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The Capitol (Wetherspoon)

We believe this pub is CLOSED

[More Visits]

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Nottingham - LegendExcellent1
Hogs Back - Home Harvest Ale '22Excellent1
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Daisy CutterExcellent1
Hook Norton - Mad Giant Autumn AmberExcellent1
Southwark - Single Hop Series DeltaGood1
Greene King - Bonkers ConkersGood1
Shepherd Neame - Joe's Garage Bohemian Pale AleGood1
Wolf - Granny Wouldn't Like It !!!Good1
Greene King - AbbotGood6
Exmoor - Upside BrownGood1
Salopian - IndigenousGood1
Nottingham - SupremeGood1
Castle Rock - Phoenix TearsAcceptable1
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - AugustinianAcceptable1
Windsor & Eton - Green GoldPoor1
Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer)Not Tried0
Portobello - Autumn RedNot Tried0
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Wychwood Hobgoblin Red AleNot Tried0
Southwark - LPA London Pale AleNot Tried0
Southwark - Routemaster RedNot Tried0
Southwark - Mayflower Session IPANot Tried0
Greene King - FiresideNot Tried0
Portobello - WembeerlyNot Tried0
Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic)Not Tried0
Wantsum - 1381Not Tried0
Theakston - Double Cross IPANot Tried0
Greene King - Ruddles BestNot Tried0
Purity - Pure UBUNot Tried0
Nelson - VengeanceNot Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked LadiesNot Tried0
Rudgate - Ruby MildNot Tried0
Portobello - StarNot Tried0
Black Sheep - Special Ale (previously Ale)Not Tried0
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - PacificNot Tried0
Sharp's - Doom BarNot Tried0
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)Not Tried0

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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Shepherd Neame - Joe's Garage Bohemian Pale Ale5.00GoodA zingy pale, condition good but I was pleased to drink up quickly and move on
Castle Rock - Phoenix Tears4.50AcceptableDisappointing bland JDW festival ale. Little condition, head or lacing
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
23 May 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Nottingham - Supreme5.20GoodWhenever 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 - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Purity - Pure UBU4.50Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies4.40Not Tried
Portobello - Star4.30Not Tried
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Pacific4.50Not Tried
03 Apr 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Daisy Cutter6.10ExcellentHead-on with strength and rounded bitterness
Exmoor - Upside Brown4.20GoodOne was enough for style
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic)4.80Not Tried
Wantsum - 13813.80Not Tried
Theakston - Double Cross IPA4.20Not Tried
02 Jan 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Abbot5.00GoodHad better
Wolf - Granny Wouldn't Like It !!!4.80GoodVery frothy and rather too much of an Irish Red style for my taste
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Greene King - Fireside4.50Not Tried
Portobello - Wembeerly4.50Not TriedSome 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Abbot5.00AcceptableThis was rather flat, perhaps served too fresh
Windsor & Eton - Green Gold4.00PoorVery cloudy, even worse than in Edmund Halley last weekend
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Southwark - Routemaster Red4.20Not Tried
29 Oct 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Last evening visit across midnight.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Abbot5.00Good
Southwark - Single Hop Series Delta5.00GoodA new hop on me. Unusual dry bitter taste, almost sour bittering
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Southwark - Mayflower Session IPA4.20Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Abbot5.00GoodJust a half to make up the already paid for pint
Salopian - Indigenous5.00GoodWanted 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 Best3.70Not Tried
Southwark - LPA London Pale Ale4.00Not Tried
Southwark - Routemaster Red4.20Not Tried
15 Oct 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit across midnight. Came to try the JDW festival range.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Abbot5.00ExcellentEnd of my session, just a half
Hogs Back - Home Harvest Ale '224.00ExcellentBest of the evening - lovely hops bitterness
Hook Norton - Mad Giant Autumn Amber4.30ExcellentReally malty autumn ale - quite a contrast immediately after the Hogs Back very hoppy one
Greene King - Bonkers Conkers4.10GoodSweetish autumn ale
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Portobello - Autumn Red4.40Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Wychwood Hobgoblin Red Ale5.00Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Nottingham - Legend4.00ExcellentMid brown bitter with good malt balance. Just what I wanted so rather quickly downed two
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Rudgate - Ruby Mild4.40Not Tried
Black Sheep - Special Ale (previously Ale)4.40Not Tried
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not TriedNever previously a regular ale here
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer)4.50Not Tried
01 Feb 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until close. Definitely still a distinctly reduced cask ale range here than before the pandemic.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Abbot5.00Acceptable
Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Augustinian4.50AcceptableVery last pulls out of the cask and one could tell. No off flavours. Ran out
Greene King - Ruddles Best3.70Not Tried
Nelson - Vengeance5.00Not Tried

[More Visits]

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