Good Beer Guide 1981

By the time of CAMRA's 10th anniversary in 1981, the Good Beer Guide had grown from just under 100 pages in 1974 to over 270 pages.

The 1981 Guide reports that at the time of CAMRA's formation in 1971, less than a quarter of Britain's pubs still served traditional cask beer. However, by 1981 well over half of pubs did so.

The number of our SE London branch pubs included in the Guide had also significantly increased, from just 11 in 1974 to 26 in 1981.

Of these 26 pubs, 18 are still operating and 1 has been incorporated into a next-door pub, whilst 2 have been demolished, 2 converted to other uses, and 3 remain closed.

Greenwich Borough

• White Swan, The Village, Charlton, SE7

  Then: "Charrington IPA, Draught Bass. Large unspoilt local near Charlton Football ground."

  Now: Closed since 2020 with a number of subsequent change of use planning applications refused.

• Duke, Creek Rd, Deptford, SE8

  Then: "Wethered Bitter; Fremlins Tusker. Plain and friendly."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Ashburnham Arms, Ashburnham Grove, Greenwich, SE10

  Then: "Shepherd Neame Best Bitter. Basic boozer."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Fox & Hounds, Royal Hill, Greenwich, SE10

  Then: "Charrington IPA, Draught Bass. Candle-lit pub with relaxing atmosphere."

  Now: Was subsequently operated by Meantime Brewery and renamed Greenwich Union. Acquired by Young's in 2021 and incorporated into their adjacent Richard I pub.

• Richard I, Royal Hill, Greenwich, SE10

  Then: "Young Bitter, Special Bitter, Winter Warmer. Small, popular local."
  Note: based on the above description, the premises may still have been two separate properties, the pub occupying no. 52 Royal Hill with an off-licence at no. 54, next to the Fox & Hounds. It is believed no's 52 & 54 were combined to form an enlarged pub sometime in the early 1980s. Photos of the separate pub and off-licence can be viewed here.

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Royal George, Blissett St, Greenwich, SE10

  Then: "Shepherd Neame Bitter. One-bar pub full of bric-a-brac."

  Now: Closed in 2010 and converted to residential.

• Queen Victoria, Wellington St, Woolwich, SE18

  Then: "Young Special Bitter; Draught Bass; Fuller London Pride; Everard Tiger. Occasional surprise beers."

  Now: Closed in 2009 and converted into a shop in 2011.

• Village Blacksmith, Hillreach, Woolwich, SE18

  Then: "Bourne Valley Andover Mild, Andover Ale; Godson Black Horse; Everard Tiger; Greene King Abbot; Samuel Smith Old Brewery Bitter; Shepherd Neame Bitter; Simon Hosking Tower Bridge Bitter; Wadworth 6X. Excellent local, range of beers may vary."
  Note: at this time the pub was owned by CAMRA, read more about this here.

  Now: Has remained closed since the late 1990s, planning permission for conversion to residential was refused in 2013.

Lambeth Borough

• Tankard, Kennington Rd, Kennington, SE11

  Then: "Charrington IPA, Draught Bass. Comfortable pub outside Imperial War Museum."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Railway Bell, Cawnpore St, Upper Norwood, SE19

  Then: "Young Bitter, Special Bitter, Winter Warmer. Small, popular pub."

  Now: Has remained closed since June 2023.

Lewisham Borough

• Hare & Billet, Eliot Cottages, Blackheath, SE3

  Then: "Wethered Bitter, Winter Royal; Fremlins Tusker. Cosy old pub overlooking the heath, facing the pond."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Railway Tavern, Blackheath Village, SE3

  Then: "Ind Coope Bitter, Burton Ale. Popular pub next to the station with a secluded garden."

  Now: The pub continues to trade, now known as The Railway.

• Wickham Arms, Upper Brockley Rd, Brockley, SE4

  Then: "Courage Best Bitter, Directors. Large display of bottled beers and uniforms."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Catford Ram, Winslade Way, Catford, SE6

  Then: "Young Bitter, Special Bitter, Winter Warmer; Weston Cider. Comfortable air-conditioned pub, beer dispensed from first floor 'cellar'."

  Now: The pub continues to trade, now known as Black Cat.

• Railway Telegraph, Stanstead Rd, Forest Hill, SE23

  Then: "Shepherd Neame Mild, Bitter, Stock Ale. Real beer in saloon bar only."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Crown, Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, SE12

  Then: "Young Mild, Bitter, Special Bitter, Winter Warmer. Smart, suburban pub."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Dulwich Wood House, Sydenham Hill, Sydenham, SE26

  Then: "Young Mild, Bitter, Special Bitter, Winter Warmer. Popular pub with trendy clientele, garden bar service via electric pumps."

  Now: The pub continues to trade, now known as the Wood House.

Southwark Borough

• Sultan, St James's Rd, Bermondsey, SE1

  Then:"Shepherd Neame Bitter, Best Bitter, Stock Ale. Friendly local."

  Now: Closed in 2000, demolished in 2001 and replaced with a block of flats.

• Albert Arms, Gladstone St, Elephant & Castle, SE1

  Then: "Charrington IPA, Draught Bass. Friendly pub with magnificent exterior."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• George, Borough High St, Southwark, SE1

  Then: "Fremlins Tusker; Wethered Bitter, Special Bitter, Winter Royal. Galleried 17th century coaching inn, with original parliamentary clock. Shakespeare plays in summer."

  Now: The pub continues to trade and, as London's last remaining galleried inn, is Grade I-listed.

• Royal George, Carlisle Lane, Waterloo , SE1

  Then: "Ruddle County; Draught Bass; Brakespear Special Bitter. Popular backstreet free house with large collection of ties, near St Thomas' Hospital."

  Now: Most sources state the pub was demolished in the early 1990s as part of the construction of the London Waterloo Eurostar rail platforms, though some sources place the demolition at the end of that decade.

• Wellington, Waterloo Rd, Waterloo, SE1

  Then: "Arkell BBB; Eldridge Pope IPA, Royal Oak; Greene King Abbot; Samuel Smith Old Brewery Bitter; Shepherd Neame Bitter; Young Bitter. Handy for Waterloo Station, frequent guest beers."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Clockhouse, Peckham Rye, East Dulwich, SE22

  Then: "Young Bitter, Sepcial Bitter, Winter Warmer. Comfortable, converted off-licence."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Crystal Palace Tavern, Crystal Palace Rd, East Dulwich, SE22

  Then: "Ind Coope Bitter, Burton Ale. Busy pub with contrasting bars."

  Now: The pub continues to trade, now known as Great Exhibition. The previously separate lounge and public bars were opened up into a single bar area in around 2010.

• Old Nun's Head, Nunhead Green, Peckham, SE15

  Then: "Charrington IPA, Draught Bass. Comfortable well-kept house, shove ha'penny in public bar."

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

• Mayflower, Rotherhithe St, Rotherhithe, SE16

  Then: "Charrington IPA. Historic 17th century riverside pub. Pilgrim Fathers' starting point."
  Note: the present pub actually dates from the 19th century, with the 16th century tavern-style interior the result of a 1957 refurbishment.

  Now: The pub continues to trade.

(Last updated: Sept 2026)

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