Lost Pubs of Deptford: A Vanished Drinking Landscape
Deptford was once thick with pubs. Dock workers, market traders, railwaymen, and families all had their locals — sometimes two or three on the same street. Today, most are gone. Some survive as shells, others as betting shops, flats, or anonymous shopfronts.
This is a look back at a few of Deptford’s lost pubs, with historic photos that capture a disappearing streetscape.
The Deptford Arms
52 Deptford High Street
The Deptford Arms stood proudly on the High Street, its corner position making it a natural meeting point. It survived well into the 2000s before closing around 2010.
By the end, trade had thinned and the writing was on the wall. Like many Deptford pubs, it outlived its community but not the economics stacked against it. Today, only photographs show its former identity.
Red Lion & Wheatsheaf
45 Deptford High Street
Dating back centuries, the Red Lion & Wheatsheaf was one of Deptford’s oldest pubs. It closed in the early 1970s, a casualty of post-war redevelopment and changing drinking habits.
Its long, low frontage once anchored this part of the High Street. In photos, you can still sense how dominant pubs once were in everyday street life.
The John Evelyn
299 Evelyn Street
Named after the famous diarist, The John Evelyn was a solid Whitbread local serving the Pepys Estate area. It closed around 2010–2011 and was later converted into a betting shop.
Externally, the building remains recognisable — a familiar Deptford story where the structure survives but the soul does not.
The Beehive
72 New Street
Little remembered now, The Beehive served New Street in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like many smaller back-street pubs, it disappeared quietly, leaving few photographs behind.
Its name alone hints at a busier, noisier Deptford — streets alive with dockland trade and foot traffic.
Dog & Bell (Historic View)
116 Prince Street
Although the Dog & Bell survives today, historic photos show just how different Deptford once looked. Formerly known as the Royal Marine, it stood amid a dense web of pubs, workshops, and lodging houses.
Its survival makes it a rare living link to Deptford’s pub-heavy past.
Why Deptford Lost So Many Pubs
Deptford’s pubs didn’t disappear overnight. Their decline came in waves:
-
Dock closures and loss of local industry
-
Post-war redevelopment and road schemes
-
Rising property values and land speculation
-
Changing social habits and licensing pressures
Where there were once dozens of pubs, only a handful remain.
Final Thoughts
Old photos of Deptford pubs aren’t just about drinking — they’re about community, work, routine, and belonging. Every lost pub marks a corner where stories were told, deals were done, arguments started, and friendships formed.
If you grew up in Deptford, chances are at least one of these places mattered to someone you knew.
