Herne Tavern

by far my favourite pub. just at the end of my road, only went there on a whim and found it to be a good whim!
Not such a fan of it during the day as its more of a nursery with no supervision then a pub. Big fan of the sunday pub quiz, its deffiently worth a visit!
Havent tried the food but deffiently will by the time the months out!

The Herne, or the East Dulwich Crèche as it is known locally, is another of those slightly grotty South East London pubs that’s been tarted to an inch of its grubby (read authentic) life. It sits on one of the Victorian terraced lined roads with views across Peckham Rye. The terraces have, in the main, been turned into flats and crammed full of the young professionals who find themselves priced out of nearby Lordship Lane.
Looks-​wise it hasn’t been given too much of a renovation. It’s a ‘character’ pub innit. The stained glass has been cleaned and the dark wood doors and furniture stained with years of tobacco are now polished and restored to ramshackle functionality. Owned by the team behind the Palmerston, a similarly sympathetic renovation on Lordship Lane with a reputation for great grub, I was expecting good things for a pre-​wedding lunch spot.
The menu is gastro standard. The kids portions a nod to the nappy wielding Napoleons who control the purse strings round here. Starters hover around £7, sample dishes including a Spiced Cauliflower Soup and Noisette of Denham Vale lamb with Pease Pudding. Someone’s certainly thought about the menu, even if it is relatively simple stuff. After a dirty burgering at New Cross pop up dive bar MeatEasy the previous evening, I sadly forced myself to turn from homemade (organic of course) burger and the Galway rump steak. Bereft of other fleshy delights, I went for Cornish Mackerel, stuffed with a slightly subdued salsa verde and served with ratte potatoes (a little like fingerling) and rocket. The two pieces of fresh and tasty fish were well cooked but it’s a hard sell at £12.50 a portion. The Masticator plumped for a Smoked Haddock, Bacon and sweetcorn chowder, thick, rich and perfectly pleasant, he was a happy camper too.
Like the Palmerston, they keep a good range of (relatively pricey, even for London) ales. It’s a good place for the local professional parents and those who want to share a meal with them.

I have been to the Herne many times for drinks as well as meals. The pub is very kid friendly is which good news for me as I have a toddler and the playground is fantastic as a distraction. However
The food and service at the Herne range from pretty good to pretty awful! The last time I went for Sunday lunch the whole experience almost put me off from ever going there again.
We had booked a table for four well in advance. When we got there we found the had put as at two tiny round tables pushed next to each other. Hardly big enough for one person to have lunch on let alone 4! When we complained they moved us to a bigger table but next to the kitchen traffic. The waitress that came to our table had trouble remembering the order, kept bringing the wrong thing or simply dissapeared. The food (sunday roast) was overcooked, underheated and just plain inedible. The bill was completely wrong. When I complained to the useless waitress all I got was a shrug.
Have not been since.

Lovely pub, sister to the Palmerston on Lordship Lane. Great food, lovely friendly staff and good atmosphere.
The Sunday pub quiz is legendary and one of the best pub quizzes I have ever been to.
Also have had a large group meal here which was excellent and really well staffed.
Would recommend!

Very family friendly. Playground in the back garden and easy going staff. Nice conservatory to sit and watch the kids. Good quality food as well. Even though this is classed as East dulwich, it’s not close to the Lordship lane, nearer to Peckham Rye.