Isla Ray, Deptford, SE8

Visited 28/08/24. Quirky place. Long narrow venue with servery mid venue on left-hand wall. Furniture is what you would describe as a mishmash of styles. There is also a lot of mismatched wall art, but it comes together as a very pleasant location that was filling up on my visit ahead of what seemed like, from the eye-balling and friendly banter between regular rivals, a hotly contested pub quiz. There is an outside, down a flight of metal fire escape style steps, drinking space that wasn't covered but felt like it was so enclosed by foliage that rain would never fall to the ground here. No cask and keg beer options were a small, and in someone's mind, select offering of Guinness, Madri and Curious Brew IPA. The female bar staff were incredibly efficient and pleasant to the rush of people all arriving and demanding drinks at the same time. I felt like this was a venue where customer service was really important, and staff actually enjoyed working here. No great shakes on the beer front, saves me from listing the thousand and one beers you get in a JDW these days, but a very pleasant and vibrant place to stop for a drink. Deptford near the station doesn't have any traditional pubs but it has amalgamated a collection of alternative venues that are reasonably good.

Official site of Isla Ray - www.islaray.co.uk

Official site of Isla Ray - www.islaray.co.uk