Westow Tap

Tucked away in a corner of Crystal Palace, the Westow Tap in London is what happens when your cool friend's basement hangout grows up and gets a liquor license. This isn't just another London pub – it's a carefully curated slice of South London life where retro gaming meets craft beer, and somehow, it all just works.

Let's get real for a second – finding a proper neighborhood pub in London that hasn't been converted into a chain restaurant or luxury flats feels like striking gold these days. The Westow Tap stands as a testament to what happens when you do things right, maintaining that delicate balance between trendy and traditional that so many places try (and fail) to achieve. The reasonably priced drinks menu won't have you checking your bank balance mid-pint, which in London's current climate feels like a minor miracle.

Walk in on any given evening, and you'll find yourself immersed in an atmosphere that feels both carefully designed and wonderfully organic. The space manages that rare feat of being both spacious and cozy, with different areas that seem to develop their own micro-climates of social activity. The main bar area hums with conversation, while the back room often hosts impromptu gaming tournaments on the vintage arcade machines – because nothing breaks the ice quite like challenging a stranger to a round of Street Fighter II.

The beer selection at Westow Tap reads like a love letter to both traditional brewing and craft innovation. The tap lineup rotates frequently enough to keep the beer enthusiasts interested but always maintains enough familiar favorites to keep everyone happy. And here's a pro tip: their staff actually know their stuff. Ask them about what's new on tap, and you'll get genuine enthusiasm rather than a rehearsed sales pitch.

Music here deserves its own paragraph because whoever's in charge of the playlist deserves a raise. It's one of those rare London pubs where you can actually hear yourself think while simultaneously discovering songs you forgot you loved. During live music nights, the volume finds that sweet spot where you can still order a drink without having to resort to interpretive dance.

The dog-friendly policy means you might find yourself making four-legged friends while you sip your pint, and the outdoor seating area becomes prime real estate during those precious seventeen days of London summer. They've managed to create that increasingly rare thing: a genuine community space where locals and visitors alike feel equally welcome.

For those thinking about planning an event, they do take bookings, though recent reviews suggest you might want to confirm your reservation a couple of times. The space works well for groups, with enough room to accommodate your entire office or that friend group chat that somehow actually managed to agree on a date to meet up.

The partnership with Yard Sale Pizza is a stroke of genius – scanning a QR code for proper pizza delivery straight to your table feels like living in the future we were promised. It's the kind of practical innovation that makes you wonder why every pub doesn't do this.

In a city that's increasingly becoming a collection of identikit establishments, the Westow Tap in London stands out by simply being itself. It's not trying to be the fanciest spot in Crystal Palace, nor is it clinging desperately to a manufactured notion of "traditional pub charm." Instead, it's carved out its own niche: a place where good drinks, good music, and good company come together without pretense.

If you're in Crystal Palace and looking for somewhere that strikes the perfect balance between laid-back and lively, make your way to the Westow Tap. Bring your mates, bring your dog, bring your retro gaming skills – just don't expect to keep that "I know this cool little place" secret for long. The word's already out, and this particular corner of London is all the better for it.