Freetime at The Ivy House

Hatty writes:

We are putting on a Dino Collective night at the Ivy House on Friday 22nd November called Freetime. We will be playing real authentic vinyl which is even older than we are, alongside digital files on spangly modern devices.

Joining us in our musical endeavours are Lisa Louder and DJ Kamakiri, which means that none of us will know quite what to expect musically. But it should be fun. Full details on the attached flyer. We'll basically be there from 8 till late playing good music and you don't have to pay to get in. There is even sound proofing, which is music to our ears!

Pub Spy on The Talbot

The News Shopper's legendary Pub Spy has stumbled across The Talbot:

Its fatigued green paint job would camouflage it in a pleasant Brockley street if it weren’t for an eyesore patio, while the inside space is at first glance small, plain and dilapidated. But visiting this pub is like sifting through bric-a-brac at a jumble sale and finally unearthing a battered vintage whatnot to treasure...

As I reassessed The Talbot, I realised it is cool in a low-key, beaten up kind of way.

It comes across as no-frills but then serves non-standard lagers and I spied a disused specials board flogging dishes such as game terrine, steamed mussels and venison.

Pub music is always contentious, but if I say I heard two Smiths songs in the space of half an hour, it probably gives you an impression. The overheard bar chatter had a similar vibe – ‘literary canon’, how to define terrorism and class politics.

There was not one mention of Moyes In, Holloway Out, or Ibrahimovic’s screamers the night before – which on one hand I found refreshing and on the other disconcerting. This is a pub where it does not feel wrong to sit in a corner reading a book, so I did.

For the full review, click here.

The Lewisham Coffee Co?

Photo courtesy of Brockley Rog

OK, this has been bugging us for days now - and lots of you are wondering the same thing - what is "The Lewisham Coffee Co." and what is it doing with The Malt and Hops (formerly Albertines) pub on Lewisham Way?

The Malt and Hops only stayed open very briefly following its rebrand. Now it's closed and some "temporary signage" has popped up with The Lewisham Coffee Co. written on it. If anyone knows what's going on, please share.

Jam Circus Reopens November 7th

With news so exciting that their fevered fingers couldn't type Brockley comes Antic with this Tweet:

#Bockley @jamcircus re-opening on the 7th of November.Come down and join us to welcome her back!!
— Antic London (@Antic_London) October 16, 2013

The half-term children's theatre pub crawl

Helen writes:

Waggly Tales Theatre Company is performing our original show, The Magic Tea Kettle, at family-friendly pubs in southeast London this autumn half term (Thursday 31 October – Saturday 2 November) and as part of the Lewisham Fringe Festival on Sunday 3rd November. The show, which had a sell-out run in June this year, is for kids aged two to seven - and babies come free.

The Magic Tea Kettle, inspired by a Japanese folktale, is packed with music, mayhem, magic and oodles of laughs. When cheeky Prince Arnold is turned gloomy and dull by a Moody Fairy, his best friend Sophie the Witch has to break the spell. Luckily for hr, help is at hand from a rather smelly but very magical Badger Tea Kettle. Waggly Tales also offers post-show workshops with the cast and director.

The Magic Tea Kettle show dates:
Thursday 31 October: The Ivy House, Nunhead, 11.30am and 2pm
Friday 1 November: The Herne Tavern, East Dulwich, 11.30am and 2pm
Saturday 2 November: The Old Nun’s Head, Nunhead, 11.30am and 2pm
Sunday 3 November: The London Theatre, New Cross, 11am

Tickets: £5-10 Book online via www.wagglytales.co.uk

The Horrifying Halloween Quiz

Claire writes:

On Thursday 31st October, my friend Paul and I will be hosting a pub quiz upstairs at The Talbot pub in aid of my sister's charity Social Arts for Education. As long-time pub quiz fans, Paul and I plan to put on something really special, with horror-themed rounds, spooky atmospherics and the option to dress up if you fancy it. We're encouraging people to form teams of 6. Space will be limited so it's best to email me on so.below@gmail.com to reserve a table.

A little info on SAFE: Social Arts for Education is an alternative educational provision that supports the study of home-schooled children who cannot cope in school. The students range in age from 10 to 13, but they are able to teach children from the age of 8 up to 16.

