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Reviewing milestone with Walty
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Moby Duck
Submitted on Sunday, 5th September 2021
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Detail Pages
The Blythe Hill Tavern, Catford, SE23
SE23
SE23 1JB
Served areas
Blythe Hill Tavern
Not a bad day for it! If you prefer the cool indoors we’re also showing the playoff final today and the last Premie… https://t.co/cGxAa8Lbff
4:25 PM May 27th 2023 from Twitter for iPhone
Reviews of The Blythe Hill Tavern (Average Rating: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Strongers . left this review about The Blythe Hill Tavern
The Blythe Hill Tavern is a popular old school boozer that was approaching busy during a recent Thursday afternoon visit when World Championship Darts via Sky Sports was muted on the televisions and the jukebox was turned off, so there was just chatter in the air, and a few strange noises from the older customers. I entered a small bar with some seating and a counter across the rear that supported two hand pumps that were drawing Dark Star’s Hophead and Harvey’s Best. There was nobody in here, so I made my way through the counter into a carpeted rear seating area and around to the left front where there’s a longer, and thinner, bar with wood panelled walls and a wood panelled counter up one side that faces small tables up the other. Standard and premium keg products were available alongside mainstream craft, and another four hand pumps that were additionally drawing Doom Bar and Greene King’s Rocking Rudolph. I also spotted pump clips along the top of the bar that were advertising seven real ciders, six from Lilleys alongside Sandford Orchard’s Devon Mist. I love an old school boozer, and I’m glued to the darts throughout the Christmas period, so this place was right up my street.
On 22nd December 2025
- rating: 9
[User has posted 6377 recommendations about 6339 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Blythe Hill Tavern
The Blythe Hill Hotel as was dates from around 1866, the interior the result of a refurbishment in the Brewers’ Tudor style from either the 1920s or ‘30s (the former Noakes’ pub was acquired by Courage in 1930), the pub, attached gate piers and walls grade II-listed since 7th June 2022.
There’s much toucanery to the exterior which still exhibits a Courage cockerel (see photo). The atmospheric three-room interior is well described below, photos on their website, more photos and history on CAMRA’s. Along with plenty of gimcracks, though the Irish road signs look a bit O’Neill’s and on the downside, there’s multi-event unwatched televised sport with intrusive commentary, football and golf at the time of my 8.00pm visit two nights ago. Customers are a very mixed bunch of locals, though football’s allegiance now seems to lie not with Millwall but Arsenal.
There’s still the disappointing ale lineup, with Gloom, Hophead v. 3.00, Sharp’s Sea Fury and Sussex Best, £2.65 a half, on good form, served by one of three barmen, smartly dressed in shirts and ties.
This is a great pub for the interior but is let down by the TV sport and poor ale choice; Gloom and golf a winning combo for some, not for me.
Rated 7.5.
On 20th May 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2303 recommendations about 2249 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
David Walton left this review about The Blythe Hill Tavern
There is no other universe in which I would not agree with the reviews below and the stellar ratings for this lovely venue. It looks so ordinary from the outside, it is ordinary on the inside and the sum of the parts in this case adds up to magical. Don’t get me wrong, I love an Irish oriented pub with the telly’s covering the evening cards, but it is discrete and the distinct areas make for a truly enjoyable pub experience.
There were four beers on hand pump, what seems like regulars here, namely Harvey’s Sussex Best (my choice and very well kept), Doom Bar (I would hazard a guess that tastes like the nectar of the gods here), Hophead plus Olde Trip. Was a difficult decision not to have the Guinness here, but already have plans for next visit. The staff were lovely and the old school Irish chap that I assume is the manager / owner you would love to have him as the same in your local.
I only stayed for the one pint as there was other venues around I wanted to get to that I hadn’t been to previously. We will all do that and tick off venues but we note and embed the true gems in our own experience and will come back to frequently or not frequently but enough that we honour their presence. This is one for me and whilst the cask choices weren’t imaginative, there is economic reality of what the locals choose and this venue is so much more than choices on a beer spectrum (based on my choice all of which presented tonight woukd have been good). The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in SE23. At a minimum have already decided I will return to watch the opening day of Cheltenham 2025 and stuff myself with Guinness and Tayto S&V crisps.
On 22nd April 2024
- rating: 9
[User has posted 942 recommendations about 935 pubs]
View more reviews of The Blythe Hill Tavern (11)
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- Official site of The Blythe Hill Tavern - www.blythehilltavern.org.uk
- Randomness Guide to London - Blythe Hill Tavern entry
- Facebook - Blythe Hill Tavern
- Twitter - Blythe Hill Tavern
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Blythe Hill Tavern - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
Catford Bridge, 0.47 miles, 9 min walk (show)
Honor Oak Park, 0.92 miles, 17 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 15 November 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 15 November 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 20 May 2025 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 15 November 2013 by Pub SignMan
- CAMRA Discount : Yes last updated 20 May 2025 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 13 September 2014 by Aqualung .
- Child Friendly : Yes - Prams must be folded. - last updated 20 May 2025 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 20 May 2025 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes - Small dogs only, on leads. - last updated 20 May 2025 by Tris C
- Function Room : No last updated 20 May 2025 by Tris C
- Hot Food : No last updated 15 November 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Jukebox : Yes last updated 20 May 2025 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 20 May 2025 by Tris C
- Live Music : Yes - Irish Thursdays, 21.00. - last updated 20 May 2025 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 08 February 2010 by Moby Duck
- Micropub : No last updated 19 December 2017 by Komakino .
- Pinball : No last updated 15 November 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 15 November 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Quiz Night : Yes - Mondays, September to April. - last updated 20 May 2025 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 08 February 2010 by Moby Duck
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 13 September 2014 by Aqualung .
- WiFi : Yes last updated 19 December 2017 by Komakino .
