This is not a walk as such but more of a Micropub crawl in South East London. Due to the distances involved there will be a lot of bus and train journeys. So, all I am going to do is list the Micropubs in my suggested order of visit and leave the navigation to you.
You can download the route from Bar-Trek – https://www.bar-trek.com/crawl/709
1. The Penny Farthing Micro-Pub
3 Waterside, Dartford DA1 4JJ
Opened in 2014, this is Bexley’s second Micropub. A haven of real ale near the banks of the River Cray, where ale and cider are dispensed direct from the cask in a cold room with viewing window. A charity fine is no longer levied should your mobile phone ring, but you’re asked to be discreet should you need to use it. They concentrate on Kentish brewers, but not to the exclusion of regional independents but have an increasing cider range. During the summer months pavement seating and tables are provided, overlooking a small park by the river Cray.
Branch Pub of the Year 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 and London Regional runner-up 2016.
Now head to our second Micropub. Either by train, bus or if you feel fit walking.
2. The Long Dog
8 Market St, Dartford DA1 1ET
Dartford’s first micropub opened in 2018 as the Dartford Jug. Name changed to the Long Dog and now under the sole management of Daniel from August 2022. Free cheese board and reduced price drinks from 2pm on Sundays. Customers accompanied by a dog receive a 10% discount. Now you are sitting down over a beer here is a short history of Dartford.
Click Here to read it
The town sits on an ancient Roman route, later known as Watling Street, necessitated the construction of a ford across the River Darent—hence the town’s name. The 14th Century saw the founding of a priory and then two mendicant orders, the Dominicans and the Franciscans, founded hospitals to tend to the ill, reflecting the town’s growing role as a center of care and looking after your health. Dartford also has an association with the monarchy and in the aftermath of the Battle of Agincourt, Henry V led his troops through Dartford in November 1415. Following his death in 1422, his body was brought to the Holy Trinity Church in Dartford, where Edmund Lacey, the Bishop of Exeter, presided over his funeral.
In 1588, the first paper mill was built in Dartford by Sir John Spielman and it employed nearly 600 people. More paper mills were built in 1862 when excise duty on paper was abolished.
1595 saw the first Iron-slitting mill built here because iron production was thriving in The Weald.
1840, there was the largest mustard factory in the Kingdom by Saunders & Harrison.
In 1911, Vickers Limited establish here building aircraft, and weapons.
Basically, Dartford is more important than many realise with plenty of history.
Exit the pub and turn right then left into the High Street. When you walk up the High Street to our next pub, take a look at the wonderful mural on the building in front of you and below you can see a statue to two of Dartford’s famous residents.
Now continue straight ahead on Spital Road to our next stop.
3. Growler Stop Tap Room
Westgate House, Spital St, Dartford DA1 2EH
New (mainly) craft beer micropub, opened early December 2021, in what was previously the Avis Rent-a-Car premises. Up to 30 keg/KeyKeg beers are currently served from wall taps, with a couple of those lines being allocated for cask beers.
This is where I now leave you to your own devices and work out the best way to get to our next Micropub. My suggestion is head back to Dartford Station and get a train to Barnehurst.
4. The Bird & Barrel
100 Barnehurst Rd, Bexleyheath DA7 6HG
This Micropub opened on in 2018. in what was formerly a tropical fish emporium. Owned by Cliff and Jane of Bexley Brewery, so effectively a Brewery Tap. A small one-roomer plus covered secluded micro beer garden at the back, now supplemented by a second bar space at the rear downstairs (yes, downstairs), known as the ‘Perch’. Three handpumps on the bar counter and four keg beer taps. Wines and spirits also sold here. Indoor seating is at a handful of standard height tables. Usually offers one ale from around the UK. The other two are their own Bexley Brewery beers.
Please note that it is still table service only.
A short history about the area
The town came into being after the sale of land in 1881 to build the Bexleyheath loop line between Lewisham and Dartford. Barnehurst’s name originates from the name of the railway station, which was so-named after Colonel Barne, who owned a local property, May Place House (and was vice-chairman of the railway company).
The opening of the railway failed to attract the large scale house developers, and passenger numbers were small only boosted at weekends by golfers travelling to the new Barnehurst Golf Course opened in 1903. Its club house, the old mansion of May Place was destroyed by fire in 1959.
The electrification of the Bexleyheath Line in 1926 signalled the start of the large housing developments of the 1920s and 30s.
The first builder J W Ellingham chose the prime site next to the station on which to build the Barnehurst Estate of 578 semi-detached houses selling for £600 each. Building started along Barnehurst Road (previously called Hills and Holes Road) in 1926.
The Midfield Parade of shops followed in 1928 and the estate was completed in the early 1930s.
The last major development was the building of the Woolwich Building Society Headquarters complex, opened by Princess Anne in 1989, on land to the north of Watling Street.
Now head back to the station and catch a train to Bexleyheath to our next stop.
