeofcatford.co.uk

Official site of Duke Of Catford - dukeofcatford.co.uk

Impressive outside, less impressive inside is the one phrase summary of this recently reopened venue. It was moderately busy on my visit a bit before 8.30pm so I would be sure it needs to do massively better than this later in the week for this to not be another failure here. It is indeed an impressive space, attractive decor inside and an interesting space to spend some time for sure. The bar greets you as you walk in the front door, but of a shame you aren’t greeted a bit more by the quaffs on offer! Those pesky quaffs were a bit of a let down. The small bank of hand pumps tantalised me with Pride and Hophead but neither available. There was a cast of thousands on the keg beer front. A trio of Beavertown stalwarts, Guinness, Inch’s cider, Brixton Reliance Pale Ale and more than a half dozen lagers. I am so glad this venue has reopened and it would be lovely if this incarnation here survives. It is an impressive location and please do visit here, not that our collective efforts will make the difference here on viability. Sadly I can’t recommend on the beer front and use that to tempt you here.

Been drinking in the goose on and off for 20 years except when I was banned 1997-9 but that's a different story. It's doing okay at the moment. Staff are friendly. Toilets are a bit dark but okay. Beer is reasonable it's cheaper than the ram but more exp than spoons. All in all its a descent pub I'm often in there on a Sunday nursing a hangover and watching the footy - can't complain. Peace.

Fine-looking landmark pub with an interesting façade featuring a host of architectural details. Less interesting inside, which has been opened out into a large 'L' shape with run-of-the-mill furniture and decor, but there is a grand ceiling in the rear seating / dining area. Fair-sized, and partly-covered, patio beer garden to the rear. Standard Stonegate menu. Pride, Doom Bar, Bombardier, Hobgoblin Gold and Old Golden Hen (£2.70, and in surprisingly good form) available from five of six handpumps. Gives the impression of being a bit rough-and-ready, but the door staff at 18:00 seemed a bit unnecessary (or, at least, a bit early).

They had four of the usual suspects on in here - London Pride (£1.40 a half); GK IPA; Bombardier; and Doom Bar. A more unimaginative quartet it would be hard to find, and the Pride wasn't in very good condition either. There are glossy menus on the tables with the usual pubco stuff on it. This is a Stonegate pub, and it shows, having the look of a poor man's 'spoons. The predictable bank of three fruit machines is on the left. Tall tables/tall stools are arrayed along the front by the windows; a pool table is on the right; and at the back on the left is a large, much more comfortable room, furnished with normal tables and chairs. A fairly typical layout then. But it would once have been quite a magnificent pub - indeed the bar back, and perhaps some of the glazing in the upper panels, look very much like original Victorian, or perhaps Edwardian, features. Its central location, and frontage still bearing the original name of the pub set in stone on the parapet, suggest that it might once have been a spectacular Victorian "gin palace". There was some bunting consisting of flags of St George draped over the bar back, perhaps there in a forlorn hope of generating some interest in the forthcoming St George's Day. Anyway, a mundane beer selection, combined with typical pubco blandness, make this a pretty ordinary pub. Nonetheless, it scores points for the external magnificence of the structure itself, and I'm glad it's a survivor.