Crystal Palace Pub Tour 1984 & 1986

This summary of the pubs, plus snippets of local history, appeared in the June 1984 edition of London Drinker. A subsequent update appeared in Oct 1986 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the fire that destroyed the Crystal Palace structure.

The combined 1984 & 1986 articles can be viewed here.

The borders of the three London Boroughs of Bromley, Croydon and Southwark converge at Crystal Palace and so the area's pubs are divided between the Bromley, Croydon & Sutton, and SE London branches of CAMRA.

Of the 14 pubs featured in the articles: 9 remain open, 2 are closed, and 3 have been converted to other uses:

1. Paxton Arms - closed in 2013 and subsequently converted into a community arts centre;
2. Sportsman - was latterly known as the Grape & Grain and has been closed since Nov 2017 following its acquisition by JD Wetherspoon;
3. Dulwich Wood House - open as a pub, now known as the Wood House;
4. Cambridge - having remained closed since 2011 the premises reopened as a restaurant in 2024;
5. Alma - open as a pub;
6. White Hart - open as a pub;
7. Queen's Hotel - since 2011 the hotel has not been available for public use;
8. Holly Bush - open as a pub, now known as the Sparrowhawk;
9. Queen's Arms - open as a cafe-bar, now known as Fino Cafe Bar;
10. Royal Albert - open as a pub;
11. Railway Bell - has been closed since June 2023;
12. Gipsy Hill Tavern - open as a pub, now known as Great Southern;
13. Colby Arms - open as a pub;
14. White Swan - open as a pub, now known as Westow House.

(Last updated July 2026)

Return to Pubs Tours homepage