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Detail Pages
Jolly Fenman, Blackfen, Sidcup
Sidcup
DA15 8SW
Pub Type
John Barras (Spirit Pubs)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 3 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Jolly Fenman
As the previous reviewer says, this is a rambling old Greene King roadhouse pub. I don't know whether Greene King or its previous owner the Spirit Group are responsible for the crime, but it's been given a "Golden Oak" makeover that involves removing any colour from the place and fitting clinical white tiling behind the bar, adding drab colourless wallpaper, a modern flagstone floor, and painting anything that doesn't move a sickly grey colour. I think it looks ghastly, but perhaps I'm in the minority there. As well as the usual TVs and fruit machines, it also had a large "toy grab" machine of the type that you used to see only in seaside town amusement arcades. It's got no place in a pub in my opinion, but there again perhaps there are parents who like to take their kids to the pub to play on machines. I saw a "beer garden" advertised.
They did actually have four ales on unlike during Aqualung's sorry experience - GK IPA, Abbot, London Glory, and Doom Bar. Hardly an inspiring selection. Being a GK pub they do food during weekday afternoons. I had a cheese and pickle sandwich for £3.99, with chips being a bit extra.
It's not the sort of pub that I would choose to spend much time in, but I'm really pleased it's still here to give locals somewhere to go for a drink and a meal without having to trudge down to the centre of "town".
On 19th September 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Jolly Fenman
This is a huge isolated suburban Greene King pub in between Eltham and Blackfen but closer to Blackfen. Inside it's an open plan rambling place with music playing and TV screens everywhere which were all on. The cosier looking far right area away from the TVs was closed off for some reason.
The beer choice was poor with the Abbot clip turned and Doom Bore available soon leaving GK London Glory or IPA. I went for a London Glory (£3.20 discounted) which was rank and sent back to be replaced by IPA (~£2.70 discounted) which was even more rank. I ended up with a John Smiths Smooth Crap which at least didn't taste of Sarsons.
I came here on the strength of the CAMRA discount thinking I might get a well kept pint of a GK beer but it turned out to be a complete disaster. I won't be back.
On 3rd September 2018
- rating: 2
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]