PubsandBeer
History: Home > The Capitol
The Capitol (Wetherspoon)
We believe this pub is CLOSED
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Daisy Cutter |  | 1 |
| Hook Norton - Mad Giant Autumn Amber | | 1 |
| Nottingham - Legend | | 1 |
| Hogs Back - Home Harvest Ale '22 | | 1 |
| Greene King - Abbot |  | 6 |
| Exmoor - Upside Brown | | 1 |
| Salopian - Indigenous | | 1 |
| Nottingham - Supreme | | 1 |
| Southwark - Single Hop Series Delta | | 1 |
| Greene King - Bonkers Conkers | | 1 |
| Shepherd Neame - Joe's Garage Bohemian Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Wolf - Granny Wouldn't Like It !!! | | 1 |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Augustinian |  | 1 |
| Castle Rock - Phoenix Tears | | 1 |
| Windsor & Eton - Green Gold |  | 1 |
| Wantsum - 1381 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Theakston - Double Cross IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Purity - Pure UBU | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nelson - Vengeance | Not Tried | 0 |
| Portobello - Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rudgate - Ruby Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Pacific | Not Tried | 0 |
| Black Sheep - Special Ale (previously Ale) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Portobello - Autumn Red | Not Tried | 0 |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Wychwood Hobgoblin Red Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Southwark - LPA London Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Southwark - Routemaster Red | Not Tried | 0 |
| Southwark - Mayflower Session IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Fireside | Not Tried | 0 |
| Portobello - Wembeerly | Not Tried | 0 |
| Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic) | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
11 Oct 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit, possibly my last here before it closes on Sunday 15th October as a Wetherspoon. Now looking a bit tired and less looked after.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shepherd Neame - Joe's Garage Bohemian Pale Ale | 5.00 | | A zingy pale, condition good but I was pleased to drink up quickly and move on |
| Castle Rock - Phoenix Tears | 4.50 | | Disappointing bland JDW festival ale. Little condition, head or lacing |
| Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
23 May 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until midnight close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nottingham - Supreme | 5.20 | | Whenever I see any Nottingham on the pump I opt for one. This was a refreshing quite strong golden ale but did have a slight haze that I did not expect. Good enough however to have a second one |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Purity - Pure UBU | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Portobello - Star | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Pacific | 4.50 | Not Tried |
03 Apr 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until midnight close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Daisy Cutter | 6.10 | | Head-on with strength and rounded bitterness |
| Exmoor - Upside Brown | 4.20 | | One was enough for style |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic) | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - 1381 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Theakston - Double Cross IPA | 4.20 | Not Tried |
02 Jan 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | | Had better |
| Wolf - Granny Wouldn't Like It !!! | 4.80 | | Very frothy and rather too much of an Irish Red style for my taste |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Fireside | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Portobello - Wembeerly | 4.50 | Not Tried | Some non-sensical pumpclip labelling of Block 109 Brewing as well as Portobello so best avoided |
14 Nov 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | | This was rather flat, perhaps served too fresh |
| Windsor & Eton - Green Gold | 4.00 | | Very cloudy, even worse than in Edmund Halley last weekend |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Southwark - Routemaster Red | 4.20 | Not Tried |
29 Oct 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Last evening visit across midnight.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | | |
| Southwark - Single Hop Series Delta | 5.00 | | A new hop on me. Unusual dry bitter taste, almost sour bittering |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Southwark - Mayflower Session IPA | 4.20 | Not Tried |
21 Oct 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit. After the Salopian ran out I called it day with only the Southwark stuff left, other than the usual JDW staples.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | | Just a half to make up the already paid for pint |
| Salopian - Indigenous | 5.00 | | Wanted a pint of this black IPA but the barman managed to only squeeze out a good two thirds and let me have it as a half. Last out of cask and still very tasty and heady and well laced to the last drop |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Southwark - LPA London Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Southwark - Routemaster Red | 4.20 | Not Tried |
15 Oct 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit across midnight. Came to try the JDW festival range.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | | End of my session, just a half |
| Hogs Back - Home Harvest Ale '22 | 4.00 | | Best of the evening - lovely hops bitterness |
| Hook Norton - Mad Giant Autumn Amber | 4.30 | | Really malty autumn ale - quite a contrast immediately after the Hogs Back very hoppy one |
| Greene King - Bonkers Conkers | 4.10 | | Sweetish autumn ale |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Portobello - Autumn Red | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Wychwood Hobgoblin Red Ale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
14 Jun 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Had not noticed how well appointed the 2 side-by-side darts oches have become. Very bright all round ring of board lighting on each, not just a single spot.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nottingham - Legend | 4.00 | | Mid brown bitter with good malt balance. Just what I wanted so rather quickly downed two |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Rudgate - Ruby Mild | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Black Sheep - Special Ale (previously Ale) | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | Never previously a regular ale here |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer) | 4.50 | Not Tried |
01 Feb 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Definitely still a distinctly reduced cask ale range here than before the pandemic.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | | |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Augustinian | 4.50 | | Very last pulls out of the cask and one could tell. No off flavours. Ran out |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Nelson - Vengeance | 5.00 | Not Tried |
About The Capitol
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 23 |
| 32 |
| 20 |
| 4 |
The pub is found in Forest Hill, Greater London, SE23 3TW.
Located in London Road in Forest Hill not far from the railway station and excellent bus links. The long bar (at what would once have been front of house) is equipped with 2 banks each of 5 handpumps. The Capitol opened its doors to the cinema-going public in 1929. Later renamed and converted into a bingo hall, the building now bears its original name. A rare survival of a 1920s cinema, The Capitol, on London Road, first opened its doors to the cinema-going public in 1929, with a screening of Man, Woman and Sin. Renamed the ABC in 1968, the cinema gave its last picture show in October 1973. There were plans to convert and even demolish the building. However, The Capitol opened as a bingo hall in February 1978, closing in the first week of December 1996. It has been a Wetherspoon pub since May 2001. Simply huge and beautifully ornate inside - a feast to the eyes. Placed up for sale by Wetherspoon September 2022 with 31 others. Closed by Wetherspoon on Sunday 15th October 2023 with future uncertain.
We have visited this pub 43 times, seen 156 different beers and tried 61 of them.
Postcode: SE23 3TW