The Long Pond, Eltham, SE9

Opened in late 2014, this is another example of the growing micro pub trend that has proven so successful throughout Kent and this part of London. As micro pubs go, this one, located in a former plumbing supplies store, is actually pretty large, with something akin to a two room layout. The front room is bare boarded with painted walls, high tables and chairs throughout and a basic serving counter to the rear. Beers are listed on boards behind the bar and all the ales are racked up in a taproom at the rear which can be viewed through windows in the adjacent corridor leading to the toilets. Some nice bits of art adorn the walls alongside a few beer related items, including pump clips along the ceiling beams, and a cracking old Eltham Park railway sign which references the long since departed station that was once located a few doors down. To the rear left is a small second 'room' with pew and standard seating, red half panelled walls and patterned wallpaper. Windows on the right side open into the bar area, but this is not a service hatch and you will need to make the short walk through to the main room to get your beer. Notices on the walls make it clear that phone calls are not permitted, but using your phone to browse or text is fine. The blackboards listed a good range of local ales - Caveman Shopper Gold, Kent Black Gold, Gadds No 5, Wantsum Black Prince and a house beer called Pond Life which I believe is a rebadged Tonbridge beer. Four real ciders were also listed on the boards. I tried the Black Prince and have to say I was very disappointed with the quality of my pint. The pub was doing a good trade on a Saturday evening and I'm prepared to put my bad beer down as a misfortunate bit of timing on my part. I really liked the feel of this pub, which seemed a lot cosier and pub-like when compared to other micro pubs I have visited. The place is a little way from the other public houses in Eltham, but efforts to find it will be well rewarded. Had my pint been better quality, I would have scored this place even higher - it's well worth a visit.