The Colby Arms, SE19

As noted convenient as a start point if you exit Gypsy Hill station. As it was bucketting down when I came out of the station it was even more convenient! Was looking forward to a nice quiet sit down to a quality pint of some decent ale to get my bearings in an unfamiliar part of S London for me. As soon as I opened the door on the corner point of the L shaped bar, all that went out of the window. Was effing carnage inside, raucous locals, music blaring (Chas & Dave), only Doom Bar on hand pump that precisely no one was drinking) so got a quick bottled lager and preferred to head down the hill in the downpour. Nearly a 3 from me but can’t say I didn’t have more modest expectations from the prior reviews and they did have the Windsor card on TV that took my mind off the excessive noise during my short stay. They did at least take cards at this stage though!!

A sizable corner pub, upon approach I could see a hand written sign taped to the door,proclaiming "Cash Only", not being a problem I entered to find a few locals gathered for a Sunday lunchtime session, It's all standard stuff inside ,mixed seating styles, floor a mix of wood and carpet, there was a pool table in use and the telly had Coronation Street on with sound subdued but helpfully subtitles if indeed thats your thing, It's not mine. Two handles on the bar , Youngs Bitter and Twickenham Redhead, clip turned on the latter. The quality of the Youngs was poor and in fact everyone else were drinking the Lager or Cider. It is what it is but I am unlikely to be tempted back.

The Colby Arms is a decent looking pub that is very handy for Gipsy Hill train station. Once inside there is a single L shaped room with the bar facing,the room is carpeted and has normal tables and chairs plus a few pew seats to the front,the rear right side has normal tables and chairs and one leather settee,there was also a real fire on the go in this area,there was a TV above the fire showing the Norwich v Sunderland game,there is a pool table to the front left and another TV here which was showing horse racing. There were no real ales on the bar or keg bitters so had a drink of Guinness Extra Cold which was as bland as it usually is. This is a decent enough pub that was let down by the lack of one real ale. Pub visited 16/4/2016

Nice traditional pub but a bit old fashioned nowadays but smart clean and tidy .Still lots of tv,s and a pool table.Two Trumans beers Swift and Runner on handpump.Nice pint and a warm feel to this locals pub.