Planned Events
Dartford has always been worth a visit from real ale drinkers, due to the wonderful range of beers always served at the Dartford Working Men’s club from their 15 handpumps.
It is now been improved further with a new and excellent micropub – the Dartford Jug – which opened in September 2018, and offers a selection of beers sourced from around the country (ie not just Kent and London).
From Central Bromley, the quickest way to Dartford is to get the 269 bus as far as Sidcup Station and then take the train to Dartford station from where a short walk is needed. Begin by crossing the footbridge over the main road that you will see when leaving the railway station, and then walk past the Aldi (ie with the store on your right) and then follow signs to the bus station. The pub is visible from the eastern end of the bus station.
Trains leave Sidcup at 11.48, 11,58 and 12.18 (and in each case half-hourly thereafter). Some members will be catching the 11.48. The pub opens at noon.
If you like a huge and an ever-changing variety of real ales (served from 15 handpumps) from breweries large and small ( but mainly small) from all over the country all priced (as at Oct 2019) at £2.90/pint, then this is the place for you. Please bring your CAMRA card though.
The Club has previously been CAMRA’s National Club of the Year, and is a frequent finalist.
The Dartford Working Men’s Club is about 10 minutes walk from the Dartford Jug, and is a similar distance from the station.
The final visit of the day is to another fine micropub – the Penny Farthing which has been Bexley CAMRA Pub of the Year for three years in a row up to 2017.
From the DWMC, a train journey of one stop is needed to Crayford, with a short walk from there.
When it’s time to go home, there is a train service to Sidcup from where the reasonably frequent 269 runs to Bromley North via Chislehurst and Bickley.
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 “Impi” is an attractively situated pub, less than 10 minutes walk from Chislehurst Station but the walk being 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
This festival is arranged and run by the Croydon and Sutton branch of CAMRA, but the venue is located very close to boundary with the borough of Bromley. The nearest railway station is Norwood Junction (trains to Anerley, Penge West etc.) or bus users can use routes 75 or 157 both of which have sections of their routes in our borough. Alight at Portland Road.
In the opinion of the writer (TW) the best way from Bromley South or Orpington is to get a train to Penge East, then have a short walk to Penge West and catch the train two stops to Norwood Junction. The festival venue is then about 200 yards away.
Doors open at 12.00. Admission is £2 for CAMRA members. As well as a range of cask ales, cider & perry are both available, as well as food.
More information, including a beer list here.
The OLC have arranged a “Meet the Brewer” evening, which will give us a chance to meet the team from the Musket brewery who are located in deepest Kent, not far from Maidstone. The club bar will open at 6pm for this event.
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.
Those of you who have welcomed the arrival of the Real Ale Way in Hayes may be unaware that a second Real Ale Way has now opened in Westerham. This social provides an opportunity to visit both of them in one day.
The social will begin at the Hayes venue shortly after it opens at 2pm. This family-owned micropub opened its doors in July 2018, and offers a most welcome new choice for local drinkers and rail commuters alike. The pub overlooks the entrance to Hayes station, and is served by numerous bus routes. Up to 9 real ales are served on gravity from a cold room to the rear of the bar. Currently a joint runner-up in our Pub of the Year competition.
We will then continue to Westerham by catching the 246 bus which stops right outside the pub at 3.40. The Westerham venue is a short walk from the bus stop (alight at “The Green” bus-stop in the town-centre). At the end of the social the 246 can be used to return to Bromley South / North.
This pub is only a few yards away from the Jolly Woodman where some members may be found prior to the meeting,
If you are coming here directly, Beckenham Junction railway station is 15 minutes walk away, so the bus may be a better bet. From Central Bromley use the high-frequency 227 or the 367 and alight at Westgate Road, or the 162 and alight at Chancery Lane.
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.
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 reopened in December 2019 following a lengthy closure for extensive refurbishment. Amongst other changes, the big screens for TV Sport are now gone as the pub moves upmarket. Cask ales from the three handpumps will 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.
The Woodman pub is a short walk from the Change of Horses, and offers a range of Shepherd Neame real ales, plus occasional guest beers.
For those joining us here, 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.
