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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
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Detail Pages
The Bishop, East Dulwich, SE22
SE22
SE22 8EW
Pub Type
Metropolitan Pub Co (Greene King)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Bishop
This is a nice little cosy pub on Lordship Lane that has a bit of a wine bar feel to it. The pub has a simple single room layout with bare floorboards throughout, a mix of nicely contrasting light and dark painted walls and a crumbling bare brick pillar in the centre of the room. The servery is along the right-hand wall close to the front of the pub and has a dark wood counter with what looked like some sort of stone top and a white tile bar back dominated by a huge square mirror in the centre. An embryonic pump clip collection can be seen at one end of the bar, whilst at the other end, a shelf has been used to display flowers, which add a nice splash of colour. There’s an upright piano next to the bar, although it’s unclear if anyone ever tinkles the ivories, as it is topped with various potted plants and lit candles with an unused TV screen mounted on the wall above. High tables and stools run through the centre of the room with banquette booths down the left-hand wall, each separated by the same mid-height glazed partitioning screens as seen in the nearby Cherry Tree. These booths extend all the way down into a narrower rear space where you can also find a bookcase and another out of action TV screen, as well as access to the beer garden which has a good deal of additional seating and a well-maintained shelter. Walls throughout the pub have been decorated with landscape paintings and shelves stacked with random boxes, crates, bottles and other such junk. The lighting on my evening visit was muted to the point that I couldn’t even read my paper and I noticed a few hardy souls had opted to sit on the four or five picnic benches out on the pavement in front of the pub, perhaps so they could use the street lights to read their papers! A decent Motown soundtrack played in the background throughout my stay here, which was only permitted until 8pm, at which point I would have to give my table over to someone called Ray Ray according to a sign on my table that proclaimed it as ‘Ray Ray’s Corner’.
Thankfully I had the best part of an hour to go until Ray Ray’s regular arrival time, so I ordered a pint of Beavertown Gamma Ray in Ray Ray’s honour, having been told that there was no real ale available – a point emphasised by three turned pump clips and one real cider on the final pull. This set me back a small fortune and was far too cold to properly enjoy, so I upped and left well ahead of my deadline.
This felt like a nice cosy little spot to enjoy some good beer, so it was a real shame that there was none available on my visit. I came away feeling this would be a good place for couples looking for a quiet spot or perhaps to take friends who don’t normally enjoy pubs, as it has a crossover appeal to it. I’d probably come back again if I thought they had some cask ale on, but it didn’t quite hit the spot for me on this particular occasion.
On 25th November 2020
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Bishop
A fairly large sized pub with a slightly modern feel counterbalanced by a fair amount of dark carved wood, Only two ales were on Greene King IPA and Trumans Runner,I had a half of the later, I nearly choked when charged £2.55 for the pleasure, it wasn't even in very good nick, in a strange twist of fate I had been bashed by the Bishop! I can only mark the pub down for such goings on, and are not likely to return.
On 9th April 2017
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Bishop
Another warm busy pub.More modern fittings than most of the pubs round here.Noisy.Four cask beers from Twickenham,Elb,Trumand and Gk-ipa.Couple of good kegs as well.Worth a visit.
On 5th March 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Bishop
The Bishop is a large corner pub that is situated on a busy shopping street.
Once inside there was a large square shaped room with the bar to the right,there were tall leather bench seating to the front right with american diner type seating to the front left,this area was part bare boarded and wood tiled,there was a seperate area to the rear which had normal tables and chairs,this area was carpeted and busy with diners.
There were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Weasel bitter which was a decent enough drink,the other beers were Belhaven Robert Burns and Doom Bar.
I sat on the tall bench seating at the front of the pub,so i could watch the world go by,this was a decent enough pub to have a drink in.
Pub visited 25/1/2014
On 25th January 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Bishop
Rather dark pub with gastro tendencies but lacking atmosphere - feels a bit like an exercise on seeing how many tables and chairs you can line the rooms and outsides with. Beer seems well-kept (Cask Marque) and range of food on offer sounded OK although not sampled. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit, but tolerable enough.
On 4th July 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Bishop
This pub changed its name from the Forester’s Arms to The Bishop after a major refurbishment back in 2005. I visited on a recent sunny Friday afternoon when the pub was almost empty so there was little atmosphere, but the barmaid was friendly and made me feel welcome. The pub is open plan and the bar is located on the right hand wall. A premium draught selection is available and I noted three hand pumps that were drawing Hogs Back Brewery’s Spring Ale and TEA alongside Weasel Beer that is brewed on site. I had a half which showed great promise until the taste faded away into nothing, I should have stuck to the TEA.
There are some picnic tables on the path outside the front of the pub and at the rear there is a gated alleyway that also houses some picnic tables. Some iron stairs lead up to a roof terrace that I didn’t visit.
This pub is ok, but if I find myself in this neck of the woods again I’m more likely to be found in The East Dulwich Tavern up the road.
On 5th July 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5233 recommendations about 5201 pubs]