Vanbrugh, Greenwich, SE10

Last venue in SE10 was the old Vanbrugh Tavern last visited in July 2021 but first visit since re-opened and re-named. Had a pint of the Anspach & Hobday Bermondsey pale ale. Also had another stronger brown ale from the same plus Absolutely Fuggled pale ale from Signal on hand pump plus a rather decent menu of craft options. Have the rather strange astroturfed outside drinking area at the back plus an inside drinking area beyond the bar with a bit of a Bavarian beer hall feel of tables and benches to perch on with your beer choice. Better than good but below great.

This is a mid-19th century pub, located deep in the backstreets of scenic and genteel Greenwich and originally the Duke of Edinburgh, previously the Vanbrugh, named after Sir John Vanbrugh, one the architects of the Royal Hospital, Greenwich. Older photos show a rather traditional locals’ boozer, but with a change of name comes a change of colour scheme and a predictable one at that: the exterior is now white and obligatory smoky blue which matches the interior with said smoky blue paint to the dado, then white up to a white ceiling above a boarded floor supporting traditional furniture; to the rear is a modern-looking area, possibly geared towards dining where the likes of smoked pumpkin houmous with toasted walnuts and balsamic syrup can be consumed by the mixed crowd. The bar front is also smoky blue with a pale wood top, a partially bare brick bar back with beers applied to a blackboard. Lighting comes from wire cage sconces with filament bulbs, décor amounting to just a few pot plants to windowsills; it’s still a bit bland. An ale lineup comprised just Southwark Top Drop and Bexley Amber at £2.50 a half and drinkable, served by a friendly barman. This isn’t a bad pub but it’s a bit anodyne; a more traditional and cosy interior along with a broader ale choice would get the score up to above average, but it really can’t compete with the Pelton down the road.