The Gold Coast, South Norwood, SE25

This is a modernised, single room pub on the main road out of South Norwood towards Croydon. The pub is perhaps best known locally for the fine Ghanaian food they serve and as such is popular with those wanting to eat moreso than with drinkers. The pub has a bare boarded interior with a nice traditional dark wood bar counter down the right-hand wall. The counter has the pub’s name written across it in large gold letters and is supported by a fairly plain, nondescript bar back. Standard tables and chairs have been arranged in the large open space opposite the bar, which is broken up by a couple of dark wood panelled, mirrored pillars. A few African masks and colourful paintings dotted around the walls help to brighten up what might otherwise have been a very drab room of grey half-panelled walls with white uppers and a plain ceiling. A slightly raised seating area to the rear left has a selection of tub chairs under mirrored walls. A couple of TV screens to the front and rear were turned off in favour of a selection of Afro-hip-hop tunes, although they are often used to show live sport. In fact, one of my most memorable pub visits was coming here during the 2010 World Cup to watch a quarter-final between Ghana and Uruguay – the entire local Ghanaian community seemed to have decamped to the pub for the match, so it was jammed full, meaning I had to watch the match stood on tip-toe outside with a large crowd all trying to peer through the window. It was an amazing communal experience that would only have been topped had Ghana not cruelly lost the match on penalties. Normally, customers would only spill out to the rear patio garden or the few picnic benches outside the front of the pub. There are no handpulls on the bar, with draught options limited to Guinness, Kronenburg, Stella and Fosters, although the Guinness Export beers that are popular in various African countries are available in the fridges and are perhaps the most interesting option. We ordered a sharing platter of Ghanaian delicacies which was pretty good value when we realised just how much food we were getting – everyone we saw eating here ended up with a doggy bag, ourselves included. The barman was a bit slow and gruff, but he was working the shift on his own during a busy period, so perhaps I’d have been the same in his shoes. This place isn’t really a great place to come from a drink unless you don’t mind drinking mainstream lager, but it is a great focal point for the local community and somewhere to come to try an interesting, and pretty spicy, cuisine that you don’t tend to find too often. I enjoyed my visit here but would only return for food (or another World Cup quarter final)!

Official site of the Gold Coast, includes menu and events listing - www.thegoldcoastbar.com

Official site of the Gold Coast, includes menu and events listing - www.thegoldcoastbar.com