Randomness Guide to London Menu

Micropub in Eltham, in the Good Beer Guide.

Like many such establishments, the decor is simple, with a wooden floor, plain cream walls, and high tables, chairs, and wooden banquettes lining the walls. Various bits of local and beer-related historical advertising add interest, including old pump badges mounted on mock ceiling beams and an old sign for the long-closed Eltham Park Station. A piano sits against the front window.

The bar is in the corner, with no handpumps but a board photo listing the ales on stillage in the cellar behind. A small back room has half-panelled walls surmounted by flock-style wallpaper, and normal-height chairs and tables plus a couple of church pews tucked in the corners.

Kake visited on a Tuesday lunchtime in September 2016. Six real ales were available, all interesting and all priced between £3 and £3.80/pint. Tonbridge Pond Life (£1.50/half) was well-kept.

There were two other customers at noon, apparently regulars, and another one arrived while I was there. No music was playing. Service was friendly.

One of the characteristics of micropubs is that they aim to encourage conversation between strangers. I would have liked to join in the conversation in the main room, but as none of the seating in there was accessible, I ended up in the back room, which felt a little isolating.

Food is limited to bar snacks: pork pies, ploughmans lunches, cheese platters, crisps, nuts, and pork scratchings.

A sign notes that talking on mobile phones will be punished with a £1 fine to charity, though texting and browsing is fine. Another sign warns that dogs are not allowed.

Accessibility: A small step to get in, no more than a couple of inches. All the seating in the main room is at high tables, and although the back room has normal-height tables, one does end up a little isolated from the main conversation back there. No steps to toilets, and the corridor is relatively wide though does have a couple of 90-degree bends in it.

See also:

• Pubs Galore comments
• Bill's Pubs review
• A Bitter Bloke review
• Beer In The Evening comments
• WhatPub entry