The Commercial, Herne Hill, SE24

Steve of N21 left this review about The Commercial

Dusted off the old passport again and went exploring south of the river to Herne Hill
I’ve only been here once before and that was in 1978 whilst working for GEC Traffic Automation when it was the location for the company’s London equipment installation depot and I was sent to spend two days of my apprenticeship on how the traffic controllers were installed on the street.
Like a lot of inner-city London of the late 70’s it was an area you didn’t want to linger long in and it was no surprise to me when the nearby area exploded a couple of years later with the ‘81 Brixton riots.
Well, exiting the train station yesterday into the weekly Sunday market, I didn’t recognise the place, and gentrification (with a capital G) has certainly come to Herne Hill. Now a place of artisan bakeries and cafes, Gastro pubs and microbreweries, and a very different demographic to the one I experienced back then.
On the drinking front I lingered longest in The Commercial opposite the station as it was the least foody of the traditional pub option of the area and more sport oriented with its multiple screens across the pub as well described below and decided to enjoy the available Dark Star Hop Head (£6.30 a pint) and watch a bit of the Scouse Derby whilst waiting for the Sunday lunchtime grazing crowds to subside before trying the other options. Two of the three hand pumps were in operation with Hobgoblin IPA on alongside the Hophead.

On 10^th May 2026 - rating: 6
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