Amersham Arms

Just what Southeast London needed - another "traditional" pub trying to straddle the line between crusty local boozer and trendy student hangout. The Amersham Arms in London's New Cross district beckons with its iconic red neon "Take Courage" sign, a rather on-the-nose suggestion for what you might need before venturing inside. Yet here I am, reluctantly admitting that this mid-19th century establishment might actually be worth your time.

Let's address the elephant in the room - yes, it's basically Goldsmiths University's unofficial common room. But unlike most student pubs that reek of desperation and spilled alcopops, the Amersham Arms has somehow managed to maintain its dignity. The dark wood paneling and original 1930s features provide a surprisingly authentic backdrop that even the most hardened pub purist would struggle to fault.

The main bar wraps around a central servery like a protective mother, and the Chesterfield sofas scattered about have absorbed enough stories to fill a library. Initially, I rolled my eyes at the bare-boarded floors - another "authentic" touch, I assumed - until I realized they're actually original. Points for accidentally genuine character, I suppose.

What really knocked my cynical socks off was the second room, which hosts live music and the long-running Happy Mondays comedy nights. While most venues treat their entertainment spaces as an afterthought, this room feels purpose-built for making memories you'll probably want to forget. The acoustics are surprisingly decent, and the sight lines don't make you wish you'd brought a periscope.

The beer selection is, well, present. It's all keg (cue gasps of horror from CAMRA enthusiasts), but they've had the sense to mix mainstream offerings with some interesting bits from Brixton Brewery. The prices are what you'd expect for London - which is to say, they hurt just enough to remind you you're alive. But at least they're not charging Shoreditch prices for New Cross geography.

Now, about that atmosphere. During the day, it's actually rather civilized - the kind of place where you could read a book without feeling like an intellectual poseur. The natural light streaming through those Victorian windows does something almost magical to the space. Come nighttime, it transforms into something altogether more spirited, though mercifully stopping short of full-blown student chaos.

The outdoor seating area exists in that peculiarly London way - not quite a beer garden, not quite a smoking area, but somehow managing to be the place where all the most interesting conversations happen. On warm evenings, it becomes a sort of impromptu village square for New Cross's eclectic mix of students, locals, and people who swear they're "just passing through" but somehow never leave.

Let's talk location - it's literally across the road from New Cross station, which means you can't even use the "it's too hard to get to" excuse. The proximity to public transport is particularly appreciated when you realize you've accidentally stayed for "just one more" three times in a row.

What makes the Amersham Arms truly noteworthy isn't any one thing - it's the improbable alchemy of elements that shouldn't work together but somehow do. It's where pretense comes to die and genuine character refuses to be gentrified out of existence. The payment system accepts everything from contactless to good old-fashioned cash, because even traditional pubs have to acknowledge we're not in 1850 anymore.

For those keeping score at home: Yes, the security can sometimes channel their inner bouncer-with-something-to-prove. Yes, some nights get rowdier than others. And yes, during term time you'll probably feel ancient if you're over 25. But here's the thing - the Amersham Arms in London has earned its place in the city's pub landscape not by trying to be all things to all people, but by being unapologetically itself.

Go on, then. Take the Courage sign's advice and give it a shot. Just don't blame me when you find yourself becoming one of the regulars, defending its honor to some other cynical reviewer who doesn't get it... yet.