Peckhams’ well known for its quirky, inexpensive bars and bistros, and the newly opened ‘Pedler Good Fortune’ is one to add to your SE15 hit list if you’re in the area and looking for somewhere unique to eat and drink.

Formerly known as just ‘Pedler’ they opened back in 2014 and were originally located in Peckham Rye Park. The newly rebranded ‘Pedler Good Fortune’ is now just a stone’s throw from Queens Road Peckham station. Hidden behind potted bamboo, the frosted glass glows yellow in the evening. If the exterior works its charm and entices you inside, you’ll find yourself in a dimly lit, cosy craft gin bar. Eclectic vintage furniture gives everything a glamorous feel – think ornate lampshades, naked bulbs hanging from the ceiling, and plush velvet seating. Behind the main bar is a gin distillery where ‘Littlebird Gin’ is handmade and bottled in-house – cool right?!

The lovely staff made the atmosphere – we were greeted with smiles and laughter and taken down a plant-covered spiral staircase to the dining area that comfortably seats around 25 people. The space feels surprisingly bright and spacious for an underground dining spot with neon lights (my favourite being the waving cat) and lanterns that dot the eccentrically wallpapered walls.

We visited on a Thursday evening to try out the dinner menu, but ‘Pedler Good Fortune’ also boasts a fusion brunch menu offering up traditional full breakfasts for meat-eaters and veggies alike as well as pancakes, Asian brunch plates, and ‘morning tipples’ for those in the mood for a boozy brunch.

We started with pints of Kirin Ichiban (the on-tap beer) but they also had a selection of bottled beers and a cocktail menu. The dinner menu, designed for sharing, didn’t disappoint. We were very much up for taking staff recommendations on what to order – we ordered one large plate, three smaller dishes, and one side and this was the perfect amount of food for two leaving enough room for dessert and a cocktail.

What we ordered for two:

• Mr. G’s Whole Sticky Seabream (Soy, Ginger, Honey, Crispy Rice GF)
• Crab & Green Mango Salad (Chilli, Basil, Mint & Tangerine GF)
• Prawn & Cod Dumplings (XO Sauce, Garlic Chips, Ketjap Manis)
• Peanut Butter Tofu Buns (Burnt Chilli Mayo, Sesame, Pickles V/VEO)
• Katsu Fries

Everything we ordered was full of flavour – stand-out dishes in particular being the seabream and the prawn and cod dumplings. The sea bream was fragrant – soy ginger and honey flavours came through in the crispy skin that was almost batter-like but very light. The fish itself was soft, moist, and flaky – I’ve never had fish like this before. The fish came whole but it wasn’t overly bony and it was beautifully presented (which is hard to do with a whole fish!).

The prawn and cod dumplings also deserve some recognition. The dumplings were plump and filled with a pillowy seafood stuffing and the spicy XO sauce (spicy seafood sauce from Hong Kong with an umami flavour) with the Ketjap Manis (a thick, Indonesian sweet soy sauce) married everything together perfectly flavour wise.

For dessert, we opted for a portion of the matcha ice cream to share and a nightcap (in the form of a cocktail) each from the fabulous drinks menu. The matcha ice cream was the perfect dessert after the mains – light and sweet with a touch of matcha that wasn’t too overpowering. The ice cream was served with seeded rice crackers which at first I thought seemed a bit strange but they complimented the ice cream really well. We ordered an Aperol spritz and an espresso martini to finish things off – both were delicious and served in lovely glasses.

The service didn’t miss a beat and they even gave us a little tour of the distillery as we were on our way out. Finally, to note, the music was great all evening and ‘Pedler Good Fortune’ invite guest DJs each weekend!

Open Wednesday – Thursday 5am -11pm, Friday – Saturday 10am – 12pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm.

Price: About £50/60 per head (multiple courses, alcohol & service)

Website: https://www.pedlergoodfortune.com

Address: Pedler Good Fortune, 169 Queen’s Road, London, SE15 2ND

Written by Lenny Wright