Photo: WhatPub / CAMRA
Bellingham Social Club: Pool & Snooker in Forest Hill, London
Bellingham Social Club is a CIU members' club on Allerford Road in Bellingham, SE6, and the current home of the Lewisham Wednesday Pool League. You come here for a proper old-school club pool table, a cheap pint and a darts board, rather than a slick bar setup. It is the kind of place where league nights happen midweek and regulars know each other by name.
The most useful thing to know: it is a members' club affiliated to the Club and Institute Union, so the bar may only be open to members. If you are not a regular, ring ahead on 020 8698 4202 before turning up to play. The club runs darts and pool, hosts Thursday bingo, and keeps long hours into the evening most days.
Contact
- Address 10 Allerford Road, Bellingham, Catford, London, SE6 3DD
Opening hours
- Mon 13:00-23:00
- Tue 13:00-23:00
- Wed 13:00-23:00
- Thu 13:00-23:00
- Fri 12:00-23:00
- Sat 12:00-23:00
- Sun 12:00-22:30
The pool setup
This is a community social club table, not a dedicated pool hall. You get a traditional pub-style pool table alongside a darts board, in the kind of room that has seen decades of league nights. The club is the current home of the Lewisham Wednesday Pool League, a friendly local league formed in 1993 covering Lewisham, Catford and Lee, so midweek you may find league matches in progress. If you just want a casual frame, it is worth checking ahead that the table is free rather than booked for a fixture.
Good to know
Bellingham Social Club is affiliated to the Club and Institute Union, which means it runs as a members' club and the bar may only be open to members. That is the single thing to sort before you go: call 020 8698 4202 to check whether you can get in and play. Drinks are club-priced, so cheaper than a typical bar. Beyond pool and darts, the club runs Thursday bingo and other social events, and it keeps long evening hours, open until 23:00 most nights and later on weekends.
Common questions
- What is Bellingham Social Club?
- It is a CIU-affiliated members' social club at 10 Allerford Road, Bellingham, SE6 3DD, with a traditional pub-style pool table and darts. It is the current home of the Lewisham Wednesday Pool League.
- Can I just walk in and play pool?
- Not necessarily. It is a members' club affiliated to the Club and Institute Union, so the bar may be open to members only. Call ahead on 020 8698 4202 to check before turning up.
- Is it free to play pool at Bellingham Social Club?
- No pool table fee is published. As a members' club, access depends on membership rather than a per-game charge, so contact the club to confirm.
- How many pool tables are there?
- It is a small social club with a traditional pool table and a darts board, not a multi-table pool hall.
- What are the opening hours?
- Monday to Thursday 13:00 to 23:00, Friday and Saturday from 12:00, and Sunday 12:00 to 22:30. Thursday is bingo night.
- Where is it and what is the nearest station?
- 10 Allerford Road, Bellingham, Catford, SE6 3DD. Bellingham station is the closest, a short walk away.
Other pool & snooker bars nearby
- The Bell Sydenham / Bell Green
- Catford Bridge Tavern Catford
- The Alfred Sydenham
- Railway Telegraph Forest Hill
- The Bird in Hand Forest Hill
- Pawleyne Arms Penge