Tuesday 4 September 2007

The Florence, Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, London


A large, recently-refurbished pub, the size of a village hall, with funky decor, hip, young staff and its own micro-brewery. The Florence's focal point is a 'Cheers-style' square bar, serving an impressive range of premium beers, including the German wheat beer Erdinger and the renown Czech pilsner Budvar. Each tap around the bar has a small label describing the beer to the uninitiated. Elsewhere, the pub is furnished with trendy, but comically-uncomfortable seats, which are so deep they encourage you to lounge right back and away from the person you are talking to. Probably the best drinking den in Herne Hill, but as yet, the Florence doesn't attract enough drinkers, even on a Saturday night, to fill its wide open spaces and create a buzzy atmosphere. 7/10