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Detail Pages
The Dog & Bell, Deptford, SE8
SE8
SE8 3JD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Dog & Bell
The Dog & Bell is a rare delight in an area where rare delights are pretty thin on the ground. The pub has survived the redevolpment that surrounds it and couldn’t be further from the karaoke and cocktail lounges that many pubs in the area have become.
The interior is in 2 distinct halves with a smaller room at the back. The main bar is all bare floors, plain décor and basic furnishings, delightfully unfussy and underplayed whilst the section away from the bar is a long narrow carpeted room with bright yellow walls, a small open fireplace, a row of tables down one side and a bar billiards table at the end. The smaller room at the rear is a go between to the kitchen but has a couple of additional tables and a selection of board games in a bookcase. At the rear is a small enclosed beer patio that captures the smell of the cooking form the adjacent kitchen.
The place is generally geared towards peace and quiet with low volume piped music, a selection of newspapers sitting on a sideboard and a TV (upgraded to flat screen since my last visit) that will never be found pumping out MTV or Sky Sports. More often than not the only people present will be regulars gathered at the bar assisting with the evening’s crossword, local cyclists for whom the D&B is a sort of magnet or CAMRA enthusiasts who have no other reason to visit Deptford other than the contents of the 5 hand pumps. The bar canopy contains a collection of numerous pump clips from the assorted guest ales that pass through. London Pride and Fullers ESB seemed to be the regulars available with Nethergate Lemon Head, Triple FFF Moondance and Whitstable East India IPA making up the guests on my latest trip.
There is a very reasonably priced menu of simple food (Burgers, Meat Balls, Ploughmans, Shepherds Pie, Fish & Chips etc) with most main courses under £6 and whilst I have never eaten here, the food did smell good!
In an area devoid of anywhere half decent, the Dog & Bell is worth seeking out and remains absolutely streets ahead of any of its local competitors.
On 23rd May 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Dog & Bell
I guess there may have once been a hundred backstreet pubs a bit like this one within a 5-mile radius. However, most of these have now gone and very few would ever have offered the range of beer you get here. Nothing obviously special inside or out, but clean and tidy and a warm welcome when you enter. Five real ales on, including a fine Gadds Oatmeal Stout. First rate.
On 30th October 2009
- rating: 9
[User has posted 8813 recommendations about 8813 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Dog & Bell
A pleasant back street oasis situated on an "inland" section of The Thames Path National Trail. The main bar area has original wooden floors and tables with old church pew seating. The L shaped area beyond wraps around and contains a bar billiard table plus some further more traditional chairs and tables. This area is carpeted and also contains a few reference books and board games. The decor is bright with green panelling and plenty of modern art pictures as well as of the old locality.
A pleasant atmosphere with a group of regulars happily chatting at the bar this afternoon. The bar gantry is covered in old beer mats.
Pride, ESB, Nethergate Priory Mild, Batemans XXXB, Cotleigh Tawny Owl were the selection, well kept and a first rate spot, well recommended.
On 15th May 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Dog & Bell
This is an excellent backstreet boozer. I can well see why it features on many people's top 10 London pubs. They had five ales on when I dropped in during a weekday early afternoon – ESB; Pride: Archers Best; Nethergate Monk's Habit; and Whitstable Brewery's Pearl of Kent. I had the Pearl of Kent (£2.70 a pint) and the Monk's Habit (£2.60) and both were superb.
The pub consists of two bars. The “main” bar is bare-boarded with what looks like original boarding. There was no music playing (bliss!), and an unobtrusive television showing a bowls match of all things. The main seating is provided by what appears to be some re-cycled church pews. The other bar is carpeted, with some normal tables and chairs, and features a bar billiards table.
You would certainly not go to this pub for the view – roadworks framed against a backdrop of an enormous brick wall. This is one of those pubs that does not have any special physical features worth mentioning, but whose character and appeal comes from its very simplicity and the welcoming feel that it exudes. There is no doubt about it – this is a top pub with great beer.
On 11th November 2008
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2607 recommendations about 2521 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Dog & Bell
Pride, ESB, plus 3 excellent guests, Gravesend Shrimpers, Itchen Valley Godfather, Dark Star Over the Moon, all in excellent shape. Nice ‘pew' seating next to large front windows, the side/rear room has plenty of conventional tables/chairs, some new artwork, an unused victorian style fireplace and bar-billiard table at far end. I have a note stating that there is a paved beer garden, although memory is somewhat hazy on that. Nice ambience, and good to see the new guv (Irish = well-run bar) maintaining the attractive beer selection offered by his predecessor.
27 September 2007
Fullers Pride & ESB plus 3 guests incl Nethergate and Pictish. I enjoyed them but felt that some people travelling here might expect a juxtaposition of different beer styles in the guest rotation - these were all golden ales. Still, the locals are very lucky to have this in their area, or would be if they'd turn that ludicrously loud talk radio down behind the bar - as if I need reminding how expensive my mortgage is getting while I'm having a pint!
On 28th April 2008
- rating: 7
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Dog & Bell
Old fashioned backstreet local serving up to 4 guest ales (Oyster Stout,Hooky,Wessex Bitter, with Pride and ESB as regular ales on our visit 26/02/07).plus a large selection of Belgium Bottled beers. this is a single bar pub with 2 seperate drinking areas, bar billiards played, friendly staff and a log fire in back room. very nice
On 27th February 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]