Peek through the thick net curtains of this tiny pub on Lower Road and you’d be forgiven for seeking refreshment elsewhere, but you’d do well to remember that old man pubs provide a side of London that might one day disappear. Whether that’s a good thing or not is your opinion.

The Venue
The Farriers Arms is little like entering an old man’s living room and, for some, that’s just what it is. The space is cosy to say the least with traditional furnishings and ancient patterned carpets surrounding the small bar in the centre. The building is squeezed tightly between shops on the high street, taller than anything else on the row, looking as if it was dropped there by accident.

The Atmosphere
As with a lot of these Deptford old man pubs, The Farriers Arms manages to maintain a sense of community, similar to the feeling one might get from a working men’s club. Alas, this community spirit achieved by the local pub seems to be dying in London - like the working men’s club across the UK - and this sense of loss is almost palpable in a pub like The Farriers Arms. Token efforts to liven the place up with entertainment can’t reawaken this establishment.

The Drink
Only the usual suspects will be found here such as Fosters, Carling and Stella, but expect them to be served with friendliness and warmth. As long as you announce in a loud voice that you drove to The Farriers Arms or that you have a rare allergy to hops, feel free to purchase a non-alcoholic beverage.

The Last Word
This is not All Bar One. It’s an unpretentious and dependable pub in Deptford that might be a sign of how things used to be but is nonetheless here in the 21st century and still battling on, which is something to congratulate it for.

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