The Old Tigers Head, Lee, SE12

Facebook page of The Old Tigers Head - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Old Tigers Head - www.facebook.com

There were three handpumps on the counter; one unused, one saying that Purity Mad Goose was not yet available, and a third dispensing Sambrook's Junction (£4.20 a pint). I didn't see a menu, but this place has clearly been given an upmarket makeover and I would be surprised if they didn't serve food at the appropriate times. This is a large corner site town centre pub. The front area is now one large space; flooring is a mix of bare boards and carpet; fairy lights are strung across the room; and all the tables had a little sprig of flowers on them. I guess the introduction of fairy lights and flowers shows they've moved upmarket. The separate meeting or function room at the back, with its separate entrance in Lee Rd is till there. There is a stage at the back of that room, which one of our companions who has known the pub for many years says must be at least 50 years old. But now the best feature in this pub is the Victorian tiling in the entranceway on the left, with its centrepiece being a tiled panel portraying, most appropriately, a tiger's head. It was made and painted by Craven and Dunnill & Co, a company that's still in being. This pub is now a lot more airy, bright, and welcoming than the grimy old boozer that our companion remembered from years past. The furnishings were comfortable enough, and after the dismal Doom Bar we had in the previous pub, the decent pint of Junction in here was very welcome indeed.