Joiners Arms, Lewisham, SE13

After a spell as an Irish bar called Dylans, the pub has now reverted back to its original name. The quaint exterior has a bay window and small balcony overhead and twin doors suggesting a relatively cramped interior at some time when it would probably have been divided into a pair of smaller bars. These days it is all knocked into one but still quite narrow with the bar down the left hand side and a slightly larger open space at the rear. The décor is quite plain, basic and brightly lit. There are 3 sport led TV’s and a darts area at the front end of the bar. A few old pictures and cigarette card displays catch the eye and I get the impression the interior hasn’t really altered much since its Dylans days. The pub now serves 2 Real Ales albeit a rather mundane choice of Youngs Ordinary & Greene King IPA which is hardly a challenging selection. That said the quality was pretty good and prices fair. Service was very friendly and welcoming despite our last minute appearance 10 minutes before closing when they were probably more interested in locking up. We were certainly not hurried through our pint. It isn’t really a place to spend the evening but it was a pleasant and friendly enough spot for a pint and I would certainly call in again as part of a crawl.

Small Irish pub, with typically bright exterior paintwork and the inside looks like it has been refurbished (in a very minimal way, or perhaps just cleaned?) fairly recently. Got a few stares from the regulars propping up the bar, but the landlord seemed friendly enough. However, the beer selection was, as you would expect from this type of place, complete rubbish so it was a quick pint of the inevitable John Smiths and I was off...