When it comes to choosing our venue of the month the chosen ones go through a rigorous scoring system designed to sort the good from the very good. Tempers flair, tables get overturned and after the tears we end with reconciliatory hugs. But not this month, this month our chosen one was way out on its own. A recent visit reminded us of the quaint charm of the upstairs Victorian ‘rest space’, the vibrant goings on of weekends in the bar and the overall individuality of the pub.
When visiting the pub in January we’re after comfort and cosiness – but how about a little history too? The Roebuck has comfort and pleasing aesthetics in abundance and those who do like a slice of London history will be interested to know that a young Charlie Chaplin performed in the upstairs Victorian room as a boy.
These days the entertainment has changed a little and instead of slapstick it’s all about the spoken word. The Roebuck is now home to the weekly poetry night, Bang Said the Gun! - one of London’s most recognized stand-up poetry events. Culture, history and that’s all on the first floor!
The Tuesday quiz night is famous in Borough and beyond – just not for the questions. With a regular stand-up comedian for a quizmaster it’s more than your average general knowledge fest. And then there’s the famous Roebuck Rollover. Short of money at the end of a long January? You know where to come…
But The Roebuck isn’t all about comfy armchairs, bombastic comedy quizzing and rollicking stand-up poetry, there’s the rowdy weekend crowd to please and please them it does. Perhaps most peculiar – yet pleasing – are the random electronic nights that seem to spring up at The Roebuck without notice. One minute you’re sipping on a gin and tonic all demure and thoughtful, the next the volume’s up to eleven and someone just put on Katy Perry’s Last Friday Night - MISSY ELLIOT REMIX! The Missy Elliot remix you say?! You’re thinking, ‘Did I just die and go to heaven?’ No, you needn’t spiritually ascend to experience a Missy Elliot/Katy Perry moment like this, they have them at The Roebuck all the time – it isn’t just any old place that takes our Venue of the Month crown, you know.
So, if you’re after food, drink, dancing, culture and cosiness from your pub this month, we heartily recommend the independent charm of The Roebuck.