Antigallican – meaning anti-French – is the last pub in London to be called this, for obvious reasons! In spite of the name, the staff are actually very friendly and welcoming, it's just a shame that the pub is a bit of a dive.

The Venue
Located on the corner of Woolwich Road and Charlton Church Lane, Antigallican is a stone’s throw from the CFC football ground and Charlton station.

This is a large pub consisting of two main areas. In the front section there’s a pool table, a couple of games machines, a jukebox, two leather sofas alongside wooden bar stools, and a fair amount of open space. The back section has more of a lounge feel with several tatty brown leather sofas and armchairs and an array of tables in inappropriate places; looking messy and cluttered. There is a big screen on the far wall as well as three other flat screen TVs scattered across the venue. The bar is an unusual horseshoe shape with jazzy blue spotlights. Thanks to the shape, you are able to be served from all angles of the room.

The whole place has way too much dull brown paint everywhere, which spoils the two fantastic sky lights in the lounge area. There’s a really ornate wooden fireplace, which would be lovely in the right surroundings but amongst the peeling paint and cheap cast off furniture it’s sadly lost.

The Atmosphere
Antigallican is the main pub for Charlton FC fans to drink in, so when a match is on it can get very busy with a strong police presence. It’s a real locals’ pub, full of school leavers that barely look 18 running around like they own the place, the odd couple in the back section, and the usual oldies propping up the bar. It doesn’t really have an atmosphere unless it's match day when the pub becomes loud and buzzing with football fans. The only thing here that is cool, calm and collected are the bar staff.

The Food
Basic is all you're going to get here: a butty with a bit of ham; a jacket potato with cheese, beans, or cheese and beans; a burger and chips; or steak and chips with mushrooms.

The Drink
There’s not a bad selection of beers at Antigallican - Guinness, Coors Light, Caphreys, Carling extra cold, Grolsh, Worthingtons, and Strongbow are all on draught for around £2.80 a pint. Bottles include Becks, Stella, WKD, Smirnoff ice, Budweiser, Magners and J20. A limited selection of premium spirits and shots are on show so its difficult to imagine what cocktails are on offer as advertised on a chalk board by the pool table, and with no menus anywhere it’s a mystery.

The Last Word
Antigallican is a bit of a dive despite a recent refurbishment. If you’re a CFC supporter you don’t have much choice, but for everyone else - jog on!

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