Bromley CAMRA Diary

This is a rare chance to visit a genuine Kentish village beer festival which can relatively easily be accessed by public transport.    Not only that, but the venue was CAMRA's National Club of Year in 2022 and 2023.

We will be taking the 11:14 train from Orpington to Sevenoaks, and from there the 11:37 service to Marden, arriving at Marden at 11.59.

We then plan to arrive at the festival shortly after it opens at noon.   The venue is Marden Village Club  which is an easy walk (6/7 minutes) from the station.  

For those who don't want to spend all day at the festival, there are two other pubs in the village, both of which are worth a visit.

The West End Tavern is an 18th century grade II listed building close to the station, popular with diners.  Three cask ales are normally available.

The Unicorn is a traditional village local which serves food throughout the afternoon.    Two real ales are normally available.  The pub is open all day.

A return visit to this long-running annual festival, held in the traditional village hall close to Merstham station.    Our plan is to meet at East Croydon station at 11:00am, and then to take the 11:14 or 11:23 train for the 15 minute journey to Merstham.    Note that the "Superloop" SL5 bus service provides a quick and frequent service between Bromley South and East Croydon stations.

Full details of the festival can be found here (links to local branch website).

 This social provides an opportunity to visit two superb micropubs, which are conveniently linked by a short bus journey.

We begin at the Hoptics at about 19:00.   This micropub was formerly known as The Real Ale Way.   After a short closure earlier this year it recently reopened on 5th August 2026 under new ownership, and was renamed Hoptics Micropub.    It offers up to six cask ales, almost all of which are sourced from smaller breweries in Kent, dispensed by gravity from a coldroom.   West Wickham station is a few minutes walk away.  To reach the pub from central Bromley, use the high-frequency 119 bus and alight at High Street/Wickham Court Road Road which is near the pub.  From Beckenham use the 194, alighting at the same stop. 

The social continues (using the 119 bus) to the Real Ale Way (Hayes)  where we plan to arrive at around 20:30, and which has been unaffected by the changes at the former West Wickham venue.   This family-owned micropub opened its doors in July 2018, and offers a most welcome option for local drinkers and rail commuters alike.  The pub overlooks the entrance to Hayes station, and is also served by numerous bus routes with bus stops right outside the pub.   

Already the Bromley CAMRA club of the year, Orpington Liberal Club  has gone on to be awarded the same honour for Greater London CAMRA as a whole.    It will now go on to to be judged at a regional level.   They will be presented with the Greater London award tonight.

The club is a few minutes walk from Orpington station, directly opposite the entrance to the Tesco Extra car park.   Several bus routes pass close by, including the 208 and 358.   Don't forget your CAMRA membership card as it is required for entry. 

Note that the club no longer accepts cash payments.   Please bring a debit or credit card.

This a chance to visit three long-established and traditional pubs in Chislehurst.

We begin at The Rambler's Rest.  This attractively situated pub is less than 10 minutes walk from Chislehurst Station but the walk is sharply uphill.  The walk can be avoided by catching the 162 (Beckenham Junction to Eltham), 269 (Bromley North to Bexleyheath) or R7 (Five Bells to Chislehurst) bus.  In all cases alight at Susan Wood.  The first two routes mentioned can be caught in Central Bromley.    (The Superloop SL3 route passes this stop, but as an express service, doesn't stop there).

The evening continues at the nearby Imperial Arms (19:40) and The Crown (20:50)

Most readers will know that the Cockpit , having been chosen as Pub of the Year for Bromley, Greater London and now the south-east region as a whole is one of four finalists in the national competition.

This achievement will be celebrated this evening, and will include a presentation which is expected to take place between 19:30 and 20:00.

Further details will be published here as and when received.

Bromley CAMRA members who are not on the committee are always welcome to attend committee meetings. Non-committee members planning to attend a meeting may request the Secretary (secretary@bromley.camra.org.uk) to prepare and print a pack of relevant committee papers to be made available at the meeting.

The Sydney Arms is an attractive pub which used to be located on the main road from Bromley to Sidcup - until a new main road was built.   The only nearby bus routes are the 269 (Bromley North to Bexleyheath) or the 160 if you are travelling from Central Chislehurst.  Alight at Ashfield Lane.

The Hope has frequently been Greater London CAMRA's Pub of the Year, and its autumn dark beer festival has become an eagerly-anticipated annual event. 

For those who have never visited before, the pub is no more than 5 minutes walk from Carshalton station which is served by Southern trains from Victoria via Clapham Junction, and by Thameslink services from Blackfriars via Herne Hill.

Those who haven't been for a number of years will notice that this successful community-owned pub has been expanded to the rear with lots more seating now available.   If you can't wait until 5pm, the pub opens at noon.