Greenwich’s Ashburnham Arms nicely bridges the gap between contemporary bar and old-fashioned local. On the one hand, there’s the beer, a familiar array of Shepherd Neame beers (Master Brew, Spitfire and others) served with good grace from a neat little bar counter, and the boozer’s status as a keen cricket pub, the first XI and its upcoming fixtures posted for all to see.
On the other, there’s the bright, lived-in interior, the funky continental bar furniture on the expansive terrace, and the idiosyncratic artistic rendition of Greenwich in map form. Natural light floods over the wooden furniture; the conservatory and the garden suit families drawn to the kids’ selections on the menu while themselves favouring a disparate array of unpubby surprises (pizzas, for one thing). Most wines are less than £4 a glass.