The Ashburnham Arms
Ashburnham Grove SE10
Estate Agents hyperventilate over any property that comes onto the market in "The Ashburnham Triangle" (more about that another day) - they know they can make huge profits and easy sales. The people who live there realise this, and make sure that it stays nice.
This is pretty much exactly what you might expect in an area as swanky as this - a local mid-Victorian boozer updated for what is clearly a local community who actually use it.
I guess from the wine-bar-ish decor, it's not long been refurbished - wood panelling around bottom of the walls, a fireplace stripped back to the brick, squashy armchairs at the back and a rather splendid painting of a sort of abstract map of Greenwich - The Ashburnham Arms marked with an A, of course. There's a little conservatory at the back. Frankly it could have been done a little better, in my humble opinion - it feels a bit hastily-done, but it nevertheless provides nice surroundings in which to enjoy a quiet pint.
The beers are by Shepherd Neame (allegedly the oldest brewery in the country) who are presumably trying to meet head-on other top pubs in the area such as The Union. The punters are clearly well-heeled regulars, and they clearly love it. I'm told the food is home-cooked and lovely - but whenever I've been in I've always managed to be too late (tsk...)I will make an effort to be there when the food is still on and report back.
The pub takes a bit of finding, and I suspect the locals count on this. The piano player doesn't quite stop when you walk in (though maybe they would if the place actually had a piano...) and it's not an unfriendly look you get as you walk in, but there is an-ever-so-slight raising of heads and a 'not from these parts' atmosphere. And Quiz Night is definitely not a time to be a stranger here.
Would that there were more 'local pubs for local people' of this quality. The Ashburnham knows it audience and plays to it (if sometimes to the very slight exclusivity of others.)
The Ashburnham Arms is the local meeting place for our local Morris dancers, the Blackheath Morris Men. I daresay they'll be out in force on St George's Day...
BTW the loos are quite fun - two separate entrances leading to one room divided by a low glass barrier. His & hers sections, then a glass wash basin each, next to each other by the barrier so you can spoon over the soap.
Estate Agents hyperventilate over any property that comes onto the market in "The Ashburnham Triangle" (more about that another day) - they know they can make huge profits and easy sales. The people who live there realise this, and make sure that it stays nice.
This is pretty much exactly what you might expect in an area as swanky as this - a local mid-Victorian boozer updated for what is clearly a local community who actually use it.
I guess from the wine-bar-ish decor, it's not long been refurbished - wood panelling around bottom of the walls, a fireplace stripped back to the brick, squashy armchairs at the back and a rather splendid painting of a sort of abstract map of Greenwich - The Ashburnham Arms marked with an A, of course. There's a little conservatory at the back. Frankly it could have been done a little better, in my humble opinion - it feels a bit hastily-done, but it nevertheless provides nice surroundings in which to enjoy a quiet pint.
The beers are by Shepherd Neame (allegedly the oldest brewery in the country) who are presumably trying to meet head-on other top pubs in the area such as The Union. The punters are clearly well-heeled regulars, and they clearly love it. I'm told the food is home-cooked and lovely - but whenever I've been in I've always managed to be too late (tsk...)I will make an effort to be there when the food is still on and report back.
The pub takes a bit of finding, and I suspect the locals count on this. The piano player doesn't quite stop when you walk in (though maybe they would if the place actually had a piano...) and it's not an unfriendly look you get as you walk in, but there is an-ever-so-slight raising of heads and a 'not from these parts' atmosphere. And Quiz Night is definitely not a time to be a stranger here.
Would that there were more 'local pubs for local people' of this quality. The Ashburnham knows it audience and plays to it (if sometimes to the very slight exclusivity of others.)
The Ashburnham Arms is the local meeting place for our local Morris dancers, the Blackheath Morris Men. I daresay they'll be out in force on St George's Day...
BTW the loos are quite fun - two separate entrances leading to one room divided by a low glass barrier. His & hers sections, then a glass wash basin each, next to each other by the barrier so you can spoon over the soap.
Labels: Drinking, Eating Out, Regional Greenwich
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
08:06
9 Comments:
I have recently moved to the famed "Asburnham Triangle" and I was looking forward to paying a visit to this pub expecting a similar gastro pub feel to The Hill (not that I was hugely impressed on first visit there, but that can be dealt with another time).
