Jamie Hooper has, in four years, transformed what was the Ivanhoe, an average back street boozer, into a beacon of beer excellence amid the suburban terraces of south east London. It’s now a vibrant hostelry with a firm emphasis on drinks quality.

The Venue
Hoopers Bar is within easy walking distance of three rail stations – East Dulwich, Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye. It has a handsome Victorian exterior and a traditional interior with a large horseshoe bar. There's also a separate snug area for groups to gather. Furnishing is unpretentious but comfortable.

The Atmosphere
Hoopers is now the go-to community local. The excellent beer helps to create good conversation and company. There is a pleasing mix of age groups and a lot of younger people – male and female – are increasingly choosing the real ale on offer.

Satellite TV shows regular sporting events, there are Thursday night quizzes, live music - with an emphasis on blues and jazz – and there is a well-attended comedy night on the first Sunday of the month. Unusually, they have one room for bed and breakfast and this is usually occupied by a real ale devotee paying a visit to the capital.

The Food
A good Sunday roast with choice of meats is available. Other than this the food is basic finger food such as sandwiches and sausage rolls - and this is only provided at weekends.

The Drink
The owner is one of the Campaign For Real Ale’s earliest members and activists. Now a life member, he originally joined in 1971, which was only CAMRA’s third year. His initial offering at Hoopers was two ales on hand pump but now four are available. House bitter is Ivanhoe from emerging Tottenham micro, Redemption. This is a citric, Amarillo-hopped session ale that is liked for its crispness and zingy aroma. The rest of the beer range changes but includes products from micros like Brodie’s and Dark Star and, on occasions, eccentric Scots producer, Brewdog. In addition to its listing in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide and its Cask Marque accreditation, Hoopers Bar also host beer festivals. Greatly appreciated by ale drinkers, they invariably showcase new and innovative brews.

The bottled beer list is also of note. There are 50 Belgians with unusual ones featured such as Bruggse Zot, St Bernardus and Watou Tripel as well as favourites like Rodenbach Grand Cru.

Listed among the Germans are the 12.7% Schneider Weisse and Erdinger Dunkel, an unusual dark wheat beer. There is even a selection of three American craft beers – Anchor Steam, Blue Moon and Goose Eye.

Among the lagers is a genuine Czech-brewed pilsner, Zatec, from the Republic’s leading hop region. This has the refreshing hoppy aroma and flavour one would expect from a passionate craft beer producer.

The Last Word
South east London is often considered to be suburban and prosaic. Hoopers Bar is anything but. It is exciting and exceptional in its beer excellence.

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