5 . The Kentish Belle Micropub & Bottle Shop
8 Pickford Ln, Bexleyheath DA7 4QW
Opened in 2018 it has since changed hands in 2023. Cask beers are a combination of local and national and, with real cider, are all served by gravity dispense from a rear chilled ‘cellar’ room, the capacity of which permits realistic festival size – usually twelve firkins. This was the CAMRA London Regional (Cider) and Branch (Cider) Pub of the Year 2019. CAMRA local branch Cider Pub of the Year 2024.
Bexleyheath is famous for being a dwelling place of numerous UK celebrities, such as Roger Moore and author Roald Dahl. Additionally, it is renowned for its historical significance, with structures like the Grade I listed Red House, designed by Philip Webb for William Morris, and Danson House adding to its appeal.
At this point I would check the bus times to get to our next stop.
6. The Door Hinge Ale House
11 Welling High St, Welling DA16 1TR
This was London’s first permanent Micropub opened in March 2013 in part of a former electrical wholesalers. The Door Hinge was a welcome breath of fresh air on the local pub scene stocking over 300 real ales in its first year. Normally at least three cask ales are available, dispensed by gravity from within a glass-fronted cold room. The cosy front bar seats 22 patrons which encourages conversation among previous strangers and there is an even smaller quiet room towards the rear, where in cold weather there’s often a real fire. It’s handy for Welling United and Erith & Belvedere FCs. It was the 2014 Bexley Branch and London Regional Pub of the Year Winner. The ownership changed in early October 2019 when founding licensee Ray sold to local friends Geoff and Steve.
Welling originally formed part of the ancient manor of East Wickham, which was centred on St Michael’s Church, built in the 13th century. In the Domesday Book (1086), East Wickham was included as part of the return for Plumstead and the church was originally a chapel of St Nicholas’ Church in Plumstead. Welling was originally called ‘Wellyngs’, and was first mentioned in a document dated 1362. The name probably means the place of the spring, derived from the Old English word wella (well or spring).
There is certainly water in the area, notably the spring that feeds Danson Lake, but also the old moat that was part of the grounds of Moat House, which appears on 19th-century maps of the area near the Guy, Earl of Warwick public house. Wickham is taken from the old English word wicham (dwelling place or settlement). Much of the history of this area is tied up with the manor of Danson. A magnificent Palladian villa, built in the late 1760s, survives in the middle of Danson Park, fully restored by English Heritage. One of the owners of Danson manor, Alfred Bean, bought the house in 1862 and did much to improve local amenities, both in Welling and in nearby Bexleyheath.
Turn right when exiting this pub and walking down the A207 for a while to our next pub.
7. The Hanger
The Hangar, 35 Bellegrove Rd, Welling DA16 3PB
This is the sister micropub to the one of the same name at the Oval in Sidcup, and was formally opened by the Mayor of Bexley on 26th October 2020. Cask ales are dispensed by gravity in a chilled cellar room behind the bar. There is a cask ale happy hour until 6pm on Tuesdays to Fridays – (currently October 2021) at £3 per pint.
Now check the bus times as you will need to catch the B16 to our final stop. During the bus journey, you will pass several more Micropubs which we will visit in Part 2 of the Southeast London Micropubs tour.
8. The Long Pond
110 Westmount Rd, London SE9 1UT
Situated in a former plumbers’ merchant shop near the entrance to the long closed Eltham Park railway station, this deceptively extensive micropub opened on 12th December 2014 and is named after the Long Pond in Eltham Park North, a short walk away. There are 5-6 local real ales served on gravity dispense from a chilled stillage room which may be viewed through a window behind the bar counter. This includes the house beer 3.6% ABV ‘Pond Life’, believed to be Tonbridge Traditional.
In true micropub tradition there are no lagers or alcopops on offer.
SE London CAMRA Branch Cider Pub of the Year 2017. SE London CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year 2017, and runner-up 2016 and 2020. Traditional pub cold snacks are available in the form of pork pies, ploughman’s and platters but check for availability. No children. No dogs. Card payment strongly preferred here, rather than cash payment. Mobile phone use frowned upon in bar area – rear corridor may be used.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, the palace at Eltham was a favourite royal residence. It was not only convenient for monarchs who wished to travel to and from France, but also a refreshing distance from London which, at the time, was rife with disease and plague. Oh – and it had a rather lovely view. King Henry VIII grew up and raised his own children there. However, Tudor royalty preferred Greenwich and Eltham Palace was neglected. The Great Hall was used as a barn and the parks in Eltham were stripped of timber for shipbuilding, and then used for farming.
In the 1660s, however, the manor was leased by Sir John Shaw, who built an elegant mansion and the park has now become a golf course, with the mansion, Eltham Lodge, now the headquarters of the Royal Blackheath Golf Club. Eltham Palace itself remained neglected until the 1930s, when Stephen and Virginia Courtauld moved there and built an art deco mansion which adjoins the medieval great hall. More recently, E Nesbit wrote some of her wonderful novels for children at Well Hall.
From here it is a short walk to Eltham Station and travel home.