The Perry Hill Pub

The Perry Hill pub is sure to become a favourite spot for locals in Catford and Sydenham with its welcoming vibe and its great selection of food and drink.

There’s a generously spaced beer garden, one of the biggest in South East London, with an inviting bright mural painted by local artist Lionel Stanhope.

Inside the pub there’s an abundance of natural light. The decor is charming and unpretentious with a few off-skew paintings and plants galore, which makes you feel at ease as soon as you step inside. Well-behaved dogs are allowed throughout the venue with friendly staff eager to offer your pooch a treat from the big bowl at the door.

The best offerings from the Perry Hill Pub menu are in its signature smoked and slow cooked section, which are prepared in the on-site smokehouse. The brisket was so succulent and tender it was as if it had been soaked in gravy. The crunchy house slaw and mustard were welcome additions to the plate. However, we preferred a portion of crisp, lightly salted chips over the beef dripping toast the brisket came with.

The double patty cheese burger is an ideal pairing for one of the many draft beers or craft perries on offer. The beef is juicy, well-seasoned and smothered with just the right amount of cheese. The potato-flour buns which house the patties are an inspired choice. They soak up all the juices leaving your fingertips grease-free and are so light the focus of every mouthful is (quite rightfully) the meat.

There’s a good wine list and some interesting alcohol free options including a passionfruit kombucha with lime and bitters. Veggies and vegans have plenty of choices with options like oat milk fried celeriac to start and a Symplicity vegan burger for main. There’s also a Sunday roast and group dining options.

Some dishes on the menu fell short of expectation but given the venue has only recently reopened, we’re sure these will soon be ironed out. The staff, ambiance and signature smokehouse dishes alone make this pub an excellent spot to spend an afternoon.

The Perry Hill Pub isn’t a new boozer, but its facelift came some two years after it last closed so it feels fully revitalised. Husband and wife team Phil Sutton and Oonagh McCormack took it on to turn it into the flagship site for their new group called The Doghouse Pub Company. This isn’t the duo’s first dalliance with hospitality, Sutton has previously run operations for a handful of pubs and has worked with the Franco Manca team while McCormack’s experience includes time at The Pig’s Ear in Chelsea and Bellevue in Clapham.

Heading up the kitchen is Jamie Younger whose CV includes time at Palmerston in East Dulwich and being chef proprietor at The Begging Bowl in Peckham (a role he maintains). Second in command is head chef Eric Grapt (The Wolseley and The Hurlingham Club) who has put together a menu showcasing British comfort food and barbecue favourites. Hero dishes include a slow-cooked beef brisket, shredded pig’s shoulder and smoked celeriac steaks, while Sundays – naturally – mean roast dinners with all the trimmings. Smaller sharing plates include snacks like beef shin croquettes with horseradish or cured salmon on soda bread with dill mustard.

Puddings are just as tempting as the mains, with a jam doughnut ice cream sandwich the star of the show. Elsewhere there’s roasted pineapple with rum and raisin ice cream or ice cream handmade by the Hackney Gelato company.

Interiors have been sensitively updated to celebrate the pub’s past. Think wooden panelling and a saloon bar with comfortable seating and counter stools. Outdoors there’s a large wooden terrace to make use of when the weather allows.

Drinks have been carefully considered too and feature a rotating list of beer specials as well as a far—reaching wine list. All the usual softs and spirits are on offer too should you prefer.