Bars & Pubs

The Herne is the affordable, family-friendly sister to the Palmerston in East Dulwich, and is helmed by an ex-Bibendum chef, Ben Hoggatt. Youll find the same consistently high quality of food and service, and the same kind of tempting and inventive dishes only simpler and cheaper. The frequently changing, seasonal menu included, on our late-spring visit, crab salad, pork belly with pak choi, juicy and flavourful beefburger with excellent slim and crunchy chips, and fat fish cakes packed with tasty flesh. A dark-timber interior, plus original stained-glass windows, create an atmospheric setting, often enjoyed by old geezers drinking solitary pints. Despite its notable food, the Herne retains the feel of a quintessential and inclusive pub. Families and young drinkers relish the massive outdoor area at the back, landscaped to resemble the Teletubbies garden. Grassy mounds of earth create runways for excitable five-year-olds, while their parents consume Courage ales and succulent food. Outbuildings were transformed in summer 2007 to create an outdoor kitchen and bar area, for weekend feasts of barbecued pork and hot chorizo sandwiches.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008