Sitting at 131 Woolwich Road, The River Ale House has been quietly building a loyal following since it opened.
Founded by father-and-son Trevor and Joe Puddifoot, alongside Joe’s sister Sîan Watts, this micropub has become a staple for real ale lovers and those looking for a proper community-driven pub experience.
The seating layout encourages socialising, with large communal tables that bring people together.
Joe explained: “You have to get to know your neighbours to a certain extent because everyone is quite close together and conversation flows naturally.
“We’ve got groups of people who came in as individuals who are now part of little drinking groups.
“We’ve got families that come in on a regular basis and end up connecting with other families in the area. So the community is really where we stand apart.”
One of the things that sets micropubs apart is their focus on conversation, something Joe feels has been lost from many pubs in recent years.
He added: “The wonderful thing about micropubs is because they don’t have gambling machines, they don’t have loud music, and they don’t have sport on the TV 24 hours a day, they are focused on conversation.
“You naturally build up the community in these little pubs. We’ve really benefited from that, and it’s nice to put a bit of community back into the local area.”
When asked why the family decided to start running the pub, Joe told the News Shopper: “Dad and I liked our proper beer, but to find an enjoyable beer, we really had to travel outside of where we were. We had this premises and changed it from offices to pub it is today.”
Unlike some micropubs that stick solely to local breweries, The River Ale House brings in beer from all over the UK.
He explained: “We get our beer from everywhere. We’ve had it as far away as Scotland, we’ve had beer from the Isle of Man.
“Obviously, we have our local brewers as well, so the dominant mix would be local, but we will get it in from everywhere. For us, location is less important than quality.”
The River Ale House prides itself on offering a diverse and ever-changing selection of drinks, with a strong focus on quality real ale.
At any given time, there are up to ten rotating cask ales, sourced from both local breweries and further afield.
The selection changes frequently, ensuring that even regular visitors have something new to try. In addition to ale, the pub also serves a carefully chosen range of wines in partnership with a local wine agency, as well as a selection of quality whiskies.
For those looking for non-alcoholic options, the pub provides alcohol-free beers and soft drinks, ensuring there’s something for everyone
Joe added: “We try to have a good quality mix so there’s always something for someone.
“On a busy day, there have been games where over the course of the day, we’ve had as many as 14 different beers on.
“We have Charlton fans in before and after, and we get away fans as well.
“It’s a very, very quick walk back to the stadium, so you’ll see people dashing off to make kick-off!”
The River Ale House has developed a real sense of community, something Joe is particularly proud of. Over the years the venue has won around 10 awards.
Sitting at 131 Woolwich Road, The River Ale House has been quietly building a loyal following since it opened (Image: RAH)
“The staff are the face of the business on a day-to-day basis,” Joe said. “We’ve got Louise, for instance, who’s now worked with us on and off for about six years.
“A lot of the team love that community aspect, and they really contribute to it.
“Whenever we’re presented with an award, we are very quick to say it’s actually the people on the other side of the bar who come in and make the pub what it is.”
They also work closely with other local projects, such as the church opposite, where they run bars for community events.
On Tuesday nights, the pub comes alive with a folk music session where musicians bring their own instruments and gather in the back room to play together.
The relaxed and informal setting encourages anyone to join in, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for both performers and listeners.
The pub doesn’t serve food, aside from match-day rolls, but they’ve partnered with a nearby pizza place, allowing customers to bring in their own food
“There is a pizza place called Castellano’s, two or three doors down. You’re also allowed to take a pint over if you’re eating in there.
“Even if we had the space to do food, I think I’d rather support another local business and create more reason for people to come to the area than compete against them.”
For those who have walked past but never stepped inside, Joe has a simple message: “The beer is really, really good. Even if you haven’t had real ale before, our team knows their stuff, and we’ll work with people to help them on their beer journey.
“Even if you’re not into beer, we’ve got good wine and whiskey too.
“Just come in and meet the people inside. I’m pretty sure you’ll want to be back a second time because that’s what we see with most people who give us a try.
“We even had away fans in a couple of weeks ago who were so excited to come back because they’d been here the year before.”
