New Cross House

The newly -refurbished pub, New Cross House, formerly known as the Goldsmiths Tavern has  opened right next to Goldsmiths College.  The pub, part of a local chain, tries to bring a “traditional feel with a modern twist” to the high road of New Cross.

Scott Collins, the pub’s ‘Operations Consultant’, told East London Lines: ”New Cross is ready to rock”.

Proximity to the East London Line was one of the reasons to open a new pub on New Cross Road. As Collins says, in comparison to other pubs on the High street, “New Cross House offers a variety of decent food, premium spirits and drinks to an audience of  young professionals, families, lecturers and  students”.

He stresses that it is important to use local products  and that  they have: “A British approach to Pizza with local ham, cheese and flour.”

With prices varying  around  £7-10 for a meal  and  £3.40- 4.60 for  a pint,  the pub aims at a mixed audience of mainly young professionals and is:  “Not aimed at students’”.

The reopening signifies a trip back to its roots as the New Cross House was the original name of the pub which also  gave the area its name in 1880.

However  Chris Chapman, the assistant manager adds, “Ninety percent of staff are students. We get up to ten CVs  a day and it is shame to send people away but we only have capacity for 15-20 staff members at the moment.’”

Collins is considering offering a cut-price roast dinner to tempt students in on a Sunday.

“It is much nicer now. The atmosphere is more pleasant. I feel more welcome now.”, says Melanie Macleod, student at Goldsmiths.

“I think there is already enough pubs in New cross that try to cater for something else. I feel the old tavern was bit more natural and you could go mix with people you would normally not meet.” Steve Howe

Written by: Katharina Herold