The Beehive, New Eltham, SE9

The description of PSM below can’t be surpassed in terms of describing this place so I won’t add anything to it other than to say nothing appears to have changed in the description in the more than 11 years since! Near the New Eltham station and only one other place nearby which I will look on after this visit. It is worth emphasising though that it is a very attractive pub, high ceilings, comfortable and very elegant! The pub is really well maintained, with some nice flower displays out front that are obviously well tended. The side narrow conservatory is very quaint. Lots of nice touches. Sadly it collapses on the beer front. Now no cask, the hand pumps on the bottom of the L shaped stunning bar looking like they haven’t done a days work in a number of years. There is a large and v dull keg offering - from memory Guinness, Neck Oil, two ciders (Orchard Thieves and Kopparberg) and then give lagers (Fosters, San Miguel, Moretti, Cruzcampo and Brixton Coldharbour). Lack on cask hardly a concern to the gathering post work male clientele only interested in which of the five lagers do they drink today. This is an average pub in terms of the beer offering that one expects in too many places these days. It is definitely above average as a pub specimen though. Would definitely score higher even if they just restored an average cask range.

This pub has a magnificent exterior, which also informs us that it was built in 1897. Typically well described by Pubsignman below leaves me little to add. The portico entrance on the left leads into a small vestible which has the glazed doors signed to the Private Bar and Bottle & Jug bar, but I don't think the latter one can be in situ because it doesn't lead to the bar counter. Anyway, the bar certainly is exceptional, and the counter looks original although it has been shortened on the right. The pub's been completely opened up now of course, with just tall tables/tall stools at the front, but with the conservatory on the left having normal tables and chairs. We arrived soon after 11.30 AM as WhatPub said it opened at 11.00, only to discover that it wasn't scheduled to open until noon, but the barmaid took pity on two old blokes loitering outside to open up at around 11.50. That was nice of her, and she turned out to be chatty and friendly and interested in the pub's historic features. As we were in so early the pub was deserted, thus allowing me to take some photographs of its original features without other punters obscuring them. Also, there were three ales on, but both the Harvey's Best and the Dizzy Blond were undrinkable, but the Timothy Taylor Landlord was in super form so we weren't unduly inconvenienced. Obviously it was a very different place when PSM visited, and I think I preferred it on a quiet weekday lunchtime.