Just seen on Instagram that MeatLiquor are taking over the Dartmouth Arms.
https://www.instagram.com/p/COuHJZkM6dM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Looks like it’ll be roasts, pints, fish and chips with added excellent MeatLiquor burgers. I’d imagine a bit of a re-decorate to fit their style too. While it’s obviously sad that the previous owners couldn’t make it work, I’m glad to see that this Forest Hill land mark can continue as a pub.
Yes! 
Although sad to see a half decent pub go. Only the sylvan and signal are left of any mention now in forest hill.
Oh… this is dangerous news. Having Dead Hippies in easy walking distance could be highly detrimental to the waistline. Can’t wait!
I bet they’ll do really well there, forest hill has a gap between the nice pubs and the nice restaurants, I always find myself going further afield to find something more gluttonous. I hope they refit it well, one or two meatliquors I’ve seen have gone over the top on their weirdness.
I don’t think it’ll stop being a pub - it’s just now going to be a pub that will sell MeatLiquor burgers too.
From their post: “This VERY handsome Victorian Public house will be getting a MEAT makeover and pulling pints from July 1st. It’ll be respectful of the building, area & Pub traditions alike.
Expect 
,
,Sunday Roasts and:fish:&
on Fridays.”
I read that to mean it’ll still be a pub!
Open from July 1! Yay… they can’t be doing anything too extreme then. Seem to recall many of the other ML’s have taken an age to actually open after being announced.
Looking back at the IG post, I remember going to both Meateasy and the Rye Hotel pop-up…
YAY! MeatLiquor burgers are so amazing - goodbye waistline!!!
The opening of the ED restaurant was severely delayed, though if I recall there was a ventilation issue which need to be addressed and took them a long time.
Sounds quite specific to that site? The Dartmouth Arms has a fully operational kitchen already, so I’d guess this might be a bit more straightforward?
God I sound like I’m working for MeatLiquor’s marketing team. Though if they DO want to offer me free burgers in exchange for promo…
You and me both, @westy1980 can join that unofficial marketing team.
But it’s worth reminding everyone to sign up on their website for FREE SH#!T as they say… as you usually get a free birthday burger… and some other discounts through the year on bank holiday Tuesdays etc.
Not sure we’ve ever had quite so active a thread on a Tuesday morning… food motivation is strong in SE23.
This is SO exciting. I must say I’ve really cut down on my meat consumption over the past five - ten years so eat meat on occasion rather than daily. So when I do eat meat it’s for a treat. This will definitely be top of my list. It’s so tasty.
OH.
MY.
GOD.
This is such good news. A brand takeover without the full brand makeover? The dream. And this will hopefully start to attract [quality, indepdendent-spirited] big[ger] names to the high street.
I also really hope MeatLiquor bring their hard shakes with them, because good LORD some of them are amazing.
This is awesome news! Need to start running again to lose this lockdown weight gain so I can replace it with my upcoming ML weight gain.
Are they taking bookings yet!?! 
They do these amazing veggie burgers and starters. Which is why as a vegetarian I’m excited for their arrival!
What brilliant news!! I’m also vegetarian and their veggie offerings are fantastic.
I’m an omnivore and I still agree that their veggie things are fantastic. I’m partial to the Tempeh Tantrum on occasion.
That’s not an opinion shared by all
I’m sure it’s not, it’s my opinion.
Could have sworn I’d seen a post earlier pleading with them to keep the Dartmouth Arms name and thought I’d mention that their freshly born Twitter is @ DartmouthArmsML which sounds promising.
They’ve posted an article from an industry mag which expands a little on what was on Instagram - and mentions bacon cheeseburger Scotch Eggs… 
I think the licence or whatever controls what the site can be means it will need to stay as a pub rather convert completely to a restaurant. As people have already said, there is a functioning kitchen there already although I am sure it will need something of a refit to become more burger orientated. All in all, good news.
If they’re going to change the name then it surely has to be the DartMeat Arms!
Or the MeatliMouth Arms
I was in Meatliquor ED yesterday and got chatting about progress on the DA. They are also updating their Instagram with pictures of taking up the decking, removing the lights, changing the loos so a fair amount of work going on. Date is now showing as early July.
They’ve also advertised for staff - with live-in options and one of those titles is ‘landlord’ which definitely sounds more pub-like than restaurant manager!
