If you do, well done. How did you manage that then?

I have had them in the past but only because I worked in there, knew someone who worked in there or regularly frequented one with some mates / uni folk.

But now I'm in a new, strange part of London how do I get one?

Sit at the bar for a bit and chat to the bar staff? Read a paper in there and gradually build up to conversation? Randomly accost a publican?

Help me. I want a local dammit.

PS. Any good SE London pub recommendations. I am in the triangle between Forest Hill / Sydenham / Catford.