January 2026. Tulse Hill. London.
Leaving Streatham Spoons I became aware of something big happening in the FA Cup.
Macclesfield (no longer Robbie Savage’s Macc) of the 6th division had just taken a 2-nil lead against the Cup holders, cheating Crystal Palace.
And I was definitely heading into Palace territory as I walked the backstreets of West Norwood to my second rapid GBG tick.
It’s not bucolic in SW16.
But if you’re looking for dustbins,
or a trad café,
you’ll be fine.
Knowles of Norwood is the neighbourhood gastropub,
and it’s doing all it can to get the Dryanuary crowd to pack it in.
To be honest, who’s going for weird cask when you can have Guinness for under a fiver ?
Sadly, no-one in Knowles, which probably accounts for a disappointing pint (1.5) that Mrs RM would have taken back.
I had the joy of the Tulse Hill Palace ultras watching the final whistle in Cheshire signal the biggest cupset of all time.
And to think they were “Glad All Over” in May.
In contrast, the Mums in the big group were buoyant.
“If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands….ah“.
And on. And on.
“If you’re happy and you know it hug your friends….ooh“
It’s what I go to pubs for.
retiredmartin 
But did you clap?
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Twice
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So you could hear them.
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Still worrying about the 115 charges?
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I lived on Romola Road (near the Tulse Hill Hotel) for a year pre-Covid. Never thought any of the nearby pubs great, in truth. Iffy cask and too many mediocre gastropubs. Better to walk to Herne Hill where cask remained iffy, but the pubs themselves less mediocre. Or better still, walk/bus to Camberwell and Denmark Hill. As an aside, the Electric Cafe is one of the great London caffs and a gorgeous building. Wonderful owners and great food, if on the pricey side, and a business I miss tbh!
Alex
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Thanks Alex.
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The Electric Cafe looks great. As a matter of interest, what counts as pricey for London these days?
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