Campaigning for Real Ale drinkers in Bromley Borough.
Every year most CAMRA branches select a pub to be their branch Pub of the Year. Those branches with any eligible clubs can also select a club to be their branch Club of the Year. Winners of the branch awards then progress to be judged in the relevant regional competitions and potentially ultimately for the national awards. For details of the winners in previous years and a description of the selection process, please click here.
In addition to the awards below, the judges gave a “highly commended” rating to:
The judging process for these awards was carried out by Bromley CAMRA in the early part of 2024. The winners are as follows:-
Bromley CAMRA Club of the Year 2024 Orpington Liberal Club 7 Station Road, Orpington, BR6 0RZ Bromley CAMRA Pub of the Year 2024 The Cockpit 4 Royal Parade Bromley CAMRA Pub of the Year 2024 - Joint Runner-Up The Star and Garter 227 High Street, Bromley BR1 1NZ Bromley CAMRA Pub of the Year 2024 - Joint Runner-Up The Three Hounds Beer Company 57 Beckenham Road,
Club of the Year presentation
The club has received numerous CAMRA awards:
Bromley CAMRA Club of the Year: 2013 continuously through 2024
Greater London CAMRA Regional Club of the Year: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
CAMRA National Club of the Year Finalist: 2014, 2016, 2019
This small friendly club, which has been in the Good Beer Guide every year since 2013, is run entirely by volunteers. It serves a regularly-changing selection of beers, mostly from small breweries, the large quantity of pump clips adorning the walls shows the large quantity of beers served over the past few years. Usually 3 or 4 beers are available, often including a stout or porter, together with a selection of real ciders. The club holds regular beer festivals, normally twice a year. The function room is regularly used by several local groups and there is regular live music. CAMRA members are welcome as visitors to the club on production of a current CAMRA membership card.
See Orpington Liberal Club on WhatPub
See Orpington Liberal Club on Twitter
Club website
Chislehurst
BR7 6NR
Pub of the Year presentation
The Cockpit also won this award in 2023. It is Chislehurst's first micropub, and opened its doors for the first time in late December 2020, unfortunately with the Covid crisis in full swing. It was able to begin operating more normally the following summer as lockdown eased. A choice of real ales from small breweries from all over the country is available, together with the house beer which is named PIT - and is a pale ale brewed by BritHop. Bar snacks are available.
The premises - which are deceptively spacious given the limited frontage - are shared with a florist but even so there is more seating than normal in a micropub, with further benches outside at the front of the pub.
The pub is named after the ancient Cockpit which is situated a few minutes walk away on Chislehurst Common.
See The Cockpit on WhatPub
See The Cockpit on Facebook
Pub website
After being closed for a number of years, the pub reopened under new management in November 2016 and now regularly offers a range of cask ales, many of which were previously rarely seen in Bromley, including beers from Fyne, Arbor, Kirkstall, Marble, Siren and Tiny Rebel. With up to 7 cask ales on handpump, the selection normally includes at least one stout or porter as well as showcasing beers from smaller breweries from all over the country. In addition, up to 16 craft keg taps and imported draft beers are also available along with one corner of the pub devoted to a wide selection of bottles and cans for either takeaway or drinking on the premises. Keg beers can include DEYA, Orbit, Vault City, Verdant, Cloudwater and Northern Monk but these can change on a frequent basis.
Rebuilt in 1898 in the Arts & Crafts "Old English" style, this Grade II listed pub has probably one of the most imposing exteriors of any pub in the area, including an enormous pub sign projecting over the pavement. Large arched windows with etched glass complement the wooden frontage on the ground floor, divided into a central arch with end arches either side complete with mosaic floor tiling. Inside the pub has been completely refurbished as more open plan around a U-shaped bar with wooden flooring and cream walls adorned with tin-plated beer signs and beer pump clips. The lighting is subdued with fairy lights over the ornate woodwork. Seating consists of a wide variety of benches, chairs and high stools around wooden tables.
At the back, there is a well tended patio garden with plenty of assorted seating, popular in warmer weather.
No meals are provided but customers are allowed to consume food brought in from local takeaways. The owners also operate The Stormbird and the Hermits Cave in Camberwell.
Local branch Pub of the Year for 2018, 2019 and 2020.
See The Star & Garter on WhatPub
See The Star & Garter on X
Beckenham
BR3 4PR
Friendly and popular beer café and bottle shop, which originally opened in 2020 during the Covid crisis, and was able to open more fully during the summer of 2021. The premises are more spacious than the frontage would indicate, and around 50 customers can be seated over two floors, with more benches at the front of the pub. Quickly establishing itself as a local community hub, this is also very dog friendly !
The single small L-shaped bar serves the main room, the contemporary decor displaying artworks (which rotate on a regular basis and are for sale) under bare electric ceiling lights. The basement room is accessed by steep steps and is more intimate with whitewashed brick and framed prints. This plays host to the wide variety of music and other events which are extremely popular.
Up to three cask ales are available as well as an extensive keg beer range of at least twelve taps plus up to six still ciders. Beers are sourced mainly from local and national microbreweries. A selection of Belgian bottled beers are also available.
Up to 150 beers are stored in fridges and are available for off-sales, as well as to have on-site (these also include no/low alcohol beers). Wine, spirits and soft drinks are also available.
Visit Three Hounds Beer Company on Facebook