Camel & Artichoke, SE1

Dating from the late 18th century as the Artichoke, though no doubt rebuilt in the 19th, the Camel prefix arriving pre-2007 and something of a mystery. The interior has no remnants of the original pub, being rather modern and industrial. There’s a scaffolding bar back, the floor’s modern with a step down, walls are a mix of dark and pale grey paint, trendy printed wallpaper, with one wall clad with planks. Furniture is mixed, ranging from a leatherette sofa, to high scaffold tables. Lighting was exclusively of the filament variety and tedious rap music played over the stereo. Football was being shown on at least three TVs, one over enthusiastic customer hurling expletives at the TV, some ‘misogynistic’; the landlady and two female customers must have been delighted. An unused pump clip was flanked by two with reversed clips, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are reversed permanently; a half of Camden Pale rocked in at £2.90, served by a very friendly landlady, calling everyone ‘honey’. With the industrial interior and industrial language, I have no plans to return to this sports bar; Vaulty Towers over the road offers a better experience and a little light research will reveal a multitude of superior pubs in the area.

Official site of Camel & Artichoke - camelandartichoke.co.uk

Official site of Camel & Artichoke - camelandartichoke.co.uk

Previously The Elusive Camel, it’s now been found and is a drinking bar only, now the upstairs dining and function rooms have closed. The main bar is formed from knocking through the two groundfloor rooms, and there is an enclosed sunken garden at the back reached by descending a small flight of steps. The TV screens were showing a music video, though the HiFi was playing 1960s music which made it all a bit disjointed. There are 2 gaming machines as well. The barman was rather surly and unwelcoming, while the majority of the younger customers were mainly fairly laid back, many of them bringing in food from the street market outside. The 3 handpumps were dispensing Hobgoblin and Jennings’s Cumberland, both very much over-gassed and in poor condition, plus Old Rosie. On pressure were Punk IPA, two from ABK, Shipyard IPA and the usual range of megakeg. There were also some cheap (and nasty) cocktails being sold. OK for a quick one if you won’t get the hump about the ale quality but there are better pubs around this area.

The Camel and Artichoke is long and thin with a bar midway down the left hand wall. There is seating at the front and also at the rear where there is also access to a surprisingly large enclosed beer garden. Further seating can be found upstairs. Plasma screens are located throughout and during my visit one evening before Christmas muted Sky Sports was being shown. Available from the bar was a premium draught selection and I counted four hand pumps. One of these was off leaving St Austell’s Trelawny, St Edmunds Golden Beer and Greene King’s IPA as the cask ale options. I found the service to be very friendly and would pop in again if passing.