George & Dragon, Greenwich, SE10

Almost a year to the day since Tris’s visit I called in to tick off this venue as one of my remaining SE10 venues. Here at about 6.45pm and I was the only punter. Saying that it only opens at 6pm on a Thursday for what I can only assume is a busier weekend period. Didn’t come across as quite as gloomy as in previous review as still light outside to illuminate the wood panelled walls. Not much to report on the drink options front beyond that below. I edged up my rating as I was in a good mood and feeling generous to the place but I cannot imagine a sequence of events that would return me here as a place to quaff. However, I wish the place well.

Dating from at least the early 19th century, the current building was rebuilt in 1890; to the exterior are two arched Taylor Walker sign frames, still with their guncarriage effigies, one sign rare in that it still displays the Taylor Walker name. This is a tough pub to fathom out; the interior is utterly stripped out; not as in bare brick, but that there’s nothing apart from a bare black floor and totally plain walls with no décor other than a few flyers advertising the presence of peripatetic Karaoke Meister Kevin Walsh on Thursdays; Master Walsh was indeed in evidence around 9.00pm, crooning away, with just two other customers who were also taking turns to sing, seemingly marking each other on clipboards between turns. Otherwise, there are a couple of gaudy chandeliers, then a few steps up to a raised rear area where apparently there’s a pool table, though it was too dark to see. There was a games machine and simple lounge-style furniture, the whole looking like a working men’s club in a former Eastern bloc country. The website displays a veritable pot pourri of drag acts (e.g., Marsha Mallow), but none was in evidence and the customers/contestants didn’t seem gay. No cask option, the beverage front amounted to just Aspall’s, Carling and Staropramen at £2.90 a half, served by a friendly barman. I really don’t know what this place is meant to be or at whom it’s aimed; it doesn’t come across as a gay pub, rather it gives the impression of being an audition room for talent spotters, not that there was much ‘talent’ in attendance, though there’s a minimum 2.00am licence, extending to 4.00am on Friday and Saturday, so perhaps that’s when it hots up, but I’m afraid this place just isn’t for me.

Official site of George & Dragon - www.georgedragon.com

Official site of George & Dragon - www.georgedragon.com