Crofton Park Tavern, Brockley, SE4

Official site of Jam Circus - croftonparktavern.co.uk

Official site of Jam Circus - croftonparktavern.co.uk

This pub doesn't seem to have altered since Pubsignman's visit, except that it was a warm (OK, very hot) and sunny day when I was in, thus the folding doors at the front were all wide open, giving it the cafe atmosphere they must be seeking, with the seating on the pavement being well patronised. There were six ales on, and although I didn't note them all they included one from the local microbrewery, Brockley Brewery Pale Ale (£3.70 a pint), Great Heck Blonde, Doom Bar, and Sambrook Lavendar Hill. There were single-sheet menus on all the tables on Saturday lunchtime - a burger and chips was £9.50, with extras (cheese, bacon, etc) an extra 50p. This is a fairly typical Antic pub, with mismatched furniture (most tables looked like 70s formica topped items), sweet jars on display behind the bar, but is not as extravagantly quirky as most. It looks like two shops knocked together, and opened up at the back to create a couple of more relaxed drinking areas – a more relaxed drinking environment than at the front anyway, which seemed to be the focus for Crofton Park’s kids’ afternoon out. Perhaps it’s nicer in the evenings, but based on my single visit it’s not the place for a relaxing pint on Saturday afternoon. If you like the Antic model, then I guess you will like this pub. A big plus is that there’s always a decent ale selection.

Nicer than usual Antic pub and busy with a band due to come on.6 handpumps with 4 beers on from Late Knights,Popes,Hopstuff and Doombar.A few keg beers on and the Alchemy-Higeldy Figeldy was nice and reasonably priced.A few tables outside.

Jam Circus is a small, shop conversion style bar from the Antic chain. It’s easily reached from three train stations, with Crofton Park practically next door and Honor Oak Park and Brockley roughly equidistant away. The pub has two rooms, with the bar on the right hand side of the front room. Wooden floors and dark floral wallpaper give the place a cosy yet contemporary feel which may have been enhanced by the low level lighting caused by the terrible weather outside. There are large, café style folding doors at the front which would normally allow plenty of light in if the sun were to be out. The room has a mix of seating options, with plenty of standard tables and chairs complimenting the odd button backed sofa and chair. At the front, near the folding doors, an area was being prepared for some live music but I didn’t stay long enough to catch it. Heavy curtains hang from a doorway at the back of the room, through which a second room can be found with a tile floor, lots more heavy drapes on the walls and a few mirrors and lamps for décor. There is limited seating in here, but it acts as a more peaceful spot away from the bustle of the bar area. A menu was offering main meals around the £8-9 mark and the rear room would probably be the best spot to enjoy a bite to eat. Blackboards behind the servery detailed a list of board games that can be borrowed for a fiver deposit whilst a decent indie music soundtrack played unobtrusively in the background. The clientele seems decidedly middle class – an observation that was backed up by a quick look at the pub notice board which had flyers for violin lessons, book binding and the yummy mummies choir among others with darts teams and meat raffles conspicuous by their absence. Three hand pumps were in operation, offering Sharp’s Doom Bar, Bingham’s Coffee Stout and Tiny Rebel Chocoholic – the latter a 6.5% beer available at a very reasonable £3.10 per pint. There were several pump clips stuck to the bar hatch to show what was waiting in the cellar, with most coming from the new wave of London microbreweries. Standard keg beers were on alongside the likes of Blue Moon, Calvors 3point8 and Fanny Bramble Devon Mist Cider. A cocktail menu was detailed behind the bar as well. Whilst there’s not much here to attract the pub traditionalist, this remains an attractive proposition thanks to an amiable atmosphere and interesting beer selection. It’s another good effort from the Antic chain and would be my pub of choice when in the Brockley area.

Randomness Guide to London - Jam Circus entry