The Dog & Bell, pool in Deptford

Photo: CAMRA WhatPub

The Dog & Bell: Pool & Snooker in Deptford, London

FreeWalk-inBar billiardsReal aleBoard gamesCAMRA pub

116 Prince Street, Deptford, London · SE8 3JD · Mo 12:00-24:00; Tu-Th 11:00-24:00; Fr 11:00-01:00; Sa 09:00-01:00; Su 09:00-24:00

The Dog & Bell is a traditional, slightly hidden Deptford pub with a bar billiards table round the back, the rare coin-fed cousin of pool. It suits people who want real ale, a proper games night, or a low-key afternoon away from the crowds, and the single most useful thing to know is that the table sits in the back room and is free to play when it is not in use. The pub is a long-running CAMRA favourite, winning Lewisham District Pub of the Year in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Expect up to 15 handpumps of cask ale, Belgian bottled beers, Guinness and a friendly local crowd. It is a walk-in pub, no booking for a game, just turn up and ask at the bar.

The games setup

What you get here is bar billiards, not a full-size pool table, so set your expectations right. It is the smaller coin-operated game with no pockets on the sides, a row of holes on the table and little mushroom pegs you must not knock over. You will find the table tucked in the back room, which is exactly where the pub describes it as living. It is the kind of thing that draws a small crowd once one person starts. There are also board games to borrow if the table is taken, so a games-led visit holds up even on a busy night.

Good to know

This is a walk-in pub, so there is nothing to book for a game, just turn up and ask at the bar. The draw beyond the table is the beer: up to 15 handpumps of cask ale, Belgian bottled beers, Guinness and a regular spot on CAMRA lists, including Lewisham District Pub of the Year in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Food leans pub-traditional with Sunday roasts and some vegan options. It opens late, to midnight most nights and 1am on Friday and Saturday, with early weekend opening from 9am.

Finding it

The Dog & Bell sits on Prince Street, SE8 3JD, tucked away on an estate between the Rotherhithe to Greenwich road and the Thames, so it is easy to walk past without knowing it is there. The nearest stations are Deptford and Greenwich for trains, with the DLR at Greenwich and Cutty Sark close by. It rewards the small detour off the main road. There is a covered beer garden and some pavement seating if you want to be outside, and the back-room games table if you would rather settle in for the afternoon.

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Common questions

What is The Dog & Bell?
It is a traditional real-ale and Irish pub in Deptford, SE8, known for up to 15 handpumps of cask ale and a bar billiards table in the back room. It has won Lewisham District CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Does it have a pool table?
Not pool exactly. It has a bar billiards table, which is the smaller coin-operated game with pegs and holes rather than side pockets. CAMRA lists it under the pub's games facilities. There are also board games.
Is it free to play?
There is no entry charge and no published price for the table. Bar billiards tables are coin-fed when in play, and free to use when the table is sitting idle. Just ask at the bar.
Do I need to book?
No. It is a walk-in pub, so you turn up and ask at the bar for the table. There is no booking system for a game.
What are the opening hours?
Monday noon to midnight, Tuesday to Thursday 11am to midnight, Friday 11am to 1am, Saturday 9am to 1am and Sunday 9am to midnight.
What is the nearest station?
Deptford rail station is closest, with Greenwich rail and the DLR at Greenwich and Cutty Sark also within reach. The pub is on Prince Street, just off the road between Rotherhithe and Greenwich.

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