Looks like Meatliquor have slightly modified the DA deer.
I’ve been trying to link their instagram post from last night and failing spectacularly, but here’s a cut and paste of what they’ve announced:
FAQs;
We’ll be opening next week but not quite sure EXACTLY which day yet (keep your 
peeled)
We won’t be taking reservations until the dust has settled
The menu will be the full @meatgram one
Families are more than welcome in the Back room & Backyard (the biggest two spaces)
Fish & Chips on Friday’s should kick off towards the end of the July
Sunday Roasts should be with us in August
There won’t be live music on a regular basis
There will be our carefully curated background tunes
There’ll be 10 different products on Tap
Vegans and Vegetarians are VERY catered for
We’ll be more expensive Than the Capitol & all other Wetherspoons
Dogs are of course welcome (well behaved & on short leads),paws on the floors at all times
Great info, I do 
this vid though. This must have been their soft opening.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQp4ox3oVwf/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Branding and styling is subjective - personally the focus on ‘Meat’ and dead animals puts me off (and I’m not even vegetarian). It’s only because people have recommended the cocktails that I’m even considering setting foot in the place.
Can understand that. Sometimes the black and death themes etc makes me 
too.
I like the New Cross Negroni but it’s the food quality that makes me go there. Their burgers taste of beef which I like and their fries are crisp and well seasoned. Even their blue cheese dip is really tasty.
Over the years, their veggie and vegan options have increased and got stronger too even if the branding doesn’t focus on it. I wonder if they were renaming it in 2021 whether they’d go with the same name.
Try the absinthe based cocktails. You’ll not regret it.
You’ll also probably not remember it.
(I love ML and can’t wait for this place to open 
)
I’m going to go against the grain here and confess I think it’s a shame this pub is turning into, what I essentially see as a chain. I’m sure the original Dartmouth was owned by a brewery but it did have a rare independent feel for Forest Hill.
Also agree it’s all a bit dark and meaty, (I’m not vegetarian either).
I guess the question is whether it’s better for it to turn into a chain or for the pub to close forever? It has had a few different owners recently, none of which could make it work.
Having the clout of a chain will mean it’s hopefully less likely to disappear altogether in these very tricky times for pubs.
And not all chains are bad. This looks (so far) to be a fairly well executed refurb job - no major changes apart from a lick of paint and a change of menu, signs the chain is being sensitive to the character of the place. I don’t recall the veggie options at the DA being particularly inspired beforehand - but I do know meatliquor (despite the name) have some very tasty vegetarian food.
The DA was always a bit of a gastro-pub, so it doesn’t feel like a huge departure for me even if the new brand is strong and quite different. Certainly I think it brings some new character and variety which easily could have been missed with a different take-over. I appreciate that it’s not for everyone, but what is?
The new tables were being delivered yesterday and the old ones being taken out - they are moving at pace.
It’s perfectly valid point and I’d feel very much the same if it was a big mainstream chain.
I guess I remember Meatliquor from its food van days around Peckham, the pop ups at New Cross and Peckham Rye so it’s always felt a bit more like a relatively local success story to me.
Given the state of the hospitality industry and particularly pubs at the moment, I’m just glad that we’re seeing investment on our high street, creating jobs for local people. I’d rather walk past an open pub than a closed one, even if the USP has changed somewhat. I’ve never been in a ML but its a 
from me
Yeah us too. We used to go when it was a van in Peckham and when it had its pop ups in New Cross and Peckham pubs so it feels proper SE London.
If you look at the MeatLiquor menu you’ll find there are both vegetarian and plant based options!
I think she meant she’s not vegetarian
Thanks.
Apologies @Audrey_Finch - it seems I may have misread your comment “not vegetarian either”
I read it as the restaurant isn’t vegetarian as opposed to you’re not vegetarian!
I’m a fan – a bit late to the party (I can’t claim to have eaten from the van or pop-ups), but I always enjoyed ED. Also, Boxpark Croydon has become a go-to for informal meet-ups with friends – I’m hoping that cocktails and a festive garbage plate will be possible this Christmas. Can also recommend the deep-fried pickles with blue cheese sauce, but as a sharing side – lovely, but a poster dish for “too much of a good thing”!
