please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Bricklayers is the only current Good Beer Guide entry in Beckenham and supposedly being open at 11 on a Saturday seemed like a reasonable starting point for a few pubs in the town. In reality, the barmaid didn't arrive to open up until 10 past the hour, leaving a queue outside. The main feature inside is a large Spiderman above one of the tables. There is also a courtyard area to the side, which a couple of youngsters elected to use. I chose to sit under the large superhero. The ale range was fairly uninspiring. St Austell Tribute & Proper Job & Young's Special are served, alongside a guest, which was Shepherd Neame Spitfire. However, this appears to be the only pub in Beckenham serving a real cider - Rosie's Pig