My sister Annabel, a single mother of two kids, struggled to get a statement of special education needs for her son, who has been diagnosed with ASD from quite a young age. This meant he could not obtain a place at a special education school in the Bexley borough. However, being 'different' to other kids, he was bullied quite badly at his mainstream school. Annabel began home-schooling him, then also took on another young girl who was facing similar problems. Last year, having been contacted by many parents, she took on premises in Eltham, where her provision has blossomed into a centre where kids can learn confidence and social skills, and be tutored in a range of subjects.

SAFE is a much needed facility (particularly given council cuts of funds for statements), but it needs all the help it can financially. If the quiz goes well, I'd love to be able to find a regular venue for it.

Jam Circus plans November comeback

Woot! @themostsearched #brockley pic.twitter.com/pAlQezRUBB
— Molewife (@Molewife) October 10, 2013

#Brockley Looks like @JamCircus will be back in November!! Very exciting. No date yet, but I will let you know asap!
— Antic London (@Antic_London) October 8, 2013

At last!

Fork, Cork and Talk

Via the New Cross forum comes the news that to celebrate their newly-refurbished function room, The Telegraph at the Earl of Derby (is there a more cumbersome pub name?) is launching a new dining event.

The Hope and Honor

The Honor Oak pub-squatters' legalese appears not to have stopped their eviction and there are plans afoot to get the pub back up and running. On the Honor Oak forum, Matt writes:

I am local to Forest Hill and used to love The Honor Oak. It was run into the ground by its previous owners and Punch Taverns have struggled to find a replacement. Hence the eyesore of a boarded up, once great pub. 

Alongside the Forest Hill Society we are pulling together a plan to create a co-operative pub takeover of the Honor Oak. The road is long, but the first step is completed - we are applying for an Asset of Community Value with Lewisham Council, effectively allowing us to block any sale. 

We'd love to galvanise local support from all of those with an SE postal code so if you'd like to get involved and hear about the journey we are going on, please could you join up to our mailing list at the following address: http://www.thehopeandhonor.com/

Occupy Honor Oak

Super Hans: I've been down enough bloody City Boy chain pubs with their logos in the foam and disinfectant in the lager, air freshener in the mayo. Nah, I wanna run a place that makes a difference. 
Jeremy: Well, I'm sure we can sort that out somehow. Let's start by getting rid of this. 
Super Hans: That stays. That's the reason I fell in love with this place. 
Jeremy: You want a washing machine in the pub? 
Super Hans: It'll freak 'em out! What the fuck's a washing machine doing in a pub? Jesus, I need a drink. Yeah? And boom, they'll have to have one of our organic scrumpies.
- Peep Show

The sorry saga of the Honor Oak pub continues. Having allowed a much-loved pub to be run down and eventually to close, Punch Taverns now find themselves with squatters on their hands. Thanks to @sarcasticfringe for the photo:

For more, visit the Honor Oak forum.

The Brockley Brewery's 50,000 Pints Party at the Wickham Arms

Andy from the Brockley Brewery writes:

We are having a bit of a do tonight at the Wickham Arms, to celebrate the anticipated pulling of the 50,000th pint of Brockley ale.

We've been hard at it for 6 months desperately servicing the south-east thirst for craft ale, which seems unquenchable!

We're welcoming everyone along to support their local brewery and their local pub!

Samfest - Sunday

Introducing The Malt and Hops

Lewisham Way pub Albertines, which has been closed for a short time, is reopening tomorrow as The Malt and Hops.

BCer Fong, who kindly sent us the news, adds that it doesn't appear to have been significantly refurbished during its closure, so we're not sure how significant the rebrand is. We'll know tomorrow.

The Ladywell Tavern (and maybe Jam Circus) will be back

Kate from The South London Press has managed to get a quote from Enterprise Inns, the owners of the Ladywell Tavern, confirming that the pub (which closed last weekend) will reopen. She writes:

A spokeswoman for Enterprise Inns said the company had received no interest from Tesco, adding: “The publican of the Ladywell Tavern has only ceased trading temporarily; minor works are being carried out on site and our aim is for the pub to resume trading as soon as possible.”

There's more evidence that the local drinking scene doesn't face The World's End, the departing team at The Catford Bridge Tavern have been talking a good game on Twitter, saying that their next move will be to reopen Crofton Park's Jam Circus.

