The Grand Union Bar & Grill

Stumble on Camberwell’s Grand Union bar and from afar it looks like an epic town house tucked away on a quiet semi-residential street. But not so, the exterior might have some sweet brickwork to ogle but inside the interior is bursting with contemporary touches that all Grand Union bars seem to insist on.

From zany floral print wallpaper and heavy gilt framed artwork, to an array of chesterfield booths and swinging chandeliers, this is one chain venue that works hard on its look. By day, the pub attracts the regular shift workers from the nearby hospital for lazy lunch drinks but by night manages to hype things up with DJs and liberal opening hours. From Thursday night and through the weekend, large groups fill the bar’s wooden floorboards and make the Camberwell Grand Union feel more club than bar.

Along with the DJs, there are all-day cocktail ‘happy hours’, a weekly Monday quiz night and lunchtime deals that make prices much more appealing. Otherwise, the drinks are rather steep. We ordered two Duvels and crisps and paid close to £14 for the pleasure, which just so happened to be enough to make us weep. Strangely, better value lurks in the cocktail menu. A long list of classics and contemporary concoctions are priced at around £8 each. You can tell this is a party bar from the section of the menu marked ‘Shooters’. One Slippery Nipple and one Jam Donut and you should be well on your way – via 2001.

Food includes burgers, ribs, wings, pizzas and hot dogs, which means the only food trend missing here is ramen – watch this space.

If you’re looking for a Camberwell party spot to take a big group then this is the place. The Grand Union was built for big dos where shots, shooters and sharing platters are de rigueur.