The Five Bells — Restaurant in London

🚇New Cross Gate 🍺 £4.65 Cruzcampo

The Five Bells is located by a busy road junction in New Cross in Southeast London. The nearest station is New Cross Gate on the Windrush Line.

If you’re a fan of the film Shaun of the Dead, The Winchester pub, real name ( The Duke of Albany) is just around the corner at 39 Monson Rd, SE14 5EQ, unfortunately the pub closed in 2008 but is well worth a look.

This pub was built by Hoare & Co in 1850.’s. This historic pub has a claim to fame, it was where Charles Dickens wrote "Our Mutual Friend", his last novel. There is a mural just around the corner close to where his lodgings were.

This is a large one bar pub that is traditionally decorated. The brightly painted servery dominates the bar area which wraps around it in a ‘U’ shape. The decor consists of tongue and groove panels with painted and wallpapered walls, a grand old fire surround, loads of seating and a tartan carpet. There is a pool table, a dartboard and a new addition of an old Joanna. At the back of the pub is a smoking area with chalkboards where you can a scribble what’s on your mind whilst having a smoke.

The beer selection consisted of familiar keg favourites plus a cask ale. I decided on a Cruzcampo, my pint hit the spot, price point was reasonable at under a fiver, the cheapest pint in here is Carlsberg which costs £3.10. This is a wet-led pub that doesn’t serve food.

I arrived at 12pm on a chilly Saturday lunchtime in January. The pub had just opened, so I had the place to myself. I got chatting to the Guv’nor who is a born and bread local and is very passionate about his pub. He mentioned he has introduced a new Jazz Night which has gone down well with the locals. He was great to talk to an all round very nice chap indeed. I also met a friendly local and the lady behind the bar was lovely.

This @craftunionpubs boozer is proper community local that looks after its punters. I loved the history surrounding this pub, the sensibly priced beer, the personable hospitality plus there is plenty to keep you entertained. @wearethefivebells gets a big thumbs up from me.

📅 25th January 2025

More London Pub info...

Most of the time I'm happy to claim this as my local. The pub is run by Alex & Sarah in the heart of New Cross. It's a quite spacious pub with six large screens showing a variety of sports daily, you will catch all the football you want here in a good atmosphere. Beer prices are some of the cheapest around though an extra 20p on a pint over the weekends. There's a dartboard and a pool table both of which seem to be in good condition. A real bonus for me is that they are dog friendly and are happy to provide water for your pooch. Despite being in a tough area and a popular drinking hole for Millwall fans on match days it is a friendly pub with clientelle of all ages. There's free pool on a Tuesday evening with every pint bought and free pizza available. Obviously popular with local students. Friday and Saturday there's a disco which is a big draw. Personally I avoid Tuesday and Thursdays as I don't like the type of music that's being played. If I wanted to listen to nightclub stuff that's where I'd go, but I don't. Horses for courses as they say. Overall though it's probably the best pub in this...

Good place for a cheap pint.

Staff were so nice and friendly. Only one person behind the bar and another taking drinks to tables and taking orders. Even though the pub was full, service was still super quick and efficient, don’t know how they did it they did an phenomenal job!

Place is clean and well layed our following the refurbishment. They show sport and have a pool table and darts board. Lovely atmosphere in there, too.

Only tiny thing is I wish they had a wider beer selection, but if you just want a few beers and good company, then I’d...