I just past the Bird in Hand pub and notice that scaffolding was been erected around the outside and looked like it had been stripped out inside, another Gastro pub?, does anyone know when or will it reopen as a Pub?.

Shut for a refurb, opens again early Dec.

If you can spare a bit of time, have a look at this old episode of Men Behaving Badly. Very apt.

If you just have a few minutes, skip forward to 3m20s and watch from there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPXmQ5dVbJM

Has anyone actually been in as a first-time customer since the refurbishment?

Having lived in Forest Hill for a couple of years, this is the only pub I'm yet to visit (suspect I'm not the only one) and I was quite excited at the prospect of it having a new lease of life. However, despite the smart new look, they seem to want to attract the same crowd as before, with cheap drinks and fruit machines. The group that hangs around the front door is more off-putting than a surly doorman and does nothing to entice new customers.

A shame, as this pub has so much potential.

I appreciate that mine is a limited view, judging from the outside, but with so many friendly pubs locally I'll continue to walk on by. The loud music they seem to blast out each weekend is also unlikely to win them many local friends.

Does anyone have any positive experiences to share?

I've been there - and it's still a pub!

Okay, it hasn't got that trendy thing going on like at the Sylvan Post etc, but it is clean and tidy and the drinks are very reasonably priced. I understand what you mean about some of the guys smoking outside but they're not going to attack anyone who wants to venture in for a drink and a chat.

I'm sure there are some newcomers in the area who would welcome a bit of a change every now and again and may watch the odd bit of sport or have a laugh at a karaoke night or have a game of pool.

Sure, it's not gonna be everyone's cup of tea but the more new people who go in there, the more normal and less threatening it will appear from the street so I'd say get a few friends together and give it a try!