I tried a new micropub called the Longpond recently.  It is located in Westmount Road, Eltham, SE9.  This has the same format as other micropubs I have visited with a small room containing several benches and stools, and a small bar.  The beers on offer were excellent in taste, value and variety; including the superb house beer called Pond Life and Hopstuff Fusilier.  Hopstuff is brewed in Woolwich and brews some very good beer.  This micropub also has an annexed room which is decorated and furnished to a similar style as a traditional pub.  This is an excellent idea because it breaks up the formality of the main seating area and provides a less ordered room where more people can squeeze in and get a seat.  The service was friendly and although it became quite busy I would highly recommend this venue.  The unfinished as I write this website is: http://www.thelongpond.co.uk/ or the facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/thelongpond.

Last Tuesday I met a friend in the Flying Boat Wetherspoon’s pub in Dartford, kent.  This has to be the best value pub chain in England and each round of two Doom Bar beers cost £2.98 with the use of CAMRA 50p discount vouchers.  Compare this with central London prices of £4.50 a pint and it is easy to see why Wetherspoon should be applauded for the way they have maintained a good beer selection at a very reasonable price.  Not only that but the buildings used by Wetherspoon’s pubs are often very interesting and ornate places to visit.  The Flying Boat is an old car showroom and was used in the war to build floats for the Flying Boats.  To top off more praise for Wetherspoon’s pubs we both had a very acceptable Piri Piri chicken with chips, coleslaw and corn on the cob with a pint for about £7 each.  The website is:  http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-flying-boat.

Blackheath has several good pubs.  One of my favourites years ago was The Hare and Billet.  It was just on the outskirts of the village and so did not get too crowded even on New Year’s Eve.  It also served some decent beer.  As time went on it was refurbished and taken over by one pub group or another and then the beer selection failed to inspire.  A few years ago it was refurbished yet again and the beer selection suddenly increased and improved.  It is once more a pub to go to get a decent pint; with a selection of keg and cask beers.  I had Franklins pale Ale which was superb.  There are always many different beers available to sample first before getting stuck in.  I sampled a small glass of Curmudgeonly Sour Ale and it was absolutely disgusting.  However, good on the pub for providing an interesting range of beers.  My criticism of this pub is that the price of a beer is too high.  Also the food has not been very good when I have eaten here and it is very expensive.  The website is: http://www.hareandbillet.com/.