Catford Bridge Tavern, Catford, SE6

Visited 26/01/26. Visited previously 17/07/23 No cask. The two functioning hand pumps were both out of action today for line cleaning. Decent keg choice, the London Pilsner from Portobello, Luke’s Gospel cider, the Heart & Soul session IPA and the Life & Death IPA both from Vocation, Pravha, the Mondo Road Soda (a New England Pale that I am often drawn to when I see it on tap), the hazy pale Existence as a Radical Act from Queer Brewing, the Down Shift AF pale ale from Drop Project, the Orange County Kveik IPA from Belleville, Hepcat, Efes, Blue Moon, Witch from Supercute, Shifty the pale ale and Choppy the Irish stout both from Drop Project, Madri, Guinness, Aspall. Pleasantly large and imposing venue by the exit from Catford Bridge station. Some outside seating but inside plenty of comfy seating options on a cold late January early evening. The venue is bare boarded with the bar counter on a chessboard pattern tiled skirt to the left of the entrance. There are some booth tables along the wall opposite the bar counter with a few tall tables and tall backed stools to the far end of the bar counter. Walls are panelled with dark wood in this area. There is a non-working fire grate on the far wall opposite the entrance with a couple of facing leather studded sofas. The right-hand side of the venue, behind the bar counter, has a leather banquette along one wall serving regular tables and some booth tables on the wall backing the bar counter and opposite the open kitchen. Plenty of regular tables and chairs and a wingback armchair array around another non-working fire grate, but this side of the venue and the area to the right-hand of the entrance is mainly set up for diners. Some TV’s switched off on my visit and an easy listening soundtrack being played on an efficient sound system. Lighting was low in the dim outside light, but the venue benefits from decent natural light on sunnier and lighter days from the windows on all four walls. Nice venue that would be much better with a reliable cask offering.

A huge cavernous station pub that seems to be modeling itself as a sports bar resulting in a somewhat characterless space. There are several TV screens dotted about plus a single pool table. All handpumps were blank, so no real ale was available, not sure if this is a temporary measure but I suspect not. There were a few commonplace craft beers avaiable from the likes of Beavertown and Camden Town plus all the normal keg stuff. This pub did very little for me and I only called in here because I had an half hour train wait, I'll get my timing better next time.

This used to be an Antic pub, and although that's a few years ago now, it's still got a bit of the look. The original bare boards look to have been well used and battered over the years, although I suspect that the new pub operators may have given the ceiling a lick of paint. The central servery has drinking areas all round it, with some booths, some banquettes, but mainly normal tables and chairs for furnishings. A black and white tiled splash area surrounds the counter. All the tables had a little sprig of flowers on them, as well as a candle. There's some nice fielded panelling on the walls, although unfortunately some of it has now been painted a sort of mushroom grey, as well as a couple of excellent brick built fireplaces. It seemed that everywhere one looked you saw a poster adverising some football match or another, so obviously they're trying to attract the live sport crowd. There were four real ales on, including Sambrook's Powerhouse Porter (£2.10 a half), but was unfortunately not in good condition, the Southwark pair of Best and Bankside Blond, and Brockley Red Ale. I didn't see a menu - although I did see the open to view kitchen around at the back - but a small blackboard behind the counter advertised chef's weekly deals, such as (Monday) "buy a burger and get a second one for £1" (Wed & Sat) "stack of buffalo wings and a pint for £10". It didn't specify what the pint was. This massive "Brewer's Tudor" pub is a landmark on Catford Rd. It's a large area inside, and seemed a bit lifeless - a bit like my Sambrook's Porter. I'll give it another try if I'm in the area, but I don't think that I'll be making a special effort to visit again.

Official site of Catford Bridge Tavern - www.catfordtavern.com

Official site of Catford Bridge Tavern - www.catfordtavern.com

Solitaire Limited says it has "ambitious" plans for the Catford Bridge Tavern with a bar in the centre of the pub, a restaurant and a heated outdoor roof terrace to the rear. A planning application for the new pub is due to be handed in to Lewisham Council next month.

Closed and boarded 18/01/2014