Part of our Best Pubs in London microsite. Is your local listed?
It might be a bit of a trek from central Penge, but if you're visiting the area from outside, then the Bridge House could scarcely be better located. The pub is literally (though riskily) a stone's throw from Penge West's platforms, and it's also one of the closest pubs to Crystal Palace Park.
The pub is split-level, both inside and out. Inside, the bar is raised over a large front room, with cosier seating off to the side. Out back, the spacious beer garden also extends over two levels, with much of the lower level offering rain cover.
This is a theatre-pub, with the intimate Bridge House Theatre, specialising in work from emerging writers, and "groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the theatre world". Kudos to them, and for housing a successful theatre in a venue that's flanked by two noisy railway lines.
Drinks-wise, it's mostly a mainstream affair on the pumps, and the wine selection is relatively small. The cocktail menu is more tempting, with lots of summer classics to enjoy in that beer garden.
