On the first day of October the sun was still shining and London was calling (to the faraway towns).
My main aim was to visit the 2026 CAMRA Greater London pub of the year. The Cockpit in Chislehurst claims that accolade, one of the 16 winners throughout the country which get the chance to be beaten to overall winner by the Tamworth Tap.
A direct train from central London would whisk me to Chislehurst too early for the pub, so I instead caught the non-stop service from Victoria to Bromley, from where I could catch a bus later.
My main aim was to visit the 2026 CAMRA Greater London pub of the year. The Cockpit in Chislehurst claims that accolade, one of the 16 winners throughout the country which get the chance to be beaten to overall winner by the Tamworth Tap.
A direct train from central London would whisk me to Chislehurst too early for the pub, so I instead caught the non-stop service from Victoria to Bromley, from where I could catch a bus later.
Back to business as usual and starting the day in Spoons (of which there were no shortage on this day out).
Opened in 1999 as a Lloyds No.1, this is named after the Just William author who was born just up the road in Chislehurst.
It's a cavernous place, stretching back a long way into a L-shape with ample outdoor seating to the side.
Perusing the hand-pumps I asked for the Lymestone Cowboy only to be told it was off, followed by no attempt being made to turn the pump-clip round. Why-oh-why keep advertising something I can't have?
So I ended up with the Nethergate 'White Stout' - the £3.40 guest ale price suggesting Bromley doesn't qualify for the bargain end of the Spoons pricing matrix.
So I ended up with the Nethergate 'White Stout' - the £3.40 guest ale price suggesting Bromley doesn't qualify for the bargain end of the Spoons pricing matrix.
White Stout?! It was a beer packed full of vanilla and white chocolate and was fine for about half a pint until the novelty wore off.
My breakfast wrap was a let-down - haphazardly wrapped, all the best bits at one end, with an egg that looked like it had been cooked several hours earlier.
Hmmm... unavailable beer; substandard wrap; dubious carpet design; a pub too vast to find a cosy corner; this wasn't winning me over.
But on the plus side you get some lovely loos on ground floor level and the lesser-seen Wetherspoon's feature of darts boards in the Richmal Crompton.
My breakfast wrap was a let-down - haphazardly wrapped, all the best bits at one end, with an egg that looked like it had been cooked several hours earlier.
Hmmm... unavailable beer; substandard wrap; dubious carpet design; a pub too vast to find a cosy corner; this wasn't winning me over.
But on the plus side you get some lovely loos on ground floor level and the lesser-seen Wetherspoon's feature of darts boards in the Richmal Crompton.
Moving on, I wandered through the centre of Bromley, making my way to current Beer Guide entry, the Partridge.
This impressive building was opened as the National Provincial Bank in 1927, during a post-war period where residential properties were being demolished to make way for a more commercial High Street. It was designed by architects Gunton & Gunton in a Neo-Georgian style with lots of elaborate decorative features which would later secure it Grade II listed status.
The entrance lobby is an instant delight...
The Provincial became Nat West, then closed in the early nineties, providing Fuller's the opportunity to convert this into one of their Ale & Pie pubs in 1995.
The Partridge still offers 'signature pies', but the Ale & Pie brand disappeared when the marketing moguls decided they needed to make it clear to customers that a wider choice of food and drink were on offer.
Apparently not everyone wants a calorific pie and pint of ESB, although I've no idea why not.
The Partridge still offers 'signature pies', but the Ale & Pie brand disappeared when the marketing moguls decided they needed to make it clear to customers that a wider choice of food and drink were on offer.
Apparently not everyone wants a calorific pie and pint of ESB, although I've no idea why not.
I plumped for the guest Bristol Beer Factory 'Independence' - CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain 2026. Tiny Rebel provided the second Fullers alternative in the form of 'Dunk', which seems to be getting everywhere at the moment.
My 'Independence' was on very good form.
The surroundings weren't too shabby either.
My 'Independence' was on very good form.
The surroundings weren't too shabby either.
The Partridge's main bar is spectacular, with reserved tables in the neat little snug area next to the entrance, plus an additional dining area to the rear.
The soundtrack was lesser-heard Wings track 'Let Me Roll It', followed by 'Wayward Son', 'Friday I'm in Love', 'Hungry like Wolf', and 'Rocket Man'.
That's a playlist steadily heading into poppier territory, so time to move on to (not another!) JDW...
The second of Bromley's Spoons is close to the Partridge, north of the pedestrian main drag.
The soundtrack was lesser-heard Wings track 'Let Me Roll It', followed by 'Wayward Son', 'Friday I'm in Love', 'Hungry like Wolf', and 'Rocket Man'.
That's a playlist steadily heading into poppier territory, so time to move on to (not another!) JDW...
The second of Bromley's Spoons is close to the Partridge, north of the pedestrian main drag.
And it is vastly different from the big open space of the earlier one. The Greyhound is a pokey place with lots of wood panelled pillars dividing a deceptively big room and making it slightly awkward to maneuver through.
This was added to the Wetherspoon's estate in 2011, converting a building which had most recently been an Italian restaurant, although spent most of it's existence as a former pub of the same name.
