I live in HOP but:
- the following community site may be helpful http://brockleycentral.blogspot.com/
- the trains are more crowded obviously but the front carriage of Overground normally copes in morning rushhour (standing of course)
- like all places its a patchwork of up & coming etc. There's a small knot of coffeeshops and food shops by Brockley station itself, but can't think of a pub to recommend! (The Brockley Barge is a Wetherspoon).
- If you are talking the HOP end of Brockley (Brockley Rise), then the Tivoli ballroom, Jam Circus, Mr Lawrences, Co Op Budgeons, Brockley Jack are around