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Today South London, Tomorrow South London
South London-based blog, Deserter, is an alt guide to living and loafing in the wonky wonderland south of the river. Its authors, under their noms de plume Dulwich Raider and Dirty South, record off-beat days out and urban adventures featuring pubs, cemeteries, galleries, hospitals and pubs again, often in the company of their volatile dealer, Half-life, and the much nicer Roxy.
Part guide, part travelogue, this book is a collection of these tales with the addition of lots of new material that their publisher absolutely insisted upon. South London, that maligned wasteland where cabbies once feared to drive, can no longer be ignored. The South is risen!
Part guide, part travelogue, this book is a collection of these tales with the addition of lots of new material that their publisher absolutely insisted upon. South London, that maligned wasteland where cabbies once feared to drive, can no longer be ignored. The South is risen!
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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April 19, 2022A book embarked upon because the parent blog had been mentioned as cluing a mate in to a genuinely excellent pub we checked out before he in turn deserted South London. And unusually, a book I think I'm going to leave in my 'phone's Kindle app even now it's read, because I can see its boozer hints coming in genuinely handy as a thing to have always in one's pocket. Albeit one in which I won't be able to put total trust: such a work is always going to be an artefact of a particular moment, doubly so in a city gentrifying as fast as London, and quadruply? Octuply? so when you factor in the Event – as witness one of their first and most fervent recommendations being for an establishment near me which, when I Googled the details, flashed up as 'permanently closed'. But in its way, that only supports the authors' mission statement: "Life may not always be amazing, but one thing we've noticed is that it is on the short side. It's a lunatic twinkle, a brief and preposterous carnival of lust and egos, and in the absence of a master plan – or indeed any plan – 'messing around' is surely the only rational response."
Which was welcome, because without something like that, anything where the writers have adopted the pen-names 'Dulwich Raider' and 'Dirty South' was always going to be on borrowed time. And that's even before the bit where they ride bikes on the pavement after drinking. In short, they're not necessarily the pub company I might choose, and yet for the most part, with the exception of whether showing sport is boon or blight, we seem to share an idea of the things pubs should and should not be. They catch exactly what makes the Mayflower so special: "It has that special light peculiar to very old pubs; the rays sucked into the ancient dark wood, sunshine apologising into the gloom through the latticed windows." Their brief history of leaning - a prelude to a tour of licensed premises where it can be practised - is a delight. I loved both the moaning and the self-awareness in their guide to the lost pubs of the Old Kent Road ("it's been getting shitter for a hundred years"). Most impressive of all, they've finally answered where it was I went years ago and have since wondered if I dreamt, that had a graveyard in the beer garden (and Morris men, though they don't mention those): the Rose and Crown on Colombo Street, apparently.
And of course, because you (generally) can't get from one pub to another without passing some other stuff in between, there's a wider sense of the city's charms here too. They're appropriately fond of London's intermittent but still underappreciated beaches. I now know what my new office used to be, and where nearby Viv Stanshall formed the Bonzos, as well as which neighbourhood pub is worth a look. Even one story which sounded like a (top-notch, admittedly) slice of classic pub bullshit has turned out, upon further investigation, to be absolutely true. Thomas Murphy, owner of Charlton greyhound stadium, did indeed run a 13-piece monkey jazz band too. And they really did escape during a burglary, and yes, one did make it as far as Rugby – in first class, at that – before recapture. Though I do have to dispute sidekick Roxy's response to this gem: "I know I'm supposed to like jazz, but for me it's like musical incontinence. I'd be more surprised if monkeys couldn't play jazz." Entirely fair as regards modern jazz, obviously, but in 1926 it was still the good stuff. It's not just the showy stuff like this, though; there's also the simple charm of this as a light read for the sort of bus journey where the day is pretty enough that you want to be able to stare out of the window in between paragraphs and not lose the thread, the little buzz of synchronicity when that means reading about Streatham Common or the Tulse Hill Hotel right around the point where you pass them.