It was doing a roaring Thursday lunchtime trade.
There were a mixture of folks standing at the bar and a couple awkwardly trying to form a queue. The local - the type of fella who's having his Carling poured without having to ask - pointed at me and shouting "Him!" when the staff asked who's next, which was handy, even though I wasn't.
A Mad Cat 'Platinum Blonde' for me, brewed in Faversham.
A chewy, hoppy beer, in respectable condition.
Drinking up, I scooted through the streets to Bromley North where I could catch bus 269 to Chislehurst.
There were a mixture of folks standing at the bar and a couple awkwardly trying to form a queue. The local - the type of fella who's having his Carling poured without having to ask - pointed at me and shouting "Him!" when the staff asked who's next, which was handy, even though I wasn't.
A Mad Cat 'Platinum Blonde' for me, brewed in Faversham.
A chewy, hoppy beer, in respectable condition.
Drinking up, I scooted through the streets to Bromley North where I could catch bus 269 to Chislehurst.
Chislehurst is home to just over 15,000 folks, has 'affluent' added to every description of it, has caves which some real rock legends have played gigs in, and was the birthplace of one-time land speed record holder Malcolm Campbell.
It can now also add 'home of the 2026 CAMRA Greater London pub of the year' to the list of achievements.
It can now also add 'home of the 2026 CAMRA Greater London pub of the year' to the list of achievements.
Royal Parade isn't your average suburban row of retail outlets. Instead of vape shops and fried chicken you get an art gallery, Paws pet care centre, a dry cleaners and Walnuts cafe. Affluent.
No florists though, as that made way for the micro pub in 2020.
There is still a flower counter to the left of the front door incorporated into the Cockpit which must be a bit of a unique feature.
Head to the rear under the hops adorning the ceiling and you'll find the bar with beer board and an extensive range of crisps and nibbles.
Head to the rear under the hops adorning the ceiling and you'll find the bar with beer board and an extensive range of crisps and nibbles.
The house beer is a 3.8% bitter brewed in collaboration with Tonbridge and priced under a fiver. Other options on my visit were three ales from Kent Brewery, a session pale from Howling Hops, a strong IPA from Pig & Porter, and another bitter from Lakedown.
I started with the Kent 'Dubai' - a delicious chocolate and pistachio stout.
I started with the Kent 'Dubai' - a delicious chocolate and pistachio stout.
The pub consists low tables to the front, high feet-danglers to the back. No music or distractions. Bespoke beer mats. Posh snacking.
Two smartly dressed ladies made multiple visits to the bar to order a bottle of wine, iced water, charcuterie and cheese sharing board, then back again to add a pot of paté.
Yep, not food accompaniments found in the original Kent micros.
Two smartly dressed ladies made multiple visits to the bar to order a bottle of wine, iced water, charcuterie and cheese sharing board, then back again to add a pot of paté.
Yep, not food accompaniments found in the original Kent micros.
A smart comfortable pub with a fine choice of ale and cider.
I enjoyed it enough to stay for another, picking the 'Pit' house beer this time, served in excellent condition, as was the stout.
Deaprting from the Cockpit, I hopped aboard a bus back toward Chislehurst train station.
The signage on the bus doors is very friendly, ensuring you don't need to actually have that interaction with the driver.
I enjoyed it enough to stay for another, picking the 'Pit' house beer this time, served in excellent condition, as was the stout.
Deaprting from the Cockpit, I hopped aboard a bus back toward Chislehurst train station.
The signage on the bus doors is very friendly, ensuring you don't need to actually have that interaction with the driver.
I hopped off near the Ramblers Rest, a weatherboarded pub at the bottom of a grassy slope that I'd spotted when travelling past earlier.
Great pub sign...
Great pub sign...
The pub claims to date back to 1684 when it was known as the Miller's Arms. By the 18th century the railway had arrived in Chislehurst bringing additional custom who came to visit the fairs on the heath and take in the sights of Chislehurst. Post war it had spells as an antiques store and restaurant, until Whitbread purchased the building in 1993.
It looks great from outside.
Does the interior live up to the exterior? Nope.
Does the interior live up to the exterior? Nope.
A very dull modernisation - the dreary 'Drugs Don't Work' in the background - golf on TV - zero afternoon punters.
I ordered a half of the sole cask, Timothy Taylor 'Landlord'.
"There's a nice garden out back. Or sit out front. Sit anywhere you like m'love," the lady behind the bar told me You don't get many 'm'loves' in London.
Not a bad Tim Taylors, even if the Ramblers didn't give me the nice rustic pub room I was hoping for.
Down the hill to the station, I pondered which train to catch and where to head to next.
I guess the bear would go to the woods.
I ordered a half of the sole cask, Timothy Taylor 'Landlord'.
"There's a nice garden out back. Or sit out front. Sit anywhere you like m'love," the lady behind the bar told me You don't get many 'm'loves' in London.
Not a bad Tim Taylors, even if the Ramblers didn't give me the nice rustic pub room I was hoping for.
Down the hill to the station, I pondered which train to catch and where to head to next.
I guess the bear would go to the woods.
There will be another Spoons there.
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