Bromley CAMRA Diary
Keeping you informed as to what's on and where. Come and join us!
Keeping you informed as to what's on and where. Come and join us!
Greater London CAMRA Pub of the Year presentation at the Cockpit (Chislehurst)
October 7, 2026 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
The Cockpit, 4 Royal Parade Chislehurst BR7 6NR
Bromley CAMRA's 2026 Pub of the Year competition has again been won by one of our newest pubs - The Cockpit. This year it has gone even further won the Pub of the Year competition for the whole of Greater London, and this achievement will be celebrated tonight.
The Cockpit is Chislehurst's first micropub, and opened its doors for the first time in late December 2020. A range of at at least 5 (usually more) non-mainstream real ales are normally available, served from a cold room at the rear of the pub. The presentation of the winner's award will be made during the evening, so a good turn out of our members would be welcome.
From Central Bromley, use buses 162 (Beckenham Junction to Eltham), 269 (Bromley North to Bexleyheath) or the new Superloop SL3 service (Bromley North to Thamesmead). All these routes can be caught in Central Bromley and also pass near Bickley and Chislehurst stations. From other parts of the borough routes 61, 160, 161 or 273 can be used. In all cases alight at Chislehurst War Memorial.
For more information about the Bromley CAMRA Pub of the Year process, including details of previous winners, please click here.
Social at Orpington Liberal Club Autumn Beer Festival (runs until the 11th)
October 8, 2026 6:15 pm - 10:00 pm
This autumn festival makes a most welcome return. The first night (Thursday) of the festival will be a preview night with access limited to OLC and CAMRA members only. Doors open at 18.00. Don’t forget your CAMRA membership card as it is required for entry. Bromley CAMRA will be having a social at the preview night.
The festival proper then opens at noon on the Friday & Saturday, closing at 11pm on both days. It then concludes with an afternoon session on the Sunday from noon to 17.00. Visitors who are not members of the OLC or CAMRA must buy entrance tickets at the door for £1.00.
Entrance tickets are NOT required for CAMRA members at any time – provided that they have their membership card available for inspection.
Note that the club only accepts card payments – not cash.
This link provides more details of the festival from the OLC’s own website.
The club is a few minutes walk from Orpington station, and is situated directly opposite the entrance to the Tesco Extra car park. Several bus routes pass close by, including the 208 and 358.
CAMRA London Pubs Group Daytime Tour of Bromley, Petts Wood and Orpington.
October 17, 2026
CAMRA's London Pubs Group was established in the early 1990s to promote the preservation of historic and architecturally important London pubs. They organise regular tours around London, and sometimes further afield. Today they are making a visit to Bromley, so hopefully we can have a good turnout of our own members to join them.
Note that the Royal Bell does not serve cask ale.
The itinerary for this visit is as follows :-
12:00 Partridge, 194 High St, Bromley, BR1 1HE
13:30 Royal Bell, 175 High St, Bromley, BR1 1NN
14:15 Star & Garter, 227 High St, Bromley, BR1 1NZ
15:30 Daylight Inn, Station Square, Petts Wood,BR5 1LZ
16:15 One Inn the Wood, 209 Petts Wood Rd, Petts Wood BR5 1LA
17:15 Orpington Liberal Club, 7 Station Rd, Orpington, BR6 0RZ
Visit to the Marden Village beer festival
October 24, 2026
Marden Village
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.
Social at Redhill beer festival (run by East & mid-Surrey CAMRA)
October 29, 2026
Merstham Village Hall, Station Road North, Merstham, RH1 3ED
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).
Committee Meeting at the Sydney Arms
November 24, 2026 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Old Perry Street, Chislehurst BR7 6PL
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.
