Making merry at the Duchy Arms

Forgive the Estate Agent speak, but Sancroft Street contains some highly desirable properties, both period and modern.

We're not sure if the boys and girls of Foxtons et al make much of the street's pub, but this is the sort of amenity we wouldn't mind at the bottom of our road.

A friendly and old fashioned local, the Duchy Arms doesn't do too much out of the ordinary: Sky Sports dominates in one bar; darts and pool in the other.

Its range of drinks is conventional enough - and we like the pie and mash specials (double pie and mash £4.20, excellent) - but what raises this one out of the ordinary is the merry atmosphere on display.

We won't kid you on that newcomers are greeted with a warm handshake and a free go on the pool table; rather that the locals are having such a good time enjoying themselves they'll hardly notice any newbies on their patch.

Seems a decent arrangement to us.

NEAREST STATION: Kennington station
FEATURES: traditional pub games, outdoor seating, pool table, Sky TV (big screen)

The Duchy Arms
63 Sancroft Street, SE11 5UG