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The Capitol (Wetherspoon)

We believe this pub is CLOSED

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Otter - AmberExcellent1
Harviestoun - Haggis HunterExcellent1
Oakham - InfernoExcellent1
Elgood's - Blackberry PorterGood1
Green Jack - Lurcher StoutGood1
Reunion - Engage!Acceptable1
Greene King - AbbotAcceptable7
Purple Moose - Madog's AleAcceptable1
Milestone - Donner & BlitzedAcceptable1
Portobello - Hedgerow Pale AlePoor1
Windsor & Eton - Last DropNot Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - RedheadNot Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Red SkyNot Tried0
Exmoor - Exile Wicked WolfNot Tried0
Greene King - Ruby Abbot (or Abbot Ruby)Not Tried0
Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin)Not Tried0
Black Sheep - Monty Python's Dead ParrotNot Tried0
Greene King - Ruddles BestNot Tried0
Hook Norton - Off the HookNot Tried0
Sambrook's - ScrumdownNot Tried0
Southwark - Harvard APANot Tried0
Windsor & Eton - British Champions Day AleNot Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Winter WarmerNot Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Grandstand BitterNot Tried0
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Devon DarknessNot Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked LadiesNot Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Winter StarNot Tried0
Lymestone - Stone FacedNot Tried0
Sharp's - Doom BarNot Tried0
Southwark - Bankside BlondeNot Tried0
Milestone - Lion's PrideNot Tried0
Southwark - Routemaster RedNot Tried0
Rudgate - York Chocolate StoutNot Tried0
Southwark - SE1 ESBNot Tried0
Windsor & Eton - Brew 882 Seattle PorterNot Tried0

Visits Details

18 Jan 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Abbot5.00Good
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not TriedNot usually sold here
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Milestone - Lion's Pride3.80Not Tried
Rudgate - York Chocolate Stout5.00Not Tried
21 Dec 2021 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. What a venue really when looking up at the old upper circle and projection areas.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - Inferno4.00ExcellentSpot on the mark
Greene King - Abbot5.00AcceptableNew cask on three hours earlier but came across too fresh
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Devon Darkness4.20Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Winter Star4.40Not Tried
03 Dec 2021 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit into just across midnight. I wonder how this place exists never having Doom Bar on the pumps.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Milestone - Donner & Blitzed5.40AcceptableDark winter ale, no spicing or distinguishable USP however
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Southwark - Harvard APA5.50Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Winter Warmer5.20Not Tried
22 Oct 2021 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit across midnight. Good chat with an ex work colleague, who can still recognise me!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Otter - Amber4.00ExcellentIn fine form
Elgood's - Blackberry Porter4.50GoodGood fruit v. hop balance
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Exmoor - Exile Wicked Wolf4.20Not Tried
Greene King - Ruby Abbot (or Abbot Ruby)5.20Not Tried
Black Sheep - Monty Python's Dead Parrot4.10Not Tried
Hook Norton - Off the Hook4.30Not Tried
17 Aug 2021 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit. Stood invisibly at the bar for a while, disorganised service.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Abbot5.00AcceptableRuined by being too chilled
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies4.40Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Red Sky4.10Not Tried
04 Mar 2020 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close. Always amazed by the vast size of this venue.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Abbot5.00Good
Reunion - Engage!3.70AcceptableVery sharp hop bitterness
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Grandstand Bitter3.80Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies4.40Not Tried
Lymestone - Stone Faced4.00Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Redhead4.10Not Tried
05 Feb 2020 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Abbot5.00Acceptable
Portobello - Hedgerow Pale Ale4.50PoorTricked by the taster. Bit of a whiff that needed lemonade splashes to mask. End of London Festival stock
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Brew 882 Seattle Porter4.80Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Last Drop4.00Not Tried
22 Jan 2020 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harviestoun - Haggis Hunter4.30ExcellentAn excellent beer with good taste balance
Greene King - Abbot5.00GoodToday's cask
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies4.40Not Tried
Southwark - Bankside Blonde3.80Not Tried
Southwark - Routemaster Red4.20Not Tried
Southwark - SE1 ESB5.10Not Tried
07 Jan 2020 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Green Jack - Lurcher Stout4.80GoodLast half out of the cask and had still kept its condition
Purple Moose - Madog's Ale3.70AcceptableDisappointingly thin
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Grandstand Bitter3.80Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies4.40Not Tried
Lymestone - Stone Faced4.00Not Tried
02 Oct 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until midnight close. Recognised by a former work colleague after 10 years!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Abbot5.00AcceptableRather sharp bitterness
Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin)4.50Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Sambrook's - Scrumdown4.00Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - British Champions Day Ale4.00Not Tried

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About The Capitol

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent23
Good32
Acceptable20
Poor4

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.

Map location

Postcode: SE23 3TW