The Cockpit, Chislehurst

Pub SignMan left this review about The Cockpit

This is a really impressive micropub, occupying an atmospheric old building on Chislehurst's Royal Parade. Strangely, the pub shares the premises with a florist, who has small counter to the right on entry and has added plenty of plants to the front part of the pub, making for quite a spectacle as you arrive. The interior has a two-part, split level room with nice exposed floorboards throughout and a similar wooden ceiling. The front part of the room is solely used as a seating area, with plain painted walls and a bit of exposed brickwork. Standard tables and chairs fill the space, with a grand, highly decorative fireplace to the left, enhanced by potted plants on the mantlepiece. The walls have been decorated with old black and white photos plus a few arty bits, whilst hops liberally hang from every beam available. A step up takes you into the rear bar area with high fixed benches along the right-hand wall and high tables and stools in a space to the left, with the servery in the rear left corner. The bar has a very basic counter with a big beer board dominating the bar back, next to which is a window through to the taproom where all the beer is poured from. Shelf partitioning separates these upper and lower levels and they've been lined with mini beer kegs, which are possibly for sale, whilst another shelf to the right is stacked full of local interest leaflets and the like. Another fireplace stands next to the bar, and has a small stove inside which looks more like an old oven. The door to the toilets at the rear is flanked by an intricately carved frame and there are lots more hops hung from the ceiling around the bar area, with pub merchandise displayed on the side wall. Out the front is a surprisingly large pavement seating area which was very popular, as was the pub in general, having filled up nicely not long after opening on a Sunday afternoon.
Cask options amounted to house beer Pit The Cockpit, Iron Pier Cast Iron Stout (£4.90 a pint) and Fruit Cake, Moot Kapa, Pig and Porter Jumping Frog and Whispering Grass, and Tonbridge Countryman. Five ciders were also available on draught and four 'fine ciders' by bottle, although I've no idea what these were. My pint of the Cast Iron Stout was just about perfect and at one point I saw some sort of cheese board being brought out, which looked amazing, although I didnt spot any menus.
I really liked this place, which had all the best parts of your typical micropub combined with a characterful building that was much more enjoyable to spend time in than your average shop conversion. The excellent beer range and quality make this the stand out pub in Chislehurst and I'll most certainly be back the next time I'm in the area.

Date of visit - 4th February 2024

On 21^st June 2024 - rating: 9
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]