Which was welcome, because without something like that, anything where the writers have adopted the pen-names 'Dulwich Raider' and 'Dirty South' was always going to be on borrowed time. And that's even before the bit where they ride bikes on the pavement after drinking. In short, they're not necessarily the pub company I might choose, and yet for the most part, with the exception of whether showing sport is boon or blight, we seem to share an idea of the things pubs should and should not be. They catch exactly what makes the Mayflower so special: "It has that special light peculiar to very old pubs; the rays sucked into the ancient dark wood, sunshine apologising into the gloom through the latticed windows." Their brief history of leaning - a prelude to a tour of licensed premises where it can be practised - is a delight. I loved both the moaning and the self-awareness in their guide to the lost pubs of the Old Kent Road ("it's been getting shitter for a hundred years"). Most impressive of all, they've finally answered where it was I went years ago and have since wondered if I dreamt, that had a graveyard in the beer garden (and Morris men, though they don't mention those): the Rose and Crown on Colombo Street, apparently.
And of course, because you (generally) can't get from one pub to another without passing some other stuff in between, there's a wider sense of the city's charms here too. They're appropriately fond of London's intermittent but still underappreciated beaches. I now know what my new office used to be, and where nearby Viv Stanshall formed the Bonzos, as well as which neighbourhood pub is worth a look. Even one story which sounded like a (top-notch, admittedly) slice of classic pub bullshit has turned out, upon further investigation, to be absolutely true. Thomas Murphy, owner of Charlton greyhound stadium, did indeed run a 13-piece monkey jazz band too. And they really did escape during a burglary, and yes, one did make it as far as Rugby – in first class, at that – before recapture. Though I do have to dispute sidekick Roxy's response to this gem: "I know I'm supposed to like jazz, but for me it's like musical incontinence. I'd be more surprised if monkeys couldn't play jazz." Entirely fair as regards modern jazz, obviously, but in 1926 it was still the good stuff. It's not just the showy stuff like this, though; there's also the simple charm of this as a light read for the sort of bus journey where the day is pretty enough that you want to be able to stare out of the window in between paragraphs and not lose the thread, the little buzz of synchronicity when that means reading about Streatham Common or the Tulse Hill Hotel right around the point where you pass them.
December 18, 2018
I would like to thank Anne Cater for inviting me to be part of this blog tour in exchange for an honest review.
Everyone knows of London. The grey sky, Big Ben, Oxford Street, Madame Tussaud… Do I really need to make a list?
When I first visited this beautiful city, I had four days and a lot of work, so all I saw was the back of a cab and trains during rush hour. My second trip lasted longer and I became an inhabitant of the south of London for a few weeks. I saw the trees, the pharmacists who refused to give me my meds, the beautiful houses, my favourite pub with its fab pizzas, I ‘oooh’ed and ‘aaah’ at every shop like the foreigner I was…
But Today South London, Tomorrow South London made me realise I had not seen even ¼ of what south London is really made of.
I’ll tell you something. I’m not a fan of travel guides. Everywhere you look, travellers with caps and cameras are around, admiring the very same thing you came for. If you don’t want to be stuck with a bunch of strangers on a bus tour but are looking for a sensational and very tasty trip around a part of London which deserve all your attention, The Deserters’ book is for you!
I had no idea that the south had had such a reputation and I adored every story, every piece of information, and every pub name found in South London. Looking at brick and mortar with no reflection about what kind of people made the place what it is, or what it used to me, is not for me. I want weird tales, stops to the cemetery, crazy rides around town. With a hilarious but knowledgeable voice, our narrators take us on a trip that would make my bladder burst (apple juice only for me, I’m pubs’ worst customer!) while turning my imagination on to truly SEE what happens in the south side of the London. Meet Marlowe, have a pint on a roundabout, walk to London. Today South London, Tomorrow South London makes the city alive, it makes you feel you belong by revealing the insiders’ secrets. South London is a giant maze and The Deserters have the funny bent keys to open its heart, even to the most tired minds and soles of the city.
I could feel my feet tingle with the urge to go back to my lovely Dulwich and many times, I couldn't repress a laugh or a chuckle at some things said and done by our lovely team with the precious task of giving the South its best voice.
Now all I want to do is book a flight, pick my best walking shoes, my last pounds and let the rain and the beauty of the south take me! No other guide or travelling companions will ever match the craziness and awesomeness (and amount of alcohol) you will find between those pages!
