London’s Best Beer, Pubs and Bars updates
Southeast London: Other locations — Crystal Palace
Contemporary pub
79 Westow Hill SE19 1TX
T (020) 8670 0654 Web http://www.westowhouse.com/ f Westow House tw westow_house
Open 1200-2300 (Thu 2400, Fri-Sat 0200). Children very welcome until 2100.
Cask beers 5 (Adnams, Purity, 3 sometimes unusual guests) Cask marque, Other beers 3 keg, 15+ bottles
Food Gastroish menu, Outdoor Front terrace. Disabled toilet
Mon table football league, Tue table tennis league, Wed poker, Thu (fortnightly) live music, Fri-Sat DJs, Sun films, summer Sun monthly hog roast, mothers’ group, occasional craft fairs, occasional big screen sport
Unusual arrangements of antlers, frames and retro lights at Westow House, London SE19
The South London-based Antic Pub Collective is one remarkable new small pubco that might perhaps have been better represented in the Guide. Founded in 1999 by Anthony Thomas, it has very successfully overhauled several important pubs over the past few years, mainly on town centre sites south of the river but with an increasing few elsewhere, a mix of free houses and leased pubs. Each has its own identity – which is why they prefer the term ‘collective’ to ‘company’ – but in my experience most have several things in common – a relaxed contemporary feel, quirky decor, friendly staff, a sense that there’s always something going on, and a notable effort with the beer offer, even when restricted due to ties or lack of cellar facilities. The estate currently stands at 24, several of which are Cask Marque accredited. A fine example for beer is the Antelope in Tooting (p218) but several others now approach or exceed this standard.
Big, chunky and looking slightly dark and forbidding on the diagonally opposite corner of the main Crystal Palace junction from the Grape and Grain (see the London guide p187), Westow House turns out to have a playful and curiously embellished interior fashioned out of a Victorian pub shell, using the extensive space well with mixed furniture and a rear area equipped with table football and table tennis. Current manager Justin has revamped the beer offer, rotating five pumps through a range of 40 cask beers – Adnams Lighthouse, Pure Gold and Sharp’s Doom Bar are favourites of the group but choices from King in Horsham are often seen and very popular. Kegs include two Meantime choices and a real Czech lager; bottles change but might include Australia’s Little Creatures (nodding to Justin’s homeland), Odell Cutthroat Porter, Maisels Weisse and all three Chimays.
Food includes several veggie choices (macaroni cheese and gratinated gnocchi with mushrooms when I looked) alongside the likes of beer battered coley and roast guinea fowl. An extensive front terrace and a packed activity programme complete the picture.
National Rail, Overground Crystal Palace Cycling LCN+23, Deptford, Beckenham Walking Capital Ring, Green Chain Walk
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