Sun in the Sands, Blackheath, SE3

The interesting name is derived from the original Ye Sunne pub that would be lost in a cloud of dust as the local farmers drove their animals down the dirt tracks to Blackheath. The current pub dates from 1841 and these days it is more likely to be lost in the smog of car fumes from the nearby A2. The pub looks far better than it actually is. The interior is now one knocked through cavernous room which makes it spacious but far too open and devoid of any character. The beer selection is poor and unimaginative – the only Real ale (Courage Directors) was off on my visit. The pub seems to be geared towards football fans, pool players, karaoke singers and fruit machine addicts. I would be the first to sit down and watch football but the picture on the big screen was of decidedly poor quality. There seemed to be no restraint on the punters language and I get the impression that it attracts some quite unsavoury characters. It certainly generated a very rough ambience and it is not really a place that I can particularly recommend.