Part of our Best Pubs in London microsite. Is your local listed?
'Purveyors of Craic' is how Skehan's bill themselves, and who are we to argue. A regular on Deserter's World Cup of Pubs, this picturesque and popular boozer perches on the corner of a steep incline overlooking New Cross and Peckham, and beckons you in with its emerald facade and well-kept flower baskets.
The main bar is something of a timewarp, with a cosy bookcase corner and a nicotine-stained ceiling. Some kind of steampunk paddle system wafts back and forth from the ceiling, pushing a gentle breeze onto the locals sweltering on the bar stools below. "£10 minimum card order" is not a sign you see too often these days either. Remember to bring cash — especially if visiting on your own.
You could spend your life enjoying this room, getting to know the many regulars who come and go. But further treasures await out back. Skehan's is well noted for its multistorey beer garden, which puts us in mind of the 'Ewok village' at fellow Irish pub, the Faltering Fullback. It fills up very quickly on a warm day.
There's often live music on (jam sessions unfold around a table), otherwise horse racing, football and pool will keep you occupied for the best part of a lost weekend. There is Thai food too, with an epic menu to suit all tastes.
