The Albany, Bexley

Located directly opposite Albany Park station, this brewer's Tudor building is very much the local landmark being set amongst dull suburban shopping parades on either side. It features a staple-shaped bar with a pool room beyond on one side and what is (or was) presumably a dining room behind some glazed doors on the other. Very full with football fans when I stopped by, and I wasn't although expecting any real ale, but Doom Bar (£4.15) is available from the solitary handpump.

This sizeable but slightly cavernous interwar pub was built in 1937 to the Brewery Tudor design typical for the period. The pub is a few steps from Albany Park station and enjoys a bit of a monopoly as the next nearest pubs are at least a 20 minute walk away. Unfortunately it doesn't really offer much beyond the basics which may explain why it took me 30 years living in the area for me to visit it. The interior is a largish single room with a central bar and traditional furnishings. The beers are pretty standard with the ubiquitous Doom Bar as the solitary ale and at £3.60 a pint, not cheap. There are a couple of dart boards, pool tables and TVs, fruit machines etc in main bar and a rear function room with big screen. On the whole there isn't too much to get excited about but the pub does host some very good live music sessions at weekends and in particular the monthly Chitlin’ Club is worth a visit if you like acoustic blues and roots music. There is also a decent sized beer garden as well as some benches at the front but you really need to have a reason to visit to make the journey worthwhile.

Albany Hotel site - www.thealbany-hotel.co.uk

Albany Hotel site - www.thealbany-hotel.co.uk