The Montpelier: Peckham Rye

In our quest to find the perfect working atmosphere, we thought we’d try something a little different today, and we visited The Montpelier, an independent pub nestled in the backstreets of Peckham Rye. We were tempted by the Wi-Fi availability and their enticing website, and we were definitely not disappointed!

Parking in nearby streets is free, but the immediate streets are permit only, so you may have to walk for a few minutes to get there. Peckham Rye station is only a short 6-7 minute walk away too, so it’s quite accessible, with good connections via the London Overground line. Despite being so close to a very diverse and vibrant area, this pub is tucked away in a quiet and leafy backstreet, and so it’s very peaceful, and you could easily forget where you actually are!

The atmosphere at this pub hits you the minute you walk in the door. The first thing that caught my eye was a little sign that advertised the waiting list for the Back Room Cinema, which we later realised later is a function room at the back of the pub that’s been converted into a little cinema with chairs and a projection screen. The second thing that caught my eye was the piano in the corner, along with the signs showcasing the live music that’s available during the evenings and weekends. This pub is a creative haven, showcasing film and music for the local community.

The pub has a real vintage feel, with booth seats with tables along the windows and a central bar area that’s easily accessible from any corner of the pub. There’s also a huge variety of seats and other tables, and the pub itself is very spacious. The background music was jazzy but discreet, and so it didn’t disrupt us at all, which was pleasing given the problems we’ve had at other cafés. Plugs were also available under the booth seats which was an excellent added bonus for us. 

We visited at lunchtime on a very hot day, and so we ordered a little food and a mixture of hot and cold drinks. The menu is quite unique, focusing on fresh, local, organic produce (their herbs are grown by their next-door neighbour!), and they had a selection of traditional lunch items and smaller dishes if you weren’t as hungry. However, remember this is a pub, so you won’t see quite the same range of lunch dishes as you may see in a more traditional café.

The Montpelier is a clear favourite for me of all the places we’ve visited, and I really recommend visiting, either during the afternoon for a quiet place to work, or in the evenings to see their more social side. The staff were very friendly and welcoming, and so we spent several pleasing hours in Peckham Rye.