As pub gardens reopen many of them have decided to introduce table bookings and even time slots. A good idea if you want to guarantee a seat, perhaps, and it must give the pubs a degree of certainty as they ease themselves back into the swing of things.
Booking ahead, however, is not a key competence in the Deserter skillset. Indeed, many of us fear it. It starts with a simple idea (‘pub’, for example) but invariably ends in website submission forms, calendars, itineraries and WhatsApp groups. And all I wanted was a pint.
You may counter that booking ahead is not terribly onerous and can be done at your convenience – online, perhaps, or over the phone. But consider the alternative for a moment: Not booking ahead. See? That’s better already, isn’t it?
Here, then, is a selection of pubs that have decided not to take bookings. To which you can just pitch up and chance your arm. Perhaps simply as you’re passing – possibly the best pint of all. Do I fancy a beer? you might ask yourself, sometimes out loud. Yes. Yes I do.
That’s booking ahead, Deserter style.
No Booking Required (click the map below for pub details)
British Oak, Blackheath
Market Porter, Borough
Hootananny, Brixton
The Windmill, Brixton
London Beer Dispensary, Brockley
Fox on the Hill, Camberwell
Royal Oak, Charlton
Craft & Courage, Crystal Palace
Sparrowhawk, Crystal Palace
Dog & Bell, Deptford
German Kraft Beer, Elephant & Castle
All In One, Forest Hill
Blythe Hill Tavern, Forest Hill
Dacre Arms, Lee
Skehans, New Cross
Man of Kent, Nunhead
Beer Rebellion, Peckham
Earl Ferrers, Streatham
The Dolphin, Sydenham
Waterloo Tap, Waterloo
Lord Herbert, Woolwich
Please help us update this map. Let us know of any changes or other pubs not taking bookings via Twitter or at hello@deserter.co.uk
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Image credits: Dacre Arms via Dacre Arms; German Kraft Beer via German Kraft Beer; others by the author
