The Iron Horse, Sidcup

This is a forgettable bar, across the road from Sidcup train station, where I received the worst Guinness of the year so far. It was badly poured and undrinkable so I ended up leaving it on one of the many café style tables that run along the outside of the pub before making a beeline for the train. Before I left I noted that there are two flat screens for showing Sky Sports and signs up around the sparsely decorated building advertised Karaoke on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, ‘pick and mix’ (whatever that is) on Fridays and Karaoke or a DJ on alternate Saturdays. I visited early on a recent Sunday evening and there was some inane chart music playing in the background and I was one of two customers. I did note that Hobgoblin was available on hand pump, but I wouldn’t touch it with barge pole after the Guinness I received.

Convenient for the station but that’s about the only redeeming feature for this rather nondescript den of little merit. A horrible soulless interior with a couple of TVs for Sport (Arsenal v Man Utd was being shown when we called in and there were barely a dozen people there). It’s an ale free zone with keg beers, lagers and alcopops to the fore. Putting its recent violent past to one side (this is where the Harry Potter lad was stabbed to death), I really wouldn’t want to venture here at peak times when all the local pond life appear to gather but if you just want a quiet Sunday afternoon to watch the footy and aren’t fussy about what you drink, then you may find it worth a quick look. Other than that, forget it.