The Prince Regent, Dulwich Road

[Brixton Hatter]

having drunk in the Regent for around 10 years I am totally gutted about the loss of the pool tables and the telly showing footy. More food - less fun! I'm not bothered about the food - I can take it or leave it - although its clearly a bonus if a pub does decent food. But for me, a boozer is primarily about drinking with your mates, not sunday lunch avec le famillie. (Though maybe I am not in the pub's target group any more?)

Are there still the fruit machines / quiz machines in there? Or have they been removed too? Any music? Sounds it's been Weatherspoon-ised with all the "fun" taken out...

 

[Streathamite]

That's also an arbitrary definition though isn't it.

yes, but it was given to me by the (different) owners of two noted gastropubs. I'd say they are in as good a position as anyone to define it, meself.

 

[tarannau]

yes, but it was given to me by the (different) owners of two noted gastropubs. I'd say they are in as good a position as anyone to define it, meself.

Perhaps, but self-definition isn't perhaps always the most accurate, particularly when the owners of the aforementioned gastopubs are (in essence) marketing the own venues. They're selling the 'sizzle', not the dull ground up intestine-scrapings and fillings of the sausage.

Gastropub's just a made-up term for a pub serving 'quality' food whatever way you look at it, and the definition of quality is entirely in the hands of the proprietor.

 

[Streathamite]

yeah, fair enough, but 1) they'd hardly need to 'sell' to me (I was spudbashing for one of 'em at the time) and 2) I got the impression there was a kinda 'industry consensus' around that term, a received wisdom.

Also, there is a HUGE difference between a chef and a cook. to be a chef you need to have done/learnt a helluva lot more than simply to have worked a short stretch in a cuisine-based kitchen. It needs years of progress and on-the-job training, or formal training of the sort young master oliver had. It means adhering to certain traditions and methodologies.

I could cut it as a cook, easy, in that I could churn out decent, standard(ised) pub grub. me big bro (owner of one of asforesaid) could too. the chef of the place is a Le gavroche graduate-that is cuisine of a different order.

It also means, if I have this right, someone who contributes an original menu, that would match the standard in a 'proper' restaurant.

 

[articletwo]

articletwo, the Elm Park Tavern is everything a pub should be

It's a locals place, go every evening and you'll see the same faces, go on a football night and you'll learn their teams

The time you had in there sounds quite entertaining, at least

I don't know what you want from the place, me and her go to sort stuff out, I go for a quiet pint on my own sometimes

I'd hate it to be like the Falcon/Railway/Sun

Anyways, last night the Regent was emptier than if it had the pool tables

I'd be happy to give it another go, I was looking forward to having a good old fashioned London boozer as my local ... just need to persuade my other half.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

I went in this evening. No real beer (Greene King IPA hasn't inspired me since I was seventeen) and Guinness is three quid a throw. However, highlight of the evening was asking for crisps, which led to the bar staff informing me that it was the pub's policy not to stock them. "We're too posh for crisps", as one of them ironically put it.

Bollocks to that, I say.

Mind you the music selection was first rate.

 

[Pie 1]

However, highlight of the evening was asking for crisps, which led to the bar staff informing me that it was the pub's policy not to stock them. "We're too posh for crisps", as one of them ironically put it.

Ha!
We went there for a long sunday afternoon with some friends last month and I asked the (rather precious) barman for some change for the ciggie machine to which he replyed in a fucking patronising tone 'We don't have a cigarette machine' and promptly turned his back on me.
Twat.

 

[rennie]

i tried the food at the prince on saturday... took a while to come and it wasn't that amazing. a veggie burger that disintegrated as I ate it n some chips cost 7.50 quid. sheeesh!

 

[top_biller]

Well I like it, they had Black Sheep as a guest ale last time I was in and did a very good bloody mary which sorted out my hangover a treat. Good music too, as has been noted, and enjoyed a very nice dinner in there with friends a couple of weeks ago. The waitress was very friendly - altogether a pleasant experience. Does what it sets out to do IMO.

 

[Pie 1]

Sorry, I should clarify.
We had a lovely afternoon there. Food was fine, waitress was very nice etc etc. Just the guy who ran it seemed a little bit....well, of a prat.
DF's comment about the crisps seemed to tally . That's all.

 

[riggers]

I was also at the regent on sat afternoon/evening. I only sampled the stoli but was happy with the service!
Seemed pretty busy with families and a few dogs!