The Shirkers Rest, New Cross, SE14

This is New Cross’ addition to the ever expanding South London micropub scene, located in a former solicitor’s office, just over the road from Goldsmiths University. The room feels a little narrower than your average micropub, making for a compact, cosy feel that is enhanced by retained features such as the striking terrazzo tiled floor. The space has been given a dark paint job and has a small servery tucked away to the rear. Hard bench and chair seating serves the right-hand side of the room, whilst high tables with a mix of high stools stand opposite, with a tight walkway between. Large shop-style windows to the front bear the pub’s logo and allow plenty of light in whilst ensuring the front tables are ideal for a bit of people watching. The walls have been decorated with mirrors, posters, quirky prints and a strange collection of photographs depicting various chairs in urban settings. The bar has a very simple counter with the keg taps on a side wall and some basic shelving along the bar back. A few seats can be found out on the pavement to the front and a staircase opposite the entrance promises an upstairs overspill seating area, which I’ve never explored. An interesting soundtrack played quietly in the background throughout my stay and the place was nearly full - I managed to bag the last seat before people had to start heading upstairs. There are four handpulls on the bar, one of which was being changed when I arrived, leaving a choice of Red Willow Weightless, Arbor Mild West and a Siren and Ellusive collaboration called Nine Mile Ride. The Weightless was in great nick and slipped down very nicely as I squeezed myself into the last seat in the house thanks to some welcoming locals who were happy for me to join them at their table. I’ver been back here since and found four green hop beers on the bar as part of a theme week, although the pint I chose this time was a pretty tasteless, uninspiring brew. I like this place and have already returned a couple of times when passing through New Cross. It’s a decent enough example of the micropub concept and seems to get in a lot of beers that you perhaps won’t find elsewhere in the capital. I’m sure I’ll be making many more visits here in the future and would say it’s a good addition to the local pub scene. Date of visit - 3rd June 2023

Situated opposite Goldsmith's University in a slightly grungy area of South East London, this place now appears in the latest Good Beer Guide. Described on WhatPub as a "micropub-style venue", it felt more like a US dive bar. I walked in to a smell of weed and an empty bar. Although I soon realised that one of 2 young guys sat at a bench table near the bar was the bartender. Beers are listed to the side of the beer. The focus is on crafty keg offerings, but there were 3 real ales and 3 ciders. The ales were Marble Pint & Manchester Bitter & Elusive Stand Up and be Counted. Ciders were Seacider Peach Cider, Duckchicken Maisonette Blend & Ledbury Wilce's Sweet. Craft beers were Orbit Nico & Tzatziki Sour, Anspach & Hobday London Black, Indie Rabble The Mob Has Arrived, Brew York Juice Forsyth & Track Tuya & Sonoma. Ciders here are really overpriced. In fact, their prices are aligned to the craft beers. I ordered a half of the Maisonette Blend without noticing the £6.60 price for a pint. Luckily, a half was exactly half of the pint price. So, I didn't feel ripped off twice. However, not having had the Wilce's Sweet, I opted to push the boat out and order a half of that too. It was priced at £6.80 for a pint! The downstairs is a tiny space, somehow also managing to fit in some toilets. Like Ian before me, I didn't manage to explore the upstairs. There were a few other punters in, including some college students and some City types in suits. A couple were also braving the cold weather on the pavement outside. Then a young American girl strolled in with a rather large instrument (musical) and sat with the bartender who she obviously knew. Music was on the eclectic side. I'm not quite sure what to make of this. It's a strange venue to get into the Good Beer Guide. I can't quite imagine a group of crusty CAMRA fellows turning up here to try the beers. But in the latest Guide it is and if you can stand the pricing, it's probably worth a visit to try some different beers (or ciders).

Spritual home of the Deserter Podcast. If you like pubs/beers, you should be aware of this. Great entertainment. Its a micro over two floors, but I didnt get past the ground floor. Small, a few tables, a bar at the far end. Decent Drop Project Flow and I am glad that I read the previous review about the cost of slabs (and their merits). I bought a couple of packs to take home with me - this and the pint £12.80. I dont think the pints are unusually expensive! Slowly filled up - and with company, you can appreciate its quirkiness.

Another small bland micropub with (for me) 2 bland cask beers from Brockley and Peckham breweries.Lukewarm welcome .Maybe i expect too much from micropubs.Tried 2 from the keg taps which were decent.Bought an incredibly expensive packet of slab crisps but on reflection they were worth it.Sat outside watching the traffic.

Official site of The Shirkers Rest - theshirkersrest.co.uk