If you happen to be in southeast London and fancy a good place to have a casual drink or are perhaps more in need of a chilled-out community space to study in, look no further than the Peckham Pelican. Nestled between Camberwell and Peckham is one of the cosiest and coolest spots in the borough, characterised by its trendy art-student vibe and definite lack of creepy old men. If fairy lights, divorced dad music, cheap drinks and delicious food are what you crave, then this bohemian cafe/bar is the perfect place to go with your mates, or even during your me-time, to grab a coffee for a mere £1.30.
Passing through the cute, lit-up smoking area outside the front of the venue and entering the building, you are greeted by warm, dim lighting and the gentle chatter of customers. Paper decorations hang from the ceiling, which is lined with metal beams and strings of lights, and the numerous plants dotted around bring an element of greenery to this concrete space. Next to the entrance is a small table stacked with free local newsletters and zines, event flyers and business cards – this is always worth checking out as it is a great way to discover new independent publications. Although seating is scarce, it gives the venue an exclusive, intimate vibe, as if you’re part of a secret club of people who know about the Pelican; the seating itself adds to the rustic atmosphere with wooden chairs, tables and benches and the comfiest worn-out armchairs and sofas. The cream, artwork-covered walls change constantly with the arrival of new art exhibitions every month, and collections of miscellaneous objects such as mini mugs are frequent sensations.
The ever-friendly bar staff match the energy of the customers themselves, who often consist of uni students, especially from Camberwell College of Arts, and young adults dressed in alternative and thrifted clothing. During the day the Peclican is quiet, with only a few small groups of friends and some individuals studying and working. At night, however, it can transform into a lively, loud drunken atmosphere with people taking up every available space and pushing tables together. Behind the bar is where one or two staff members make food from scratch; being able to watch this process makes the food taste even better in my opinion. In terms of the menu, some highlights include toasted Brick Lane bagels, soup with crusty bread, sandwiches, nachos and my personal favourite – the ‘choose your own toppings’ pizza, which I would argue is the best pizza in London. Drinks-wise the bar serves a low-cost variety of beer, wine and liquor specials (cocktails, essentially).
Unlike most venues in London, the Peckham Pelican actually plays good music. After hearing a few fantastic tunes myself, I went up to the bar and asked for their playlist link – which they were more than happy to provide. It can be confirmed that you can expect to hear the likes of Elliott Smith, The Velvet Underground, Nick Drake, PJ Harvey, Bob Dylan, The Cure, The Smiths, Pixies, Cocteau Twins and The Rolling Stones, to name a few. As well as being a cafe/bar, the Pelican also plays host to local artists and musicians, providing a space for creatives to exhibit their work every month. The current exhibition at the time of writing is called ‘Look if you want’ – led by artist Verity Wooley with curation by Blue Hour Studios, showcasing a collection of 32 artists with explorative practices, themed around developing connections between perspective and unconventional surfaces. In addition to this, there are also regular events at the venue including, but not limited to, palm readings, ‘stitch n bitch’ – a club to work on sewing/crochet projects, quizzes, book launches, screenings, craft workshops and ‘shut up and write’ every Wednesday. Not to dismiss happy hour, which runs Tuesday-Friday from 5 pm until 7 pm.
With all said things in mind, it can be concluded that the Peckham Pelican is an absolute must-go in terms of student bars in southeast London. Its unique, vintage ambience and artsy atmosphere make for a chilled-out and fun experience that’ll make you think – “Why haven’t I been here before now?”. I definitely recommend it as a spot to bring your friends to, as the cheap, yet great quality, food and drink will surely not disappoint. If you become a regular like me, there are even Peckham Pelican t-shirts available to show your support for local, independent venues.