The Rye Hotel

This is probably my nearest pub, and it's fast becoming a favourite. Set very close to Peckham Rye, it is nestled between the crossroads of East Dulwich, Peckham, and Nunhead. It offers pretty much something for everyone, in all seasons.

On winter evenings it's a warm, cosy haven, bedecked as it is with fairy lights and boasting large roaring fires. In the summertime, the back garden and bedouin-tent style back rooms become popular late-night hangouts, with the pub even putting on the occasional barbeque. The atmosphere changes with the seasons, from lively festival-esque beer tent to laid-back country-pub Scrabble venue, and I like both.

Their food is excellent, and comes in larger portions than at an average gastropub. The beers on tap include Leffe and Hoegaarden, and they stock the ever-popular Fruli in bottles. You'll pay East Dulwich prices, though, most definitely.

My one reservation would be that as it's such a child-friendly place it can get pretty full of families, babies and loud children on weekend afternoons. But hey. You gotta love 'em, the little darlings. This is (almost) East Dulwich, after all...