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Picture of The Volunteer
Image posted by Malden man
Submitted on Sunday, 7th February 2016
With picture contributions to 1724 other pubs
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The Volunteer, Bexleyheath

46 Church Road
Bexleyheath
DA7 4DQ
Phone: 02083034910
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of The Volunteer (Average Rating: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Pub SignMan left this review about The Volunteer

This is a tidy, street corner, local's boozer with a well-kept, former multiple room interior, although now configured to give a clean run through from front to back. You enter through an unusual, full height frosted glass door, with all other doors throughout the pub designed this way too, including one with a "Volunteer Enlist Today" image. The front bar is quite a nice space with banquette and chair seating, half height wood panelling and a large TV screen showing live football - a feature that recurs in each space through the pub. The bar is to the right and has a nice dark wood counter with sweeping curved ends and a modest bar back. Moving through to the rear bar area, high tables and chairs plus a few low stools provide alternative seating options, whilst beyond this is a rear right space with more high chairs and a nice banquette. There's also a dartboard back here, but you'd need to shift some furniture to have a game. Out the back, there's a pleasant garden with a decked area, small lawn and plenty of seating.
Just two of thee four handpulls were operational when I arrived, with Sharps Doom Bar (£4.30 a pint) and Morland Old Speckled Hen alongside two unclipped pumps. A very cheery barmaid served up a decent pint of Doom Bar and then proceeded to startle the entire pub by screaming loudly from the kitchen, which a robin had apparently found its way into!
This felt like a decent local's back street pub and I was very happy sat here with a pint listening to the story of the robin's ejection from the kitchen. The beer range perhaps doesn't lend itself to much of a session, but I liked the friendly service and lack of pretensions in this place and would happily return.

Date of visit - 25th November 2023

On 11th January 2024 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3252 recommendations about 3252 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Volunteer

Backstreet local that is clearly a community favourite and has been added to the 2022 Good Beer Guide.

The interior is divided into two distinct sections. The area near the door was quietest, with just one other guy tucking into his Sunday lunch. This area of the bar also has the handpulls. I was greeted with Morland Original & Old Speckled Hen.

Beyond that is another room where people were watching the last Formula 1 race of the season. As such, this part was much busier. So, I elected to stay with the diner.

The landlord came over and switched a TV on in our area enabling us to view the Grand Prix too. The friendly barmaid also came over, which was a nice touch.

Unfortunately my Morland Original was well past its best and could have been likened more to vinegar than a real ale.

Nevertheless, it is creditable that this pub has survived with its community ownership.

On 13th December 2021 - rating: 5
[User has posted 2769 recommendations about 2768 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Rex Rattus left this review about The Volunteer

This is a pub that I must have walked past before as I have photographed it, but for some reason didn't venture inside on that occasion. But I put that omission right on my most recent visit to Bexleyheath. According to What Pub it was bought by a community group in 2018, and possibly this is why I don't think it now had quite so much of the old school feel that the previous reviewer describes. It was a cold and miserable January evening when I was in here, and the violet lighting behind the servery didn't make it seem any warmer. The furnishings were fairly traditional; the floor was bare - boarded and old-style illuminated Truman's signage was displayed on the upper parts of the bar back. There were odd prints on the wall - a bear on a bike and a sign proclaiming that the Volley Wants You, in classic Lord Kitchener style.

The beer choice was uninspiring, being Doom Bar and London Pride. But on another day it might well have seemed a more welcoming place. At least the well-behaved mutt lying on the floor, as well as his owner and othe apparent regulars, seemed to like the place and good luck to them I say. The big plus is that this a local pub saved by and for the local comminity. I'm glad it's a survivor.

On 27th January 2019 - rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]


View more reviews of The Volunteer (6)
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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by elizabeth mcgraw
Bexleyheath, 0.41 miles, 8 min walk (show)
Barnehurst, 1.32 miles, 25 min walk (show)
Bexley, 1.98 miles, 38 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Volunteer, Bexleyheath
11th Jan 2024, 18:37
Review submitted by Pub SignMan
 
13th Dec 2021, 18:31
Review submitted by Blue Scrumpy

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 07 February 2016 by Malden man
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 07 February 2016 by Malden man
  • Beer Garden : Yes last updated 11 January 2024 by Pub SignMan
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 07 February 2016 by Malden man
  • Car Park : No last updated 07 February 2016 by Malden man
  • Child Friendly : Yes last updated 11 January 2024 by Pub SignMan
  • Darts : Yes last updated 15 August 2010 by Dave McNally
  • Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 11 January 2024 by Pub SignMan
  • Function Room : No last updated 07 February 2016 by Malden man
  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 15 August 2010 by Dave McNally
  • Jukebox : No last updated 11 January 2024 by Pub SignMan
  • Karaoke : Yes - Thursday - last updated 15 August 2010 by Dave McNally
  • Live Music : Yes last updated 15 August 2010 by Dave McNally
  • Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 13 December 2021 by Blue Scrumpy
  • Micropub : No last updated 07 February 2016 by Malden man
  • Pinball : No last updated 07 February 2016 by Malden man
  • Pool Table : No last updated 07 February 2016 by Malden man
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 15 August 2010 by Will Larter
  • Real Cider : No last updated 07 February 2016 by Malden man
  • WiFi : No last updated 07 February 2016 by Malden man
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