It’s easy to miss Stormbird. While Camberwell has become a hive of trendy pubs either doubling as bike shops or serving pricey animal organs cooked in interesting ways, this unassuming local keeps things simple. It has chairs to sit on, the toilets are absolutely fine and the music’s quiet (if it’s playing at all).
That’s why Stormbird is a rare delight. It’s a relaxed, no-nonsense beer-lovers pub, with more than a dozen craft lagers and ales on tap and nearly 100 different bottles behind the bar. The decor’s sleek and tasteful; not too hipster, not too ‘old man’. Beers can be ordered by the third-pint, served as a trio on a wooden paddle. But best of all, there’s no kitchen. That doesn’t mean going home hungry, though; anyone’s welcome to bring along a Caravaggio’s pizza from nearby or enjoy a falafel wrap from next door with their pale ale. No wonder nobody wants to leave at kicking-out time.