The Duke's Head, Dartford

This locals' pub had on a couple of real ales - Courage Best and Bombardier. I can't remember which one I had, but I don't recall it being particularly good or bad. I didn't see any sign of food on Wednesday afternoon. This pub hasn't changed much, if at all, since Roger's visit around 10 years ago. It's still got its mock Tudor exterior, which was much in vogue for inter-war pubs; it's still carpeted; the ale choice hasn't improved much; the ceiling battens are still there; it's still carpeted and still has both a pool table and a dartboard. The old Courage cockerel is still on the exterior, and of course they still sell Courage Best. All very traditional. There are three original brick built fireplaces, no doubt one for each of three separate rooms this pub would probably once have had. There must be a Chelsea connction with the landlord I guess, judging by the Chelsea stuff around the place. One of the chimney breasts had an old Chelsea photo on it, from which I recognised Charlie Cooke and David Webb. They had a good number of apparent locals in when we visited - in fact a fair number more than any of the other Crayford pubs. Personally, I like these traditional old pubs, and this one would score higher if it had an interesting ale or two on.

This inter war mock Tudor pub is quite presentable and appealing without being anything pretentious. The fully carpeted interior is quite well laid out with an unobtrusive pool and darts area one end behind a partial screen. The décor is neat and tidy with dark paneled walls, beamed ceilings, brick fireplaces and a collection of plates balanced on ledges like a fairground shooting range. There are 2 well positioned plasma screens with the usual diet of football and a spacious patio at rear. 3 reasonably priced and perfectly drinkable if rather unspectacular Ales available (Speckled Hen, Courage Best and Bombardier). One gripe is that the hand pumps are badly positioned on the bar so that they face into the the pool/darts section rather than into the main body of the pub. Service and atmosphere fine on both my recent visits and whilst it is generally geared to the locals, it is quite handy for the Greyhound stadium and the VCD football ground and in my opinion is one of the better options in town along with its next door neighbour, the Crayford Arms.