The Commercial, Herne Hill, SE24

This pub had on Doom Bar, Cotleigh Uncle Sam, Rooster's Fort Smith, and Thwaites Wainwright (£4.20 a pint). This is very much a gastropub now. Main course are from £10 (for the beefburger - menu doesn't say with chips), to £14.50 for the 21-day aged bit of steak. Puds are £5.50. Par for the course I suppose. This was once a CAMRA Regional Inventory pub, but sadly it no longer qualifies. I would guess that's because they've given it the gastropub look, having painted all the original wall panelling grey, apart from the wall on the right where they've ripped the panelling off to reveal the brickwork underneath. But some original stuff is still present, including a fair bit of wood panelling even it is painted grey, the original bar counter is still there although it's clear some of it has been resited at some point, and some of the original wood and glazed screening between the two rooms is still in place. There are more than enough sofas in here; only one tall table/tall stools that I could see, and a few banquettes and normal tables and chairs. Not too bad I suppose. The room on the right has the inevitable exposed brick wall (where the panelling has been removed), and all the ceilings are painted light grey to match the walls. The room on the left seems to have bagged most of the sofas. But it was doing a good trade on Saturday lunchtime with almost everybody in there dining. It's clearly a thriving pub, and even though it's not the sort of "pubby" pub that I prefer, good luck to them I say. Having said that, I can't condone the cavalier way that they've treated the original features.

Is it under new management? Certainly the commitment to a variety of decent real ale from other than boring mainstream offerings seems to have vanished, causing me to do the same without imbibing recently. 20 August 2008 '85-'89 were our years of almost permanent residence; darts & camaraderie being the main draw in those days. Long since changed shape and added a decent selection of changing beers, usually veering a little from mainstream but seldom, if ever, featuring micros. The beers are usually well kept so it was most disappointing to hear of a friend's experience with bad pints & even worse staff attitude to changing them - I thought the current mgr was enthusiastic about his ales, so I doubt he'd be happy to read about his staff arguing with (ahem) experienced drinkers about beer which was clearly 'wrong'. Sad to hear the damning verdict, let's hope it causes the Commercial to review standards & improve quality. 28 April 2007 The only place in Herne Hill (or Tulse Hill or West Norwood for that matter) for decent real ale. Four handpumps change on rotation and are well kept. The range isn't too radical but the mainstreams are supplemented with some decent alternatives such as Timothy Taylors, Brains SA etc, also Addlestones cider and some weissbiers. Used to drink in here late80s when I first moved south so I regret the loss of the lovely wood panelling and 50% of the old horseshoe bar but the place still retains some charm & is now busy in the evenings so the conversion is evidently a success, no doubt aided by its location directly outside HH train station. Food & wine menus pretty much the same as the Greyhound in Dulwich. Good pub.

Last time I visited The Commercial was in the late 80s when it was a traditional pub retaining the two room format. It has changed considerably over the passage of time, the island bar remains but it is blanked off on one side now with service just on the left side of what is now a knocked through pub. The right hand side has the feel of a dining area as does the rear portion of the elongated left side of the pub. There is some exposed brickwork and plenty of wood panelling which unfortunately has been overpainted in gastro greenish grey in areas while a section towards the rear has had some form of Japanese style mural painted onto it featuring some wildfowl. Wooden flooring, mixed seating, various large paper lampshades reminiscent of Habitat cast-offs, small posies of flowers on the tables and large white candles in glass jars on the window cills. Paper menus on the tables list the bar menu and the fixed price version, £10/13 for 2/3 courses. Leaded windows, some with the trademark Charrington's banding, this leaded glass design repeated along a section of the bar back where a large gong is suspended, presumably for calling time/last orders. At the end of the bar a faux chalkboard lists the bottled beer menu. Four handpumps, Doom Bar, Peerless All American £4.10!), Titanic Cappuccino and the remaining one with the clip turned around. Considering the price of the Peerless brew, a bottle of Duvel or Chimay looks decent value at £4.45 for an 8%er. There was a TV on the far end wall, switched off at the time while music played at a background level. The pub certainly now has pretensions, possibly aiming for the gastro market although I didn't see anybody eating. I think I prefer the pub as I recall it, a regular local's pub which always used to seem busy and lively.

Official site of the Commercial, contains menu and drinks details - www.thecommercialhotelhernehill.co.uk

Official site of the Commercial, contains menu and drinks details - www.thecommercialhotelhernehill.co.uk

Randomness Guide to London - Commercial entry

Randomness Guide to London - Commercial entry