The Joiners Arms, Woodside, SE25

Definitely warmer than at the time of PSM’s visit! I really liked this pub immediately on entrance, it is really quirky. If you hadn’t walked here and experienced the area outside and were here you almost wouldn’t believe this pub was where it was! Have been in many country pubs like this over the years but this one is in SE25. It has a small but equally insulated beer garden out the back. Can’t add anything to the immaculate description of the interior below, although I did like the suit of armour in the front right hand corner (if you are sitting inside) and kept thinking there was someone in the corner watching over me. The music here was much to my liking - a bunch of infrequently heard 60’s hits! Quaffs wise I will give it the benefit of the doubt on a Monday evening after presumably a busy weekend. Had TT Landlord and much more to my excitement on spotting the clip for Knowle Spring but both were off. No other punters were drinking cask and on enquiring I got a snide comment from one of the scaffolders saying he might look at the beers on hand pump in another 25 years! So only Doom Bar and a typical range of keg beers. Another Guinness for me which was disappointing. I would say this is one that is worth making a modest trek to as I suspect you will catch it on a better cask offering evening. Definitely had that character that the Portland had been lacking as a modern pub. So only a 6 as the Portland but a 7 would be easily attainable for this place. As one of the songs told me whilst I am here, “Something Tells Me I’m into Something Good”.

Attractive boozer with a country pub feel to it, despite being set in a less than impressive part of Woodside Green. The exterior gives a clue to what you might expect inside, with plenty of hanging baskets, some cartwheels and interesting ceramic name plates giving it a bit of charm and character. Inside it's all low, wood beamed ceilings and exposed brickwork across three semi partitioned rooms, giving it a cosy ambience despite several large screens showing live football. There is an impressive collection of artefacts throughout the pub including, among other things, pots, pans, horse brasses, more cartwheels, lamps, buffalo horns, various stuffed birds and fish, a suit of armour and a fish tank. There are a few curved banquettes which form 'booth-like' areas with the rest of the seating being in the form of low stools and tables and some bar stools in the narrow section along the bar counter. There were three ales available when I last visited - London Pride, Shep's Spitfire and Woodforde's Wherry (£2.65). I tried a pint of the latter which poured cloudy but settled fairly quickly. It was served a bit too cold for my liking, but it was incredibly cold outside, so this may have been a seasonal issue. An enjoyable location for a pint or two and one that I expect to return to more often now that I have moved to a new house nearby.

Randomness Guide to London - Joiners Arms entry

Randomness Guide to London - Joiners Arms entry