The Dog House, SE11

This pub looked quite promising when I walked in. There is a small front room where one old boy was reading a newspaper and a larger rear room with 2 or 3 more customers. The bar itself separates the two rooms. There are bare boards underfoot, whilst the walls have countless things to admire including stuffed animal heads, stuffed birds, African masks, a few pictures, pumpclips and even a scorpion and a spider in a glass case. The Natural History Museum would be proud. To the rear is a real fire (actually lit) with a rug around it, as well as some interesting lamps and some birdcages. A small table had some board games on it. There was further seating upstairs, but I didn't explore there. One group did descend the stairs. I got the impression they had had a meal up there and were coming back down for drinks. The only sign of food being served was actually a menu in the gents toilet. Music was playing, whilst a TV was showing a live Premier League football match without any sound. The real disappointment was the beer. With 6 handpulls and an entry in the Good Beer Guide, I was hoping to find more than just London Pride. I can see why pubs double or triple clip pumps now, as having 5 empty handpulls seemed like the sign of a pub in decline. Craft beers were Beavertown Neck Oil, Camden Stout & Brick Peckham Pale. I ordered the stout and received a short measure at a price of £6.20 a pint. There are drinks menus on each table and there was a cocktail list behind the bar. Lovely pub, but the lack of cask ale does not bode well.

The Doghouse (note, one word) dates from at least 1856, the date of 1894 is probably the date of rebuilding what was once the Roebuck. The previous reviews still stand up. The place is a bit ‘Antic-lite’, in that parts are deliberately distressed. What is of unusual interest is the stone spittoon, which runs round the base of the bar, complete with footrail. Otherwise, the ceiling is red and there are knickknacks everywhere. There’s a very ornate column with obligatory gold Corinthian capital; pot plants complete the tableau. Customers were twentysomethings and in high spirits, music played at an acceptable level. There were two unused pumps here, then Pride, ELB’s Cowcatcher, Tribute and Southwark Brewing’s Potters’ Fields Porter at £2.20 a half and although it smelled fine, it was a little sharp; I don’t know if it’s meant to taste like this. This is quite a nice pub, one of the best in the area and certainly better the than the Tommyfield, opposite; worth a visit if in the area.

Official site of The Dog House - www.doghouse.pub

Official site of The Dog House - www.doghouse.pub