The Bat & Ball, Mottingham, SE9

This is a classic shop converted micropub in a part of South East London that has become a bit of a beer desert. The pub occupies a roughly square shaped room with large windows to the front, a concrete screed floor and some rough timber panelling with uppers painted in neutral shades. High tables have been arranged down either side of the room, served by hard backed banquettes and high stools, whilst an upturned barrel with more high stools stands in the centre. Four more such barrels can be found in a small, fenced off, pavement space out the front. The bar is in the rear left corner and has a counter made from the same timber panels that clad the walls, but with some more barrels embedded into the corners. The bar back shelving is to one side, with a window behind the bar looking through to the cellar room, under a helpful beer board suspended from above. A few pump clips are displayed on the walls, there are potted plants here and there and I spotted a couple of cricket themed pictures as well, but otherwise the decor is fairly minimal and the place feels like it still hasn't bedded in properly. Just the two cask beers to choose from - Moot Kepa and Iron Pier Bitter (£5.00 a pint) - although something called Sometimes Stout was also listed on the beer board as being available in cans. Six keg options offered a mix of Iron Pier, Camden and continental brews. The barman was very welcoming and there was a good Sunday afternoon crowd in, who all got excited when the local fishmonger came by selling cockles and other such fishy pub snacks. I thought this was quite a basic example of the micropub format, which lacked a bit of character and seemingly had to cater for a clientele that were mainly uninterested in cask ale. I had a decent enough pint here and thought it was a friendly place where strangers are quickly made to feel welcome - with the lack of other credible options in the vicinity, this is still worth checking out if you're in the area. Date of visit - 4th February 2024

This is a new micropub that opened on 23rd November 2023 in a former florist's shop at the end of a parade of shops just down the road from Mottingham Rail station. It’s a much-needed addition to the area which has become a bit of a beer desert with recent pub closures in the area, especially the Royal dead opposite the Train station. Standard micropub shop conversion set up with one internal room which can accommodate about 30 inside on a mixture of benches and high stools. But this one does benefit from a decent outside area on the pavement with wooden beer barrels for tables. This was being well utilised on my afternoon visit so I was unable to get a photo of the exterior without possibly causing offence to the local punters enjoying an early afternoon pint. Cask and key keg ales on gravity and bag-in-box ciders are served from a chilled room behind the small serving bar which supports some chrome keg taps which included Camden Hells and Anspach & Hobday London Black. Two cask ales in the form of Westerham Brewery 1965 Special Bitter and Windsor and Eton Windsor Knot Pale Ale alongside Bexley Brewery May Place Pale Ale on Key Keg were on for my visit. I went for the Westerham Brewery Special Bitter and it was superb. This is a very comfortable Micropub with a good vibe going on and I wish it well. Its closed on Monday and Tuesday at the moment and opens at 2.00PM for the rest of the week.

Facebook page of The Bat & Ball - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Bat & Ball - www.facebook.com