Billy & Me Quest for Eats

I think this is a pub that deserves a lot more attention (though not too much; then Billy might not get through the crowds to get his Friday night feeding).

In an area often derided from being devoid of any daring dens of.. okay, I’ve run of of ‘d’ words… New Cross isn’t exactly famed for its tempting array of eateries and bars. To be fair, that’s not without reason; the A2 snakes through the area covering everything with a thick lair of soot. Many of the shop-fronts on the street are boarded up and there’s always some hassle by the train stations. In New Cross, the sirens never stop.

But, I have to point out, having lived there for well over a year; there are some fantastic places to go and things to see. While, you might have to put more work into finding them then you would in Brick Lane or similar; I’ve found that there are often of more genuine worth and sincerity. Whether a gallery, a cafe, a market, or, in this case, a pub.

The Walpole is, simply put, a bloody good pub.

On a Friday evening, you can usually get a seat with after a short wait at the bar. On a Sunday you can stroll in and there’s still some hustle and bustle to keep you alive and entertained. The crowd’s a great mix of students from Goldsmiths across the road, market traders and locals. There may even be a gig on and, should it be the guy we saw a week or so ago, you’d be very lucky. Somewhat reminiscent of Billy Bragg, the singer-songwriter had string of lyrics both cynical and loving of the area.

The food is unusual in two distinct ways: 1) it’s New Cross and it hasn’t been deep-fried and 2) it’s thai food and it’s varied and good. We’ve had chicken-on-a-stick with satay (good sauce; rich and nutty), pad thai (the thai staple; served hot, very spicy, and with that fresh bite that Thai food should always have), green curry (this, frankly, wasn’t all that hot), and beef fried in basil (which was excellent). I’ve been served far worse in Bangkok… and I was never served bad food in Bangkok.

Billy: 6
Eoin: 8
Locations:
407 New Cross Road
SE14 6LA
Google it here

(Image is stolen from http://www.fancyapint.com/main, sorry guys).