What a disappointment, it certainly has the local pub for local people atmosphere and not in a good way. I think you were being too kind when you say the look was not unfriendly.I found it most unwelcoming. There was no atmosphere which was not enhanced by the dire music "not available in the shops" soundtrack playing.
And as for the decor if it has been refurbished whoever did it ought to be fined. I thought I had acheived time travel, it was 1980 and I must be in the sitting room of a bungalow in Dudley (no offence meant).
On a positive note I have just discovered this web site and it is excellent to have a platform on which to share views positive (I can be) and negative on all things Greenwich.
Wwlcome to my humble blog, Mr/Ms A.
tell you what, though - if you're going to stick around can we have an actual name please? I don't mean a REAL name, naturally - though you can if you wish. But any kind of nickname will do - just so we can get to know you - or your online presence...
Of course,Ms Betty shall become my online alter ego.
Off to add my two pennies to The Rivington now...
A fine name indeed, Ms B. I shall look forward to reading more insigtful comments...
now this used to be a great pub. I make that statement from a strictly 'young family' point-of-view. I used to live across the road, and found the decor slightly shabby in a really comfy kind of way, the was food excellent (10 different types of pasta - perfect for adults and kids alike). Dave ran a quiz with a reputation on tuesday nights, and on friday nights and the weekends was quite comfortable with families having kids hooning about in the play street next door, while mums and dads supped their pints. This was particularly good when sitting in the back garden with the doors to the playstreet open, as you could keep half an eye on the toddlers. The place got mobbed when the weather was good as 'the triangle' with its preponderance of 2/3 bed terraces is riddled with young families. It really gave the area a great focus.
The current landlord, Dennis, has a much different agenda, and has seemingly gone out of his way to drive out the local family custom, not allowing his back garden gates to open out onto the playstreet for example, seemingly rather to encourage his punters from out of the area to use it as a car park, rather than have local kisd use it as the playstreet that it is. He's also upset the local residents over plans to open until the wee hours (I don't know how that got resolved). The beer has always been good, and while he's scrapped the pasta, at least he's had the sense to keep the Masterbrew and Spitfire tasting good. Oh, and the new decor is rubbish!, but that's probably because I'm old and boring. Does anyone out there think this pub has improved? (probably someone without kids...)
Not such a bad idea to closed the gates.. having the kids screaming at the other side is better than having them scream in my ear… I prefer to have relaxing drink.
This is a great pub. I have Kids have always found Dennis very welcoming. Personally, I don't have a problem with keeping the back gate closed. We take it in turns to stay with the kids in the play street allowing everyone drinking in the back to enjoy their pints etc. At the end of the day it's a pub for adults to drink in, not a play group for lazy parents who can't be bothered to remove their bums from their pint and actually check on what they are up to.
I've been a local of the Ashburnham Arms for maybe 18 months now. However I've been in the area about 3 years. When I first moved to the area, I popped in there for a quick pint with a friend and to be honest I wasnt really that impressed, far too quiet. It was nearly a year and a bit before I went back in. My biggest regret is that it took me so long to go back in and i let first impressions get in the way. This really is a proper "pub" and not one of the million faceless poncy "bars" which are popping up all over the place. I completely agree about the comment on first entering the pub, especially with a few people already there, you do get the feeling that your intruding, not from the barstaff though, but from the Patrons. This is very much a locals bar and when someone new walks in, its a bit like someone you dont know walking into your living room unanounced.
I read the comments made by darrenbentbentbent, and I think they sound to me like the comments of a petulant child that couldnt get their own way. I have 4 kids and have never had a problem taking them into the Ashburnham, indeed, its one of the few pubs/bars in greenwich I feel comfortable in taking them. They have a dedicated kids menu which is very reasonably priced, and way better for them than a McD's.
There are many things the Ashburnham is not, its not a "trendy" bar with suits ordering bottles of Bolly, Its not a sports Bar with 52" plasma'a surrounding the walls, Its also not a bar where its so crammed you need to fight your way to the bar and scream into each others ears to be heard. If these are the things your after, there are a plethora of them up the road.
If however you are after a pub that you can goto on a regular basis, where the beer is good, the food tasty, and the welcome warm (...albeit it might take a few visits ;-) ), then definetly give the Ashburnham a try.
Denis was made to shut the gates by the council.
I wonder if DarrenBentBentBent was the same gentleman who bought a house opposite a pub and then moaned constantly about living opposite a pub!
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