The Bell, Sydenham, SE26

Unbelievably 6 months short of 15 years since Steve’s review, this place is as described below! It is a big C shaped seating area with pool table on the top side of the C as I sat at the bar, actively used, Sky Sports on TV’s dotted around, a stage for live music (not on tonight) on the opposite side to the pool table, so the bottom side of the C from my perspective. Suspect the same four hand pumps that were unused 15 years ago remain on the red coloured bar top. Keg choices were dominated by lagers (Krony, Foaters, Heineken & Stella) with Camden Pale Ale and Neck Oil for craft aficionados (that is pushing it a bit I know), Inch’s cider (does anything have an apostrophe these days) and my choice of another Guinness. This venue has a strong West Indian clientele and continuous reggae music on the, decent, sound system. Beer options aside this place was utterly fabulous, warm welcome, vibrant life, a total joy and my experience of the evening even if it doesn’t get the highest score as it will never be a cask beer destination. If you come to SE26 or neighbouring areas to do a crawl, look in on this place and have something to drink that is best aligned with your preferences from what is on offer. It is well, well worth it.

This place still has a couple of pool tables and a dartboard as well as plasma screens throughout and Sky Sports. There is a standard draught range from which I had a decent pint of Guinness, but the four hand pumps are all unused. I found the barman to be friendly enough and, although this place is forgettable, I would use it if my friends and I lived locally as we like a good game of darts.