The Ramblers Rest, Chislehurst

Situated in the Southern corner of Chislehurst Common, a fairly short walk from the train station, this is an attractive looking clapboarded, two bar pub. Inside, you find a split level interior, with the lower lounge to the left on entering and the compact public bar to the right. The lounge has plush carpeting with smart banquette seating around the perimeter and standard chairs elsewhere. There are lots of dark wood beams and bulls eye windows around the room, to remind you that despite what appears to have been a fairly recent refit, this is still an old, traditional public house. The servery has an unusual padded frontage, a brass bar counter and a decent dark wood bar back. On the rear walls, two TV screens were showing the day's Formula One racing coverage with the sound just about audible over the chat from around the room. A few steps past the right hand end of the bar, take you up into the Public Bar with its own similarly styled servery, which most punters were stood around despite there being some nice fixed bench seats further back, serving copper topped tables. The decor in here seemed a bit more traditional with old paintings, salvers and other decorative items on show, We stopped off here for a bite to eat and found the food to be good hearty pub fayre with my Sunday roast being particularly tasty. The lower bar was fairly quiet when we arrived at around 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon, but soon filled out, generating a nice, relaxed atmosphere. There were three ales available in the shape of Wells Bombardier, Fullers London Pride and a house beer called Ramblers Ale which I tried and thought might have been a rebadged Wells & Youngs beer. Whatever it was, it was kept well, despite the pub recently dropping out of the Good Beer Guide. The bar staff were a friendly and welcoming bunch and there was a mixed group of customers representing a good cross section of Chislehurst life. I wasn't too sure what to expect from this place, but I thought it was a very pleasant pub that works well for both drinkers and diners alike. The two bar set up means that both groups have their own designated area in which to enjoy the well kept beer and tasty food and the friendly service is a welcome bonus. I can't say I know much about the pubs of Chislehurst, but I suspect there aren't too many that can better this one.

Official site of The Ramblers Rest - ramblers.rest

Attractive weatherboarded building, opposite the cricket ground and looking like a country pub (albeit one now buried deep in suburbia). It retains two rooms but due to the steepness of the hill outside they are on different levels. The cosy upper bar has traditional bench / bar stool seating and dark decor, while the larger (but less popular) lower bar has lighter decor and standard tables. When I visited, Deuchars IPA, Pride, Bombardier and the 'house' Rambler's Special Ale (£3.20) were available on handpump. Worth a stop if in the area.

Official site of The Ramblers Rest - ramblers.rest

Built around 1800, this enticing weatherboarded pub is set back in a dip away from the main road and looks a lot older than it actually is. The split level mock Tudor interior is divided into 2 bars, the lower main bar and the smaller upper lounge bar joined together by a small corridor with steps. Both bars are carpeted with beamed ceilings, banquette seating, open fireplaces brewery mirrors and an assortment of pictures and photos. The main bar also has a couple of TV’s. The beers are quite standard but there was a selection of 5 ales available on my latest visit with Bombardier, Courage Best, London Pride and Youngs Ordinary supplemented by Ramblers Rest Ale (presumably a re-badging which we couldn’t work out for sure but could be from Shepherd Neame). Quality was fine and prices were about par fro the area. It was fairly quiet on a Sunday evening but seemed friendly enough and we were given a cheery farewell when we left which is always worth half a point in the ratings. All in all, a cosy place in a picturesque spot, very much a villagey type of place and worth popping in although could perhaps do with a more adventurous ale selection.

Randomness Guide to London - Ramblers Rest entry

Randomness Guide to London - Ramblers Rest entry

THIS ESTABLISHMENT WON AN AWARD FOR THE BOMBADIER WELL DESERVED.PROBLEM IS THE POTHOLES OUTSIDE OUCH !!