Tap Sidcup, Blackfen, Sidcup

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Pub SignMan left this review about Tap Sidcup

This is a modern bar on the main road through the centre of Blackfen. It comes across stylistically as if it were a micropub, but judging by this visit, doesn't fit in with the ethos. Inside, you find the usual shop converted features, such as a narrow, bare boarded, single room layout with large, shop-style front windows and dark painted walls lined with many mirrors. There's a good amount of quite comfy seating down either side, with the servery appearing in the rear left corner. The bar has a plain counter and stylised modern bar back with large wine glasses hung from the pot shelf above, whilst a couple of high tables and stools opposite round out the seating options. Some nice lighting features can be found throughout the room and TV screens were evident, although not in use on a Saturday night. Instead, there was some sort of open mic, Sidcup's Got Talent event taking place, so I was able to enjoy a woman doing some passable opera singing and then watch a 'comedian' die onstage, which was quite entertaining for all the wrong reasons. A good sized front patio area offers a fair bit of extra seating and plenty of shelter.
Unfortunately, there's no cask ale here, although they did have a couple of interesting looking keg beers and ciders from unknown brewers. I tried the house beer, called Tap Gold (£5 20 a pint), which was a fairly generic, unmemorable brew. The pub's USP is its 'serve yourself' taps, which can be found on a few of the tables, saving you the exhausting twenty metre walk to the bar. The place was absolutely packed on a Saturday night, so I had to sit at a reserved table and eventually stand at the bar when the bookers arrived. The bar staff were a lively bunch, including one barmaid who gave me a lot of good-natured stick when I failed to notice that she was trying to get my attention to serve me.
This was a pretty mad visit that felt like a mix between a micropub and something from Phoenix Nights. As much as I had fun here, I can't overlook the lack of cask ale, nor the fact that I had to give up my seat and endure twenty minutes of dreadful one-liners. A good one-off experience, but there's not enough here to convince me of the need to return.

Date of visit - 25th November 2023

On 11^th January 2024 - rating: 5
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