The White Hart Crystal Palace

With a male deer painted on the frontage and a bizarre semi-abstract effigy of a stag’s head above the fireplace, there’s no doubting the theme at this popular Crystal Palace boozer – just add roaring fires, mismatched furniture and a decent beer garden. Food is served throughout the day and the menu covers all bases, from Scotch eggs, fish and chips, gussied-up roast chicken and “the best burgers in the whole of London” to pea, feta and mint arancini balls, crab cakes with coconut and yoghurt dressing or rump of lamb with crushed heritage potatoes, grilled baby leeks and red wine jus. There are fish-finger baps and oak-smoked brisket sandwiches too, while desserts might feature carrot and orange cheesecake with toffee sauce. Drinks-wise, The White Hart is big on real ales, craft bottled beers and cider. The pub is also something of a community hub, with live music, quizzes, Sunday roasts and even a ‘stich & bitch’ knitting club.