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New Pub with Poohbear1863
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Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Wednesday, 2nd September 2026
With picture contributions to 13128 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (15 more images)
Detail Pages
The Blythe Hill Tavern, Catford, SE23
SE23
SE23 1JB
Served areas
Reviews of The Blythe Hill Tavern (Average Rating: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about The Blythe Hill Tavern
I've lost count of the number of times I've seen this pub recommended, most recently Will Hawkes' list of the heat pubs in every English county. I'm staying a few nights in Rotherhithe, and it's possible to get here by public transport, though a couple of bus no shows meant it took me 80 minutes.
This is a gorgeous pub, with the Courage cockerel still standing on the bracket where the inn sign should be. The interior is of course a three star entry on CAMRA's heritage inventory, specifically for its between-wars refit and still having three separate rooms.
The cask beer offering is a mundane one of Sea Fury, Hophead and Sussex Best, but my pint of the former Dark Star flagship beer, despite now being brewed at Fullers and owned by Asahi and only 3.4% abv, was in Very Good condition (£5.50).
On 2nd September 2026
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4910 recommendations about 4493 pubs]
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 6826 recommendations about 6787 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
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 2344 recommendations about 2284 pubs]
View more reviews of The Blythe Hill Tavern (12)
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
- 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
- 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 .
