Stormbird SE5

London’s Best Beer, Pubs and Bars updates
Southeast London: Camberwell, Dulwich and Peckham

Blackboard at Stormbird, London SE5

Contemporary pub (Independent, small group)
25 Camberwell Church Street SE5 8TR
T 020 7277 1806 w www.thestormbirdpub.co.uk
Open 1200-2400 (0100 Fri-Sat). Children welcome until 1800.
Cask beer 3 (local guests), Other beer 13 keg, 40 bottles, Also 1 real cider, a few malts and specialist spirits.
Food None but customers welcome to bring in takeaways, Outdoor A few tables on street, Wifi.

Yet another new style beer outlet, Stormbird opened late in 2011 when its corner site, previously home to a youth-oriented bar known as the Funky Munky, was taken over and refurbished by the owners of the Hermits Cave nearby (p173). Camberwell’s arty young things still patronise the place, but now the fine beer range is one of the things that draws them in. Inside is a simple, smallish single room, tastefully if not especially distinctively decorated and with a mix of tall stools and wooden tables, with a big L-shaped bar. Vintage enamel beer signs on the walls signal the main attraction. The three cask pumps usually feature a changing beer each from Brodie’s, Dark Star and Redemption, though other brewers from London and further afield occasionally appear. An impressive array of keg taps normally includes classics like Schneider Weisse and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and a changing range of US guests from the likes of Brooklyn, Flying Dog, Great Divide or Stone. There’s a superior bottled list balancing European classics and US favourites including Brooklyn Local 1, Cantillon Rosé de Gambrinus, Harviestoun Ola Dubh and Maui CoCoNut PorTeR. Exploration is encouraged by selling beer in thirds, though a list of the bottled beers would also help.

National Rail Denmark Hill Underground Oval, Elephant & Castle Bus Camberwell Green (various, Oval or Elephant & Castle) Cycling LCN+ 23