The Faber Fox, Crystal Palace, SE19

Visited on 15/04/24 but failed to post last night! Not sure I can add much to PSM’s comprehensive description below other than noting that I didn’t spot and hand pumps but loads of keg options. The venue was populated by either diners tucking into their meals or chaps revelling in Chelsea’s destruction of Everton. Pretty soulless venue really in my opinion but an average 5 fairly sums up the venue as will appeal to lots and not impress many.

Official site of The Faber Fox - thefaberfox.co.uk

Official site of The Faber Fox - thefaberfox.co.uk

Another addition to the pub scene in Crystal Palace’s triangle, the Faber Fox is a new sports themed bar occupying the site of a former bar called Twenty Five that I can’t say I ever recall seeing before. The pub is of a reasonable size with a smartly furnished seating area upon entry which was being used almost exclusively by diners when we arrived on a busy match day. Lots of brightly coloured, upholstered chairs and banquettes formed into booths make this a good place to find a seat. The bar appears midway down the left hand wall, split along its length by a large pillar, with a bare brick bar back and sturdy wooden counter. There are limited seating options opposite, save for a few high tables, with the space almost exclusively filled by vertical drinkers watching a Premier League fixture on one of the many TV screens dotted around the room. An open kitchen to the rear right looks out towards the far portion of the room where a few more seats can be found before you reach a doorway out to the rear decked garden. This is a split-level garden with bench and plastic chair seating in the upper half where you can enjoy some spectacular views out across South London towards the City. The lower part has a rickety looking shelter and more of the same seating but no view. There were some screens showing rugby as well as the football and the commentary was on quite loud, competing with the boisterous crowd and making it a really cacophonous environment. I noted two handpulls on the bar but one was off and the other was left unclipped, so I had to pick from the modest craft keg selection, eventually ending up with a pint of Brixton Low Voltage Session IPA after the barman, who was more interested in watching the match than in serving the massive crowd at the bar, finally got around to serving me. We had food here too and thought it was fairly standard pub grub but nothing to get too excited about. This place is clearly aimed at a certain demographic and will be off-putting to many who have no interest in watching sport on TV. I thought it looked like a nicely put together pub with a bit more thought to it than your average sports bar, but was disappointed to find no ale and regretted timing our visit to clash with a match. Come for the sports action or else check the schedule in advance to avoid the crowds.

Modern bar very busy on a Sunday afternoon, with all seating taken I managed to perch on a bar stool. Two ales on ,Sambrooks Pumphouse Pale and Brixton Effra ale, the former setting me back £2,50 a half.

Long rectangular modern bar.Busy on my visit.Nice interior with outside seating to the rear.Noisy but lively.Brixton -effra ale on cask.

Twenty Five was on my list to do while doing a pub crawl of the area. Sadly it looked like it was being done up with scaffolding on its front,but the signage was still in place so there is still some hope for this bar reopening at some point. Attempted visit 16/4/2016