The Fulwich Hotel, Dartford

The Fulwich Hotel is a decent sized corner pub that is well away from the middle of Dartford,it is situated in an area where there are a few small shops. Once inside the pub has now been opened out into a large single room with the bar facing on entry,the room is carpeted and has bench seating and chairs to the front and down the left side,there is a pool table on the right side and a darts board to the rear right,there were two TVs the one to the front showing football score updates and the one to the rear showing horse racing. There was one real ale on,which was GK London Glory,this was a decent enough drink. I love visiting new pubs,so i thought it was worth the walk. Pub visited 22/10/2016

Built in the early 1900's when Dartford was rapidly expanding, the Fulwich is generally listed as a hotel but is first and foremost a pub. Pubs like this are currently part of the endangered species list, a typical local's pub with a very old fashioned approach but all the more appealing for it. The temptation to knock through the 2 bars has so far been resisted so it still retains the classic saloon / public bar divide that is now all too rare. The saloon is a rather straight forward carpeted bar with a modern brick fireplace, flower vases on the window sills, a couple of plain mirrors, brass plates, some pictures and just to add a bit of culture, some framed poetry. The circular brass top dimpled tables and the bar cover are a throwback to the 70's and the Double Diamond on draught rather completes the scene. In the Public bar (there is access via the rear of the pub) the furnishings are a more on the rough side with some rather cramped seating, especially if the pool table and dartboard are in use. The tatty appearance is not helped by the curtain less windows but it does feel like a traditional public bar, a sort of maens play room and definitely not suitable for the ladies. There a few photos and trophys as testament to the pubs sporting achievements and rather unusually, a board listing the winners of the Fulwich Golf Society. It is difficult to picture any of the locals here being particularly golf orientated – this is more of a dominoes and darts establishment. Apart from the aforementioned (and quite disgusting) Double Diamond, the drink selection is rather standard and uninspiring - just 1 Ale (the ubiquitous Green King IPA) although it was in decent condition. The customer base will not be to everyone's liking unless you are fairly broad minded but the pub is generally friendly and welcoming and worth visiting as an example of how many old local pubs would have looked in pre decimal days.