The Kentish Drovers (JD Wetherspoon), Peckham, SE15

As you'd perhaps expect, this is fairly careworn Spoons in a pretty rough and ready part of the capital. Greeted outside by a guy with a boom box selling knock-off merch, very much in keeping with the local character. Inside is a fairly featureless and surprisingly small interior; bar the attractive mosaic tiled flooring at the entrance there’s little to catch the eye. They've departed from the corporate norm by having handwritten luggage tags on the ales with price displayed, no idea why but it was quite a nice touch. Sadly that didn't extend to telling you what was actually pouring, it looked like six clipped and ready to roll but the reality on ordering was three. My Twickenham Wolf didn't fully clear but was drinkable (NBSS 2.5) – I suspect there’s not much call for cask round here. The atmosphere inside was fine, though there was also the feeling that it could get pretty lively at short notice. Service was decent, I was expecting a cautious grunt but it was friendly enough in actuality. Tick’s a tick, as they say – can’t imagine I’d ever see the need to re-appear unless a future GBG sends me somewhere nearby.

In many ways this is a typical 'spoons, but it's the first where the (apparently newly employed) barmaid refused a swop for an item in the traditional breakfast. Because she didn't know how to do it was clearly easier to refuse. But after protests she consulted a superior who showed her how to do it. Perhaps she thought that I was a deliberately difficult mystery shopper when I also produced the first CAMRA voucher that she had seen! The ale choice was fairly poor as well, especially considering that their beer festival was on, with mainly the usual suspects available and only two guest ales - some Zululand stuff, and Hopstuff Fusilier.

Wetherspoons have some fantastic bank conversions across their estate, but the Kentish Drovers is sadly not one of them. The entrance is fairly promising, seeing you pass through an area with a fine mosaic tile floor where a number of high tables and stools can be found as well as a drinking ledge to the left. The servery appears a little further into the room, also down the left hand side with a faux marble topped counter and dark wood bar back lit by some ridiculously bright lamps. Opposite is a carpeted space with standard tables and chairs and some long U-shaped banquette booths along the right hand wall under a series of large modern art works. A couple of large structural pillars break the space up a bit and act as supports for a few more drinking ledges. A TV on the far wall was showing muted FA Cup coverage and beyond this there was a smaller, quieter space, perhaps former bank offices, where loads more seating can be found as well as a few paintings and the usual 'Spoons local history boards. A trip downstairs to use the toilets was instantly regretted as they were a filthy hellhole. I counted three guest ales, including two from the local Sambrooks Brewery, one Spoons regular, two ciders and four unused pumps. I tried the Sambrooks Pumphouse Pale which was well kept, and then spent some time propping up the end of the bar watching the brusque staff and entertaining, well lubricated regulars. The staff deserve special mention for being perhaps the grumpiest most unwelcoming bunch I have encountered in any pub for a good many years. I've always felt that South London has been dealt a fairly rotten hand with its Wetherspoons pubs, with many being grim, dated and unwelcoming. A bank conversion in up and coming Peckham sounded like it might be one to buck the trend, but it wasn't to be and I would rather spend more visiting the area's 'trendier' venues than have to come back here. At least the beer was well kept.

Another tired scruffy Wetherspoon pub with a rear outside space so why the feck is the entrance doorway crowded with smokers? Five dull regional beers Spitfire.Hobgoblin,Doombar,Ruddles and Master Brew.Drunken raucous woman was entertaining but I would prefer a more ambient pub.

From the outside this place does look as though it may have originally been a pub, but apparently it was once a bank. There is an attractive mosaic tiled area as you enter and then it just becomes a typical high ceilinged Spoons barn with the bar on the left hand side. On my morning visit there was a group of old fogeys spread around two of the tables who were putting the world to rights. Their conversation was a bit like listening to a Derek and Clive track only it wasn't that funny nor was there any mention of Richard Wagner being in the back of a cab. There is a garden of some description which I completely failed to spot. Given that it was half way through the Autumn beer festival, the beer selection wasn't that great with only 4 festival ales on the 10 pumps and 3 non festival ales available soon. My Banks's Harpoon IPA (£2.29) was in reasonably good nick.

Randomness Guide to London - Kentish Drovers entry