South East London CAMRA

Featured Pub of the month for February 2012 – selected and written by Alan Jepson

The Kentish Drovers, 71-79 Peckham High Street, Peckham SE15 5RS

Mention Peckham to anyone and no doubt the classic eighties sitcom Only Fools and Horses and lovable cockney rogue Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter spring to mind.  In reality, it’s a somewhat different and uncertain area from the series itself and became a victim of last year’s summer riots.  Of course, it has some of the stereotypes you would expect of a South London town such as greasy spoons and cheap outdoor markets.  There is even a Nag’s Head pub on the outskirts but unfortunately no real ale is served.  A large percentage of the community is made up of migrants from Eastern Europe, the African Continent, West Indies and the Far East, making it an intriguing den of iniquity with its shops and cafes.

The Hope, which was the only surviving pub on the high street, closed a couple of years ago to become part of the Paddy Power chain of bookmakers.  Peckham has very few pubs left and those that have survived serve only keg beer.  However, there is one pub that stands out as an oasis in an area which is very much a real ale desert.  Ladies and gentlemen may I present you with The Kentish Drovers, part of the ever expanding JD Wetherspoon chain.

On first entering the premises, it’s easy to imagine Del Boy fitting in here by trying to sell his dodgy goods to the unsuspecting locals, many of whom look as though their other place of occupation is the nearest branch of Ladbrokes but then again, the same could be said for many Wetherspoon pubs.  Rest assured, it is one of the most safest havens to eat and drink in Peckham. Inside the pub are a number of original cast iron pillars, some of which are close to three metres tall. Another remnant from its bank days are the mosaic floor patterns which were presumably once part of the banking hall.

Since Polish born Rob Tokarski took over as manager two years ago, all trouble has virtually disappeared and Rob instigated the pub’s signature cask ale, Jamaica Stout from the Carribean island’s Big City Brewing Company, which is available whenever he can get it or there is a beer festival here.  Like many pubs Wetherspoons chain, Fullers London Pride, Greene King Abbot and Ruddles are permanently on tap with 2-3 regularly changing guest beers from independent brewers, some of which are at 1.95 a pint.  Well worth it in these hard hit economic times.  Overall, the Kentish Drovers is a fine example of a real ale pub that attracts a large Afro-Carribean community.

Meet the landlord

Where were you born? – in Poland, my family are from Tczew which is pronounced T’cheff.  The town is not far from the Gdansk shipyards and is a major rail intersection. Oh its also not far from where the second world war first started

What was your first job? – I joined the Army and set up field telephones

What are your hobbies? – I still love technical gadgets wether its to play games, communicate or to listen to music.  I was last playing LA Noire which is a crime solving game set in 1947. 

What do you like to watch on TV? – live stand-up comedy and  sitcoms

What is your favourite sport? – to watch it has to be formula one, but doing, I like to scuba dive and have recently passesd my Autonomous Diver level 2 qualification (level 3 is materdiver).

What is your favouriste real ale? – exmoor gold from the Dartmoor Brewery, though I like lots of different golden beers

If you were not a landlord what would you like to be? – a proffessional dive technician.

What sort of music do you like? – I’m a fan of Adele, her music is magical and real.  I’m certainly no fan of Polish pop-music which is the very opposite

What is your favourite holiday destination? – I love the West Indies, amongst other things the diving there is fabulous.  My wife and I have been to many of its beautiful islands, most recently Genada.

What is your favourite food? – You cant beat a really good chicken tandori-masala

Featured Pub of the Month for January 2012 – selected and written by Ian Quinn

The Hope, 49 Norwood High Street, West Norwood, SE27 9JS

Website: http://www.thehopepub.net

Back in the 1990’s the Hope was in the Good Beer Guide, now thanks to new management its back in again where it should be.

I drank in the Hope as one of my pubs along with a few others in and around the West Norwood and Herne Hill areas of South East London.

Being part of the Youngs group, previously the Hope always had three hand pumps but only Youngs Bitter and Special on tap. As time went by, my visits to the pub were concerning to me that less and less people were drinking there. Though the quality of beer was reasonable, I noticed that when the previous manageress went away, Sarah (a long serving barmaid) and her partner Robin (good cellar man when asked to help) would cover and straight away the beer quality was much better.

Things got worse when all of a sudden the previous landlady told everyone at the Hope she was throwing the towel in, and that some publican from Ireland may be taking over. Two of the three bar maids spoke to me and said “come on Ian, you’re a CAMRA member cant you write a letter to Youngs and nominate Sarah and Robin to be considered” – so I agreed to. On reply I received a really nice letter back from Mr Geff Bygraves who represented Youngs for South East of England. He said thanks for the letter along with many others written on their behalf, and that Sarah and Robin would be amongst those for interviewing.

A few months after, celebrations were in order, as Sarah and Robin took over on November 2008. Straight away the quality of beer tasted better and better, even the other drinkers were saying that their beers were much better too. As time went by, repair work was being done by loyal locals as well as Robin’s father and the rest of the family. Piece by piece the pub now has a lovely back garden with seats and benches, a fish pond, flowers, and a newly built function room that holds up to forty people. In addition the pub remains one of Youngs oldest pubs.

Inside, the seats get regularly filled now – especially by pub’s the real log fire which makes a cosy feel. There are now five hand pumps, serving Bitter and Special, plus London Gold, Sambrooks Junction and an ever changing guest beer.

For three years now the Hope has had the Good Beer Guide stickers on display as well as Cask Marque to show that this pub has got better and better, what more could one ask for? Just to say that the regular following from families, and young and old will say “Come along and meet Sarah and Robin at the Hope”

Cheers
Ian Quinn

Focus on the landlady of the Hope, Sarah

Where were you born?
East Dulwich

What was your first job?
Hairdressing at a salon called Mr Twist.

What are your hobbies?
Black Ops – the PS3 on-line game. But more seriously we raise money for Help for Heroes. So far we have raised a total of £2,400, mainly going for the Tigers Regiment in Afganistan. During December we were sending packages of goodies direct to BFPO troops .

What do you like to watch on TV?
Either ghost hunting programs or Chelsea scoring lots of goals.

What is your favourite sport?
Come-on Chelsea !

What is your favourite real ale?
Right now its Youngs Winter Warmer

If you were not a landlady, what would you like to be?
A midwife.

What sort of music do you like?
All kinds, but especially Chas and Dave and in particular their Cyborg song and Gurracha.

What is your favourite holiday destination?
Barbados, though its been a few years since we last went (hint to husband).

What is your favourite food?
Has to be pie and mash, with liquor and chilli vinegar.