December 13, 2018
This is an unusual book. Ideal for those who know and love South London, or would like to, especially with an interest in pubs and drinking establishments. Fast food places, cycle routes and even drugs feature in a series of recollections of journeys, pilgrimages and fact finding missions based around frequent pub visits, in a world where an hour spent between alcoholic beverages is at least thirty minutes too long. Really funny, with a variety of humour and dialogue designed to entertain, this is a book of adult language and ideas, certainly not for the easily shocked. It is contemporary life writ large, a book for today’s casual classes, reflecting a world where there is always money for another pint however it is obtained. The sun shines, the rain pours, no doubt there are cold days, but all is sort of sunny in a book which is intended to gently shock. I was very interested to receive a copy of this genuinely funny book.
The book is narrated by a character called “Deserter”, who appears to spend his time imagining and working out journeys and days which are meant to explore the wonders of a South London known only to the shady locals and invisible (or too challenging) for tourists and those with prejudices against drug use and other dubious pursuits. He frequently summons friends and acquaintances to join him; all quaintly named as “Half – Life” with his never ending appetites ( of all kinds), unusual dress and profound life views. Described as “six foot four of imminent menace clothed in supreme confidence”, he is a creation who always has a relevant comment, apposite observation or burning objection for whatever is going on. Roxy is the nature lover who knows the birds that are possible to see in the lakes of Thamesmead, and how to smoke dubious substances in any location. Dirty South is a much more amenable character, except when confronted with the tough decisions of life relating to food and drink. The journeys undertaken in this book in search of such delights as pubs on roundabouts, crazy golf courses, urban views and famous roads all have their highs and lows as pubs are discovered to be closed or demolished, or rated on the friendliness of bar staff and range of ales on offer.
While I have no means, or intentions, of following the journeys of discovery that this book encapsulates, I can appreciate the humour and subtle observations it slips in about life in the twenty first century. It is a fantasy of a type, the fantastic reminiscences of a fictional gang who idle away their time theoretically solving life’s great conundrums such as whether cycle ways offer enough halts for refreshment, or if the human form is suited to leaning on one elbow while enjoying a drink. Possibly in the face of politics and society’s upheavals, this is an almost comforting read. Nothing is too serious, no one is ever really hurt, and life is permanently jolly in a loving evocation of contemporary London as seen in good company and frequently through the bottom of a beer glass.
The book is narrated by a character called “Deserter”, who appears to spend his time imagining and working out journeys and days which are meant to explore the wonders of a South London known only to the shady locals and invisible (or too challenging) for tourists and those with prejudices against drug use and other dubious pursuits. He frequently summons friends and acquaintances to join him; all quaintly named as “Half – Life” with his never ending appetites ( of all kinds), unusual dress and profound life views. Described as “six foot four of imminent menace clothed in supreme confidence”, he is a creation who always has a relevant comment, apposite observation or burning objection for whatever is going on. Roxy is the nature lover who knows the birds that are possible to see in the lakes of Thamesmead, and how to smoke dubious substances in any location. Dirty South is a much more amenable character, except when confronted with the tough decisions of life relating to food and drink. The journeys undertaken in this book in search of such delights as pubs on roundabouts, crazy golf courses, urban views and famous roads all have their highs and lows as pubs are discovered to be closed or demolished, or rated on the friendliness of bar staff and range of ales on offer.
While I have no means, or intentions, of following the journeys of discovery that this book encapsulates, I can appreciate the humour and subtle observations it slips in about life in the twenty first century. It is a fantasy of a type, the fantastic reminiscences of a fictional gang who idle away their time theoretically solving life’s great conundrums such as whether cycle ways offer enough halts for refreshment, or if the human form is suited to leaning on one elbow while enjoying a drink. Possibly in the face of politics and society’s upheavals, this is an almost comforting read. Nothing is too serious, no one is ever really hurt, and life is permanently jolly in a loving evocation of contemporary London as seen in good company and frequently through the bottom of a beer glass.
September 18, 2020
For those living outside the capital, are you aware that the north and south of London are thought of as totally different entities? Having spent time in the capital and having lots of friends there, I’m well aware that it is definitely the case.
