The Beehive, Woodside, SE25

Located to the side of Woodside Green, this is one of Mitchell and Butler's Sizzling pubs offering no frills food and extensive sports coverage to the local community. The pub has a rough and ready appearance, with an unwelcoming entrance leading you into a bare boarded area dominated by a pool table. Beyond is the main bar area, which is carpeted and has high tables and stools to the front, long tables and tub chairs through the centre and bench seating along the rear wall. A plaster grapes frieze runs around the room just below the ceiling, but it looks rather worn and tatty. The servery is down the right hand wall and has a long counter with a curved end and mirrored bar back. Three TV screens were showing different channels including two news programmes and At the Races, all with the sound turned down. On the left hand wall there is a slot machine and one of those arcade machines where you win a soft toy if you can pick it up with a remotely operated claw. A door to the rear left leads through to an extension which looks a bit like a conservatory. Here you'll find lots of conventional seating which is perhaps best suited to those wanting to eat. Out the back is a sizeable patio garden with plenty of picnic benches and an old lamppost. The pub is child friendly, as evidenced by a couple of brats running amok, in sharp contrast to the earthy locals propping up the bar whose conversation was anything but child friendly. There are three handpulls on the bar, two of which were unclipped when I arrived, with the third having a turned Greene King IPA clip on it. The usual keg options included John Smiths, Guinness and Strongbow and I was a little surprised to be charged just £2.55 for a pint of the John Smiths, making it marginally more enjoyable. The barmaid serving me was pleasant enough, but another lady came out and started yelling at the kids, making things worse rather than better. This is the sort of place that might appeal if you want to watch some sport or have a cheap bite to eat, but I found it too basic and lacking in warmth, comfort and good beer. I'm sure it serves the local community well enough, but with the far superior Joiners Arms just over the road, there's not too much of a decision to be made when in this part of town.