Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 4 and Version 3 of Long Pond, SE9 1UT

Version 4 Version 3
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category='Bar Snacks,Good Beer Guide,Good Beer Guide 2017,Good Beer Guide 2018,Good Beer Guide 2019,Good Beer Guide 2020,Micropubs,Pubs,Real Ale'
 category='Bar Snacks,Good Beer Guide,Good Beer Guide 2017,Good Beer Guide 2018,Good Beer Guide 2019,Micropubs,Pubs,Real Ale'

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:

Last visited by Kake, September 2016. Opening hours taken from sign outside, September 2016.

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