In the early 90s it was the worst pub in Forest Hill but it had two redeeming features:
The gastropub reinvention of the Dartmouth Arms was way ahead of some of the other improvements to Forest Hill, when most of the shops were boarded up, waiting for Sainsburys to get planning permission. And this is a pub that has survived the closure of the canal and the coming of the railway. It has changed a lot since then!
I’m sure the latest reinvention will be popular and positive for Forest Hill.
According to their website the Dartmeat Arms will open on Wednesday (7 July)! 
I’m a bit surprised by the anti-chain sentiment in this and other posts.
The Sylvan Post (Antic Pubs) is part of a chain of over 40 pubs. The Signal (Hippo Inns) is part of a chain of 13 pubs. The Hill (Craft Union) at 200+ and the Capitol (Weatherspoons) at 900+. These are just four for example but I’d like to think each has become a part of the SE23 community, even if they don’t appeal to everyone.
In today’s commercial environment, growth and expansion is often necessary to survival. Even our own the Butchery is now a ‘chain’ operating from four locations.
The ‘new’ Dartmouth Arms is Meat Liqour’s 12th current investment. From a company with humble starts in our area flipping burgers in a pop up, I’m thrilled this company have seen fit to invest in one of our local gems. And from looking at the interior plans, the ‘new’ Dartmouth Arms will be more pub now (and less restaurant) then it was before.
You can also add to the list Mama Dough which has been expanding, now with 5 locations (I think), as has Brown’s of Brockley (also at St David Coffee House & opened at 43 Lordship Lane), and Marvellous Greens & Beans (which recently opened a 2nd branch on 27 Grove Vale).
Anyway, I was pleased to see the the DA Meat Liquor had also donated a generous prize to at least one of the local primary school PTA raffles. Even if they are a chain it’s nice to see them engage locally like this.
Although not a burger fan myself I think were are definitely more likely to eat here than at The Dartmouth Arms where the few times we have eaten there over the years we have lived in the area We’ve found the food really mediocre for the price and actually not very tasty.(I think Wetherspoons sunday roast is probably better and cheaper)
I’d never refer to the old DA as a gastropub because the food offering was no where near the standard of cooking as the old Palmerston or the Camberwell Arms.
I’m delighted we have a new place to eat that has a soul and an identity
When DA first put the open kitchen in the back, they were a gastropub. I remember amazing seared scallops with black pudding about 20 years ago when everything was cooked to order and the menu changed daily.
Then, as it was taken over multiple times, the food offering became more generic, microwaved or boil in the bag and last time I ate there, it was vastly overpriced for what it was.
We ate there 1st about 10years ago and it was ‘alright’.
Then over the intervening years we ate there not through our choice but due to friends having get togethers/celebratory meals there…last did so about 2 years ago for a sunday lunch and it was Grim.
Very slow, lukewarm chicken that was sinewy and as you say boil in bag or microwaved veg that had no taste and VERY expensive to boot.
Haven’t been back since.
Their food used to be quite good, not award winning but perfectly acceptable, but 2 years ago was about the last time I ate there too when the calves liver I ordered was inedible, I could’ve soled my shoes with it, so I sent it back and the replacement was just as bad.
Perhaps that was their nadir.
Sorry to butt-in here.
Can I just point out to people who have only just looked-in on this thread…
The last 4 posts don’t relate to MeatLiquor - they are comments about the previous owners.
But the topic is about the Dartmouth Arms becoming Meatliquor, rather than simply Meatliquor - so it seems fair to talk about the previous iterations of the DA.
Yep, totally fair and on topic, but @Anotherjohn is also right to point out that some of the later posts are critical of the departing business, rather than Meat Liquor which I think most are looking forward to with high expectations.
Perhaps when Meat Liquor opens (2021-07-06T23:00:00Z?) we can start a new topic for reviews and opinions to keep things clear and tidy.
Of course! - which is specifically why I didn’t call off-topic.
It was merely that I was having to review previous posts to find out if those adverse comments referred to the Dartmouth Arms or MeatLiquor and I thought it wouldn’t hurt to point this out to others to prevent any possible inadvertent blurring or misconstruing or bad reflection on our newcomers (ML).
That looks great!
Discussion on the opening of Meat Liquor continues in the topic: MEATliquor now open
