Farriers Arms, Deptford, SE8

Dating from the late 19th century, this is a former Charrington’s pub as evinced by the name, gradually falling off letter by letter to the top of the right-hand wall; the lovely and increasingly rare spherical Charrington’s lanterns, present by 2009, had disappeared by 2012. Externally it’s a bit scruffy but appearances can be deceptive because the interior is also a bit scruffy. Long and narrow, it’s a bit like drinking in a bowling alley, the rear entirely dominated by a pool table. The patterned carpet is looking a bit dirty and the bar array looks like it may date back to the ‘30s or ‘50s. The colour scheme is a shade of paint probably described as ‘mint ice cream’ on the colour chart. There’s a slightly raised area to the front, above which was a TV showing the golf, no-one watching; a sweetie dispenser was a bit anachronistic, though children are allowed until evenings, so perhaps it’s here to shut them up. Customers are very clearly an older and very local bunch, this being my second pub of the month where I felt positively young. There’s no cask, but the BrewDog Pale Ale was certainly a welcome change from multi-fizz or even Neck Oil, at a very decent £2.55 a half, served by a very friendly and welcoming barmaid. This place clearly serves a purpose, the locals perhaps eschewing the nearby and cheaper ‘spoons due to the younger customer base; a minor makeover and introduction of a decent cask selection could make this a pleasant little venue.

Official site of Farriers Arms - thefarriersarmspub.co.uk

Official site of Farriers Arms - thefarriersarmspub.co.uk

Narrow ex-Carrington pub that looks distinctly incongruous since it is rather taller than the neighbouring buildings in the terrace. It is also more elongated inside than you might expect, with the pool table well beyond the side bar counter. Typical basic Irish pub furniture and decor of the faded variety. My initial surprise to not only see a handpump but also a Doom Bar clip didn't last long since they don't actually still do real ale after a short-lived promotion (but why keep the clip on?). Thus, had to resort to the John Smith's (£3.40), but since that was all I had anticipated, this probably doesn't count as a fail...