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This social provides an opportunity to visit the attractive village of Farnborough, together with its two excellent pubs.
We begin at The Change of Horses, which was extensively refurbished in 2019. Cask ales normally include a beer from Tonbridge brewery. The pub is conveniently served by the high frequency 358 bus route (Crystal Palace to Orpington via Beckenham and Bromley). Alight at Farnborough High St/Church Rd. The pub is nearby.
From there it is a short walk to The Woodman where a range of Shepherd Neame real ales with an occasional guest are available. We plan to arrive there around 20:00.
Today we are visiting this large and comfortable pub which provides a choice of mainly mainstream cask ales.
The pub is close to Chelsfield station. Alternatively it can be reached by bus R1 from Orpington Station – alight at Chelsfield Centre.
This social provides an opportunity to visit both of the superb Real Ale Way micropubs that we have in our borough.
We begin at the West Wickham venue, which opened in September 2021. It operates in a similar manner to its better-known predecessor in Hayes, with up to seven cask ales, almost all of which are sourced from smaller breweries in Kent, dispensed by gravity from a coldroom. West Wickham railway 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.
The social continues (using the 119 bus) to the Hayes venue where we plan to arrive at around 15:45. 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. Up to 9 real ales are served on gravity from a coldroom to the rear of the bar.
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.