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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with ROBCamra
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Submitted on Wednesday, 28th July 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
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 2242 recommendations about 2199 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 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Blythe Hill Tavern
A magnificent example of it's type,a proper boozer with a timeless feel and unspoiled by progress it is rightly listed by CAMRA as a Historic Pub of National Importance.There are two doors off the main road but only the left hand one opens into a small front room of triangular shape with fitted bench seating with stools and a shrine to golf with display cabinets of hickory sticks and other old equipment and wooden reliefs on the walls about golfing participants and a small tv for horse racing.It has its own bar counter but unusually there is a corridor to the larger rear room which passes between the two serving stations.The back room is more square with fitted benches,a fruit machine and access to the beer garden,partly covered.Through a small arch is the lower third room ,long and thin with the main display of handpumps and a sports flatscreen above the non opening door.The pub is carpeted in maroon throughout.If you want food there is a pizza van outside called Van Dough !
It's operated by an Irish family and the barmen wear white shirts and ties,the welcome was friendly and the service the model of efficiency.The ale choice on my trip was Sharps Sea Fury and Doom Bar,Harvey's Sussex Best and "Dark Star" Hophead (decent ,NBSS 3,£4.60).This pub is popular with local Irish but does not have that sometimes oppressive oirish atmosphere it's first and foremost a boozer where folk come to drink.There is no muzak,just the hum of conversation.Maybe not the most exciting ale line up ,but drink in the traditional atmosphere and enjoy.If you take the lane to the side of the pub,a very steep climb will take you to Blythe Hill and great views over central London.A must visit both for heritage and a proper boozer vibe.
On 7th April 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2971 recommendations about 2971 pubs]
View more reviews of The Blythe Hill Tavern (10)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- 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 .