The Catford Bridge Tavern bought by Camden pubco

Pubco Antic has lost its fight to hang on to The Catford Bridge Tavern, a pub the team brought back from the brink and then fought their landlords to prevent it becoming retail. They announced on Twitter:

It is with very heavy heart that we must announce we are closing @catfordtavern. We are all absolutely gutted. Such a huge shame. I guess it's the danger of creating such a fantastic pub. It's all down to the type of lease. Unfortunately these things do happen.

But the good news is that the drinkers of Catford can welcome their new Camden overlords, since the pub has been bought by Camden Bars, the pubco behind the Lock Tavern, which was once twinned with the Amersham Arms in New Cross.

Hopefully, this might spur Antic to refocus their attention on reopening Jam Circus, which languishes up the road in Crofton Park, still scarred by smoke and fire.

Thanks to Matt and Monkeyboy for the spot.

The Ladywell Tavern closes for a minimum of two months [UPDATED]

One-time Lewisham pub of the year The Ladywell Tavern, closed at the weekend. The landlord's plan is to shut the pub for a minimum of two months, to allow for refurbishment while the high street roadworks drag on.

The Misty Moon Gallery, located in the pub's premises, will remain open throughout this time.

As we've seen with Jam Circus, pub-reopening timetables can slip badly and it will be reassuring to see the builders and decorators move in. The loss of the Ladywell Tavern, even temporarily, is a big blow for Ladywell, which is now pretty short of places to go in the evenings.

With thanks to Lorna and Melanie for the news.

Brockley Jack to close for refurbishment

The Brockley Jack pub in Crofton Park is due to close for refurbishment from July 29th until August 9th. The work will provide the already-handsome pub with a bigger bar, new seating and a bigger garden.

The Brockley Jack theatre will remain open and the programme will continue as normal.

With thanks to Andy.

The Other Art Club at The Talbot

Friend of BC, Sarah writes:

Every Wednesday the upstairs dining room at the Talbot transforms into The Other Art Club: a new life drawing class, taught by local artist Perienne Christian. Lured by the promise of free cava, I turned up for the launch night and had so much fun that I returned the following week.

Beginning with a series of short poses, the first half of the class is a warm up, designed to engage the parts of the brain that office jobs don't reach. Perienne suggests exercises and circulates unobtrusively, leaving you to do your own thing if you prefer. Half-time refreshments come in the form of home-baked biscuits and a nice cup of tea (or something stronger from the bar downstairs).

These are billed as life drawing classes with narrative - this really kicks in with the second half of the class. Last week's model took on a despairing pose based on a Titian masterpiece. As an absolute beginner, I was concentrating on giving her the right number of limbs, but I can see how the props would add an element of challenge for people with a bit more talent or experience. Perienne's on hand throughout and at the end of the session there's a chance to compare your efforts in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.

Venue: Upstairs at the Talbot
Time: Wednesdays 4-6pm and 7-9pm
Cost £14 in advance (first class half price)
Charcoal provided, paper available at cost price
https://theotherartclub.squarespace.com/

Hobgoblin for sale

Favourite of students and Shia LaBeouf, the Hobgoblin pub in New Cross is up for sale. Costar reports:

Eleven further sites from the Pubs ‘n’ Bars estate are being brought to market by specialist property adviser Christie + Co on behalf of administrator Grant Thornton.

Simon Chaplin, director of Christie + Co, said: “As with the first tranche of Pubs ‘n’ Bars sites we took to market earlier this year, these pubs are in excellent locations and feature some high profile sites in London, where undoubted trading potential.

The Hobgoblin is on the list, with the leasehold available for a bargain £175,000. With thanks to James.

Gaggle Cave at the Royal Albert

Sarah writes:

I'm part of the band/all female alternative choir Gaggle and, 30th May - 21st June, we are launching a pop-up concept shop/project space/hang out in the Royal Albert pub's new gallery project space InSitu which is next to the pub on New Cross Cross Road.

We're calling it the GAGGLE CAVE and we will be putting on talks, performances and artists in residence along with selling products and holding dozens of workshops that we hope will empower and enthuse people - from 'Sound Engineering for Girls' to 'Feminist Choirs for Boys'. We'll also be teaching other skills from drumming to welding! The aim is to be as affordable and accessible as possible and we hope it's going to be an exciting few weeks. We really want lots of people who live in the area to sign up to take part.

You can find out most info here: http://www.gaggle.tv if you click on workshops. The Opening hours are Mon – Fri: Midday - 8pm and Sat & Sun: Midday to 11pm.