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Royal George, Deptford, SE8
SE8
SE8 4QD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about Royal George
One of the final Sam’s on my London hit list which was closed when I first embarked on the challenge but has subsequently re-opened. Situated in an unpromising area and the place really didn’t do anything to lift the surrounds – it was a bit of a dump despite its CAMRA Inventory listing. The main room still contains a fairly impressive island bar with a small, sparsely painted snug-like section (jug & bottle?) off right; the place is really careworn. Oddly there was an art exhibition in situ which seem to consist of little more than a load of old photos of people, some of which had nails hammered through them. Upon enquiry as to why this might be the barmaid, clad in a pair of fetching tight blue shorts from the 80’s, informed us that she had no idea and that the exhibit should have been taken down a fortnight ago anyway. The smell emanating from the outside toilets on a hot day was nauseating. No cask here, just some of the usual Sams stagers. The Man in a Box was re-jigged with its new, higher abv, so I went for a pint of it. Mysterious place – it’s nowhere near any other Sams, it’s a shoddy poke and makes no obvious sense existing. And yet, here it is, desperately awaiting some investment and better times. Would have scored lower if it wasn't for the bits of heritage.
On 21st November 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 5081 recommendations about 5064 pubs]
Tris C left this review about Royal George
This 19th century pub is listed on CAMRA’s inventory of pubs with historic interiors, considered to be of Special National Historic Interest, where the interior is well documented.
As a Sam Smith's pub this is unsurprisingly unchanged since the previous reviews, being in an odd location for one of Humphrey's joints. Customers were resolutely locals being either traditional (some playing darts) or younger professional incomers along with a cat (see photo, pending approval) who pops in for treats.
There’s only keg here, the Extra Stout being surprisingly good in that it wasn’t served at absolute zero, £1.95 a half, presented by a friendly barmaid.
A far cry from the the neighbouring Royal Standard, this is a proper boozer which takes a hit for the predictable lack of quality cask or even any cask; this would make for a good triple with the Birds Nest and Dog & Bell.
On 28th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Royal George
Still exactly the same as Rex's description below, indeed my photo taken yesterday sees the exterior unchanged from the first picture some fifteen years ago, despite there being no real ale you know exactly what you're going to get in a Sams pub and I don't mind the odd one now and again. This one is a backstreet locals pub of which only a couple where in early on a Saturday afternoon. The usual Sam Smiths keg selection was available and the Export Stout was as good as ever at an agreeable £1.70 the half, the pub was comfortable and I liked it a lot.
On 28th August 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Royal George
This is a Sam Smith's pub, and unfortunately doesn't serve any real ale, but a half of Dark Mild was only 95p, which is cheap by any standards. I saw no sign of any food on Wednesday lunchtime.
The pub consists of three separate areas, all with doors to the street, therefore most certainly and clearly show the original layout of the pub. All three are connected - or perhaps separated - by what looks to be a couple of bits of inter-war screening, one retaining its door in the low doorway, and other having lost its one. With a Sam Smith's pub it's not always easy to tell what is genuinely old from what is introduced by one of their excellent refittings, but here I think they are genuinely old. The bar counter is also genuinely old. The area on the right is clearly the public bar as it has lino, or something similar, flooring, and has the dartboard in it. The middle room on the corner is very small, containing just a single table and chairs and is carpeted, and on the left is the larger, and also carpeted saloon bar which also had a real wood fire alight. The old jug and bottle bar was once between the corner and saloon bars
This remains a real old-fashioned locals' backstreet pub. I reckon it's a real winner, but would be so much better with a decent real ale available, but there's little prospect of that while it remains a Sam Smith pub.
On 13th February 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Royal George
I wasn't expecting to find a Sam Smith's pub here after walking through the estates from New Cross and I have to say that it was a welcome surprise. The barman was very friendly and was getting involved with conversation with the locals which is rare for chain pubs in London. The other clientele was a mix of local residents and Sam Smith fans who had made the trek to have a pint in a relaxed no frills atmosphere.
The pub itself is very basic and I think can be best described as looking like an early 1960s terraced house living room. There are three areas around the bar that are barely partitioned off from each other with some old screens and one of these areas houses a dartboard.
There is a poster up on the wall that was advertising a meat raffle every Sunday and a darts knockout every Tuesday. There is also a list of sandwiches that are available, which is as far as this pub goes on the food front.
I love all of this wallowing in the past when pubs used to be boozers and I have to say that this is one of my favourite SS pubs, even though there is no OBB on hand pump.
On 11th November 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5245 recommendations about 5213 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Royal George
3 Room traditional corner local, selling Sam Smiths beer, very nice wood panelling
On 3rd March 2007
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]