Shelverdine Goathouse… a pub that’s got the balance just right

BY BILL LACY

We may be nearing the end of the virus nightmare, but people have become used to behaving in a certain way.

On a mid-week stroll down Norwood High Street, it was eerily quiet, only a couple of souls in sight.

A small bar near Norwood Junction looked promising, but I was irked by the sound of a young man talking loudly into his phone about how much money he was making, so I supped up and left.

The choice was minimal, but the Shelverdine Goathouse came to my rescue.

It was so quiet and still that I thought the pub was closed but I peered in and saw a barman with a bored look on his face that suggested hadn’t had a customer in a while.

It is a decent-sized pub, and I could see the tidal marks of former separate shops that had been converted into one space.

It used to be a Wetherspoon’s (the William Stanley) but has now been taken over by Antic.

Some former Wetherspoons still retain that Spoons ‘feel’ even after they have changed hands, but Antic have their own unique style – “purposeful shabbiness” being one of the more polite expressions for it.

I think the nan’s living room style can work, if it is restrained.

I want to enjoy a pint without risking my eye on the spoke of a bicycle wheel attached too far down the wall, but the Goathouse has got the balance just right.

The high windows added to the spatial atmosphere, although it was quite dark.

After 10 minutes, I noticed a couple of blokes have a conspiratorial-looking meeting in the corner, and another couple were having a silent dinner.

I don’t mind pubs being quite empty, but it feels a little sad when the pub is quite large and there are acres of space around me. At least I don’t have to fight to get to the bar.

The drinks choices were okay if not exceptional – the usual house Volden’s beer being the only real ale on offer.

They do decent-looking pub grub too, and fleetingly considered interrupting the chef watching the TV to order something.

I sat down to the sound of the music, in the foreground as it was not drowned out by chatter, while I looked at pictures of goats.

The interesting name comes from the old name for the area, which used to be home to a goathouse.

Another pint (Hepcat IPA) and I realised how much I’d missed the buzz of the pub, struck down by Covid.

Hopefully this has changed now. Or maybe I will just go back when Crystal Palace is playing.

Shelverdine Goathouse 7-8 High Street, South Norwood SE25 6EP