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The Cherry Tree, East Dulwich, SE22

Pub added by elizabeth mcgraw
31-33 Grove Vale
SE22
SE22 8EQ
Phone: 02086939285

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Cherry Tree

This is a deceptively large pub, just a short walk from East Dulwich station, which has been given a full makeover by the Young’s refurbishment team. Like most modern-day Young’s houses, the pub has been opened out as much as possible and then sub-divided again with various half-height, glazed partitioning screens which have helped to create a few distinct seating and dining spaces, mainly over to the right side of the building. Drinkers are better served in the left-hand side of the pub, where the servery runs along the end wall and plenty of seating has been set aside for those not intending to eat. The bar has a wood panelled counter front with a chunky looking top, a rustic bar back and some rather fragile looking light fixtures hung from above, all fronted by a colourful strip of tiling that runs around the floor in front of the counter. Seating areas can be found either side of the front door, opposite the bar and in a lounge-like space in the rear left corner. All of these spaces have a mix of standard and tub chairs serving a variety of different sized tables under bare brick or pastel shaded walls and, in the case of the rear left area, an impressive skylight. The space opposite the bar has some button backed banquettes facing back towards the servery. I spotted a couple of fireplaces around the pub, at least one of which was lit on a chilly November evening, whilst the walls have been decorated with art prints and a few photographs plus at least two TV screens showing a muted football fixture to no one in particular whilst a cool soul and funk soundtrack played in the background. The partitioning screens around the rear right part of the pub prevented me from getting a good look at what appears to be the main dining area, although it did sound like there might be an open kitchen back there somewhere and I noticed a Specials board hung high up on the right-hand wall. A door to the rear left leads out to a beer garden with a canvas covering over part of it, which was proving very popular despite the temperature.
Four handpulls on the bar were inevitably dispensing Young’s Ordinary and Special plus a guest of St Austell Proper Job, with the last pump left unclipped. Unsurprisingly, I ordered a pint of the Proper Job which turned out to be in very good shape and was brought over by a friendly barmaid who was a lot cheerier than the brusque lady who dealt with the track and trace stuff on arrival.
I’m generally not a fan of these over-modernised Young’s houses, but I thought this one was pretty good, retaining a sense of its former self despite the drastic makeover. The comfortable furnishings and good quality beer made this visit very enjoyable and I would go so far as to say that this is probably up there with the nearby Antic pub as one of Dulwich’s best boozers right now.

On 25th November 2020 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Moby Duck left this review about The Cherry Tree

A huge pub thats been opened out modernised with any former character it may have once had, completely extinguished. Loaded to the hilt with punters watching the live football, it emptied slightly once the match was completed.I didn't note all the beers but they were generally mainstream, there were a couple on from Sambrooks so I went for the session Pale.
It is what it is and as such was ok but I wouldn't go out of my way again to visit.

On 9th April 2017 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Lester Ford left this review about The Cherry Tree

I spent Saturday night here a few weeks back after a day at football.

Choice of 4 ales on the hand pumps, I had several pints of Gipsy Hill’s Wayfarer @ 4.6%, which all slipped down perfectly.

The crowd was mixed with a post rugby crowd which were then swamped by hipsters and Dulwich Hamlet hipsters!

I like this pub, the ales are good and the current bar staff are excellent.

Well worth a visit as it's very handy for both East Dulwich station and Dulwich Hamlet FC.

On 17th February 2017 - rating: 7
[User has posted 80 recommendations about 78 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Alan Winfield left this review about The Cherry Tree

The Cherry Tree is a very large pub that is a short walk from East Dulwich train station.
Once inside there was one massive room with the bar facing,there a few different areas but this did'nt seem to work that well,the front left had leather bucket chais and a few normal tables and chairs,the right side looked like it was fenced off,this area had a real fire on the go and mainly normal tables and chairs,there was an open kitchen to the rear of this area,the rear left was a very large area that looked quite empty.
There were four real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Sambrooks Wandle (£1.95 a half)which was a decent enough drink,the other beers were Sambrooks Junction,Hogs Back TEA and Nelson Frigin in the Rigin.
This was a very dissapointing pub to visit.

Pub visited 25/1/2014

On 25th January 2014 - rating: 5
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Roger Button left this review about The Vale Bar

I don't know what this place was like in its previous incarnation as the Hamlet Inn but it is now a hideous example of what happens when interior designers get a free run on redeveloping your local. Any original features and characteristics have been removed leaving a rather cavernous hollow interior with bland and plain décor. One side of the bar is reserved for the Chesterton sofa brigade and the other half for the gastropub fans with its open kitchen and dining tables. Drink selection is rather standard and there are no Real Ales. I would certainly agree that the staff are very good – I was unknowingly overcharged but the barmaid made an effort to find me after I had sat down to return my extra change. There are a couple of screens for sport and some outside seating under a canopy but I am really clutching at straws to find any positives. The pub is convenient for Dulwich Hamlet football ground but to be perfectly honest, the clubs bar is far better if this is the reason for being in the area.

On 22nd September 2006 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]