Golden Goose, Camberwell, SE5

Tris C left this review about Golden Goose

This is an early Victorian pub, but I can’t believe the extraordinary structure – with Charrington’s lanterns and formerly a Courage sign bracket – is that old. This was the Union Tavern – the name visible to the entrance vestibule’s floor and my Apple Pay – until 2010 when it closed to reopen in 2016 with the current name and pub theatre to the right-hand side.
There’s a two-room format, the rear rather modern with décor in the form of posters for past theatre productions, then a somewhat narcolepsy-inducing front room with a shades of grey colour scheme, modern black bar back, modern boarded floor, no real décor, pool table, unused jukebox, lounge furniture and faint smell of cat pee. There were a few customers in the rear room, and just three in the pool room, all seemingly students, which is the norm in these climes.
There’s no cask, just Eurofizz then either Neck Oil or Guinness, £3.30 a half, served by a couldn’t-give-a-toss barmaid.
I think the Clarendon is marginally the better bet. Or head north to the Black Prince or Old Red Lion, or south to the Hermits Cave.

On 29^th September 2024 - rating: 3
[User has posted 2243 recommendations about 2200 pubs]