General Napier, Brockley, SE23

Not much has changed since RR’s review of almost 10 years ago. Definitely one a bit off the radar. On a quiet back street (in so far as you can truly get back streets in even Greater London). Carves up the trek between the Honor Oak and the Chandos and I actually enjoyed this place more than those two OK venues. So the carpeting throughout has gone, with a wooden floor around the bar and most of the pub apart from the entrance. Looks so aged, that suspect it might have been what was under the carpet. The bar on the far wall away from the entrance door in the corner is bejewelled with coloured lighting that changes with an acceptable frequency. Nice to be in a single room where all doors take you to where you want to be, toilets and outside beer garden at the back. Single operational hand pump dispensing Harvey’s Sussex Best (been a bit of a theme this evening) that was perfectly fine. Dart board remains just inside front door. Not a big venue, but that is an appealing feature in its own right. Definitely above average in my view, would be notched up one if it had more cask options.

Courage Best (£1.50 a half) was the only real ale on here, and I didn’t see any sign of food when I was in here on a Saturday afternoon. This is a cornersite backstreet locals’ pub as far as I could see, that had a fair number of obvious locals clustered around the bar which is sited along the back wall. Unfortunately they’ve missed the opportunity to enhance the attractiveness of the pub, by having a plain and rather ugly pub sign that just says “The Nap”. Inside it’s carpeted throughout, with banquettes, metal framed tables and small stools providing the main furnishings, but of course with the obligatory tall stools at the bar. Rather unusually, there’s a bit of matchboard half-height wooden screening in the middle of the room that serves to screen off some of the seating from the main bar area. I suppose it serves to offer a bit of privacy for anyone not wishing to be part of the hubbub around the bar. There were a couple of TVs on – one showing the golf and the other the racing, and the latter with the sound on. There’s also a dartboard near the corner door, a small garden at the back and a few benches outside at the front, plus I saw wi-fi advertised. This is a basic pub serving the local community. It seemed a friendly enough place, and although Courage Best is far from my favourite beer, it does give a real ale option.