The Long Pond, Eltham, SE9

Excellent example of a micro pub, and filling a need in a publess area. Two adjoining rooms with a bright feel, helped by a fair amount of light wood. The small bar at the back fronts a cooled stillage room with an enticing array of barrels, while the long passageway to the toilets is stacked with an equally impressive selection. On this visit it seemed to specialise in Old Dairy beers, but quite a good range on offer. Worth seeking out.

This micro-pub is larger than it initially appears because there is a second room (decorated as more of a lounge) down a step at the back of the more expected alehouse-style main room. There is a small counter here, but all the real ales are served on gravity from the cool room. I found a choice of six - mostly from Kent breweries - including a splendid Red Spider Rye from Pig & Porter (£3.60).

I don't think this pub can have changed since previous reviewers' visits. You have the main room at the front with a handful of modern tall tables and tall stools, with another small room at the back on the left with a handful of normal tables and chairs. The room at the back had paintings on the wall by a local artist, with a price list so they're obviously for sale. One of them featured the pub. It was in this room that I spotted the sign on the wall banning customers from speaking on their mobile 'phones, on penalty of a £1 fine which goes to charity. The beers available were listed on a blackboard behind the small counter. On my visit, what I would guess might be the house beer, Tonbridge Pond Life was on at a very reasonable £3 a pint, plus Mad Cat Session Pale (£3.40), Bexley Bob (£3.60), and Whitstable East India Pale (£3.60). Being a micropub it's a bit short on luxury - but who cares? However, on a cold January day day it was uncomfortably cold in here. It was so cold I'm sure my wife would have walked out after 30 seconds, but my chums and I are hardier souls, although we weren't tempted to stay for a second pint. On another day I'm sure it would be fine, and the beer selection was just fine, and at very reasonable prices to boot.