The Grape and Grain, Crystal Palace, SE19

Looking forward to another Beer Festival here, next weekend, 5th - 8th Oct. They are always well organised, well attended, and great fun. 60+ ales and ciders again !!!

I,m still loving this pub, no less than 15 ales and ciders on tap/gravity last weekend, packed to the rafters after the Athletics across the road, but still got served straight away ! More than you can say about many pubs. The Salopian Hop Twister was fantastic as was the Hadrian & Borders Grainger Ale. Top Marks again !

Official site of the Grape & Grain, with menu, drinks list and beer festival details - thegrapeandgrainse19.co.uk

Official site of the Grape & Grain, with menu, drinks list and beer festival details - thegrapeandgrainse19.co.uk

Just heard from the landlord that he's having another Beer Festival, 2nd - 5th March, and he's having 60 ales and ciders on!!! Can't wait.

Popped in again at the weekend, fantastic selection again, particularly enjoyed the Kent Brewery Pale Ale as well as the East London Foundation, this is a real gem of a pub lighting the way of real ale in South London. Incidentally the landlord informs me that they are having another four handpumps installed before Xmas taking them up to 12 handpulls and two on gravity. Heaven !!!

This pub just gets better and better. I counted 9 ales and three real ciders on my last visit. The quiz night on a Thursday is legendary and the music on Sundays is a joy. If you are anywhere near South London make an effort to visit !

It certainly looks like real ale is king here. As the previous reviewer said, there are invariably seven ales on plus a draught cider during the week, with two further ales behind the bar dispensed by gravity at the weekend. I was in there during a midweek lunchtime, and of the seven ales on none were the usual suspects. I had a superb pint of Mordue Workie Ticket (at £3.20 a pint), and among the others I noted Hogsback RIP, Adnam’s Spiced Winter Ale, Purity Pure gold, and something from Oakham Brewery. They do food at lunchtime, but not until 1.00 PM. As you enter there are some sofas on the right near the fireplace, a couple of tall tables and stools near the window, but the majority of furnishing is normal tables and chairs. I didn’t see any fruit machines or games machines, but I did spot a dartboard at the back, as well as the now rarely seen bar billiards. It’s clearly been given a makeover since its seedy days covering numerous previous incarnations – I remember it as The Crystal Palace Hotel – and although I’m not a great fan of pub makeovers, I think that it has made an improvement in here. I spoke to the landlord, and he struck me as committed to the delivery of decent ale to his customers in a comfortable environment. I reckon this place will be a success, and I would be very happy to visit again.