This book and the storytelling technique is quite unique. You initially accompany the authors around a beer triangle pub crawl, followed by a tour of London’s finest hospitals rating their cafes and facilities. Back onto pubs where we read about the finer side of life with art and pubs, then leaning and pubs, betting and pubs, sports and pubs, and so on! Do you get the theme here? Other attractions include graveyards and vinyl record shops. And more pubs!
You’ll read some interesting facts about the history of South London, alongside the team’s own viewpoints and observations. Who knew there was once a female only pub decades ago? We’ve all heard of gentlemen’s clubs but never one for ladies which must have caused quite a stir back then.
Today South London, Tomorrow South London is an amusing journey around South London written by people with a clear love for the area, and pubs of course.
You don’t necessarily have to know South London well although it does make it more enjoyable when they are talking about places that you, as a reader, know.
Warning of strong language and drug taking at times but it’s not excessive and I think unlikely to cause offence to those interested in the subject matter covered in this book.
A quirky gift and I could think of many people who will enjoy this.
This book and the storytelling technique is quite unique. You initially accompany the authors around a beer triangle pub crawl, followed by a tour of London’s finest hospitals rating their cafes and facilities. Back onto pubs where we read about the finer side of life with art and pubs, then leaning and pubs, betting and pubs, sports and pubs, and so on! Do you get the theme here? Other attractions include graveyards and vinyl record shops. And more pubs!
You’ll read some interesting facts about the history of South London, alongside the team’s own viewpoints and observations. Who knew there was once a female only pub decades ago? We’ve all heard of gentlemen’s clubs but never one for ladies which must have caused quite a stir back then.
Today South London, Tomorrow South London is an amusing journey around South London written by people with a clear love for the area, and pubs of course.
You don’t necessarily have to know South London well although it does make it more enjoyable when they are talking about places that you, as a reader, know.
Warning of strong language and drug taking at times but it’s not excessive and I think unlikely to cause offence to those interested in the subject matter covered in this book.
A quirky gift and I could think of many people who will enjoy this.
December 11, 2020
More than a book - a design for life.
I was aware of Deserter from Twitter but not listened to the podcasts, or particularly read the blog.
This will change, going forwards.
It's a collection of blog entries about pubs in South London but somehow, manages to be much more than that. Four characters meet up and take part in daft adventures - such as holidaying on the South Circular, going to all the pubs in South London with Railway in the name or the riverside pubs from Charlton to Tower Bridge.
Pubs, Micro Pubs and bottle shops are pulled out in lists. A liberal sprinkling of arts days out to galleries and events always descends into drinking and other more illicit ways of getting through the day.
My favourite chapter - maybe a guide to top cemeteries to drink in.
Although taken from blog posts, its manages the reader to get engaged with the characters and there is a consistent narrative that builds to a heart breaking conclusion.
Great fun - inspirational, and makes you realise there are other in the word quite similar to yourself.
I was aware of Deserter from Twitter but not listened to the podcasts, or particularly read the blog.
This will change, going forwards.
It's a collection of blog entries about pubs in South London but somehow, manages to be much more than that. Four characters meet up and take part in daft adventures - such as holidaying on the South Circular, going to all the pubs in South London with Railway in the name or the riverside pubs from Charlton to Tower Bridge.
Pubs, Micro Pubs and bottle shops are pulled out in lists. A liberal sprinkling of arts days out to galleries and events always descends into drinking and other more illicit ways of getting through the day.
My favourite chapter - maybe a guide to top cemeteries to drink in.
Although taken from blog posts, its manages the reader to get engaged with the characters and there is a consistent narrative that builds to a heart breaking conclusion.
Great fun - inspirational, and makes you realise there are other in the word quite similar to yourself.
April 28, 2019
For what is essentially a selection of blog posts cobbled together this does read surprisingly well, but will probably mostly be of interest to those who live in South East London (the title is a bit of a misnomer) and are looking for a decent spot to have a pint and/or spliff.
February 3, 2023
A witty rampage through the urban charms and pubs of South London. No book like this exists for North London.
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December 3, 2024Loved it! Local reviews of South London pubs by a debaucherous gang of intelligent curious adventurers. Right up my alley, thank you Deserters!
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