The Bull & Finch, Gipsy Hill, SE19

Facebook page of The Bull & Finch - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Bull & Finch - www.facebook.com

Small but perfectly formed micro pub ever so slightly the other side of Gipsy Hill station and opposite. Obviously changed name since Beer Rebellion days but the essence of the place is the same I would hazard a guess. No evidence of a downstairs seating area on my visit. It is indeed cosy, would imagine 20 in here would be a push! The bar is a corner cut off on the right hand side as you walk through the yellow door to enter the venue. Seating is an array of generally 2 person tables . Can imagine two or three could stand at the bar. Beer wise they had Burning Sky Plateau on hand pump with the other hand pump not dispensing. Have posted a picture of the extensive craft offering. There are also some beer fridges offering a typical array of craft quaffs. Also a decent space turned over to German and Belgian bottled beers. There is also a decent selection of wines to choose from. Nice venue and definitely the best of the venues near the station. Not much space though if you hit at a popular time.

The ales here are still listed on a blackboard behind the bar, giving essential information like brewery, name, ABV and price. I didn't list them all, but there was a good selection, and I was enticed by one of my very favourites - By The Horns Diamond Geezer at £4.10 a pint. That's not really overpriced (by London standards) for a 4.9% ABV beer. Being a micropub there was no sign of food. It's obviously a shop conversion. There's still a trio of tall tables/tall stools on the left; bar counter on the right; and one or two normal tables and chairs at the back past the counter; and no sign of TVs or one armed-bandits. So, it's a micropub in my book, but purists may disallow it because there was some (just about audible) traditional R & B being played. This is a very typical minimalist micropub. I like the breed, but it's not the sort of place to take a lady for a night out. But maybe I'm wrong there as I suspect that one or two of the lady members of my CAMRA branch would welcome being taken here. I would certainly visit again.

Same name different shop so new pub I would think.Far smarter one room ground floor shop conversion with basement space.About 6 cask beers on and the 2 I tried from Mallinsons and Brew york were in good condition.Nice little bar.

Looking at the previous photos, this micropub has clearly relocated next door to the original premises which is now occupied by a Caribbean bar and restaurant. You enter to a typically small room. the bar on the right is painted red, three tall tables and stools opposite. The taps, sixteen I counted, are on a back wall in a white background which looks like an old kitchen dresser. Beers are listed on a board by type and abv/price. Cask on my visit were Otley 05-Hop Angeles, three from ELB, Pearly Queen Porter, Cowcatcher and Foundation Bitter, Alchemy 5 Sisters and Wild Beer Bibble. I had halves of the Otley and Bibble, served in dimpled glasses, they were in good shape. A cider from Cockeyed, Devon Jasper plus kegs from Siren, Sambrooks, Fourpure and Wylam. Pints, halves, thirds and two thirds are served. I certainly didn't see the previously mentioned kitchen but menus were on the tables from the Caribbean restaurant next door so I assume takeaways are permitted. Two pint cartons for takeaway beer are available. There is more seating in the basement where there are two rooms, one has exposed brick and looked a bit spartan, another with armchairs and a fireplace looked a better bet. Noticeboards include a Community board and Dulwich Hamlet fixtures. A lovely little place with a good bunch of real beer lovers in on Sunday afternoon, please note that they close for a brief tart up from 12th till the 15th December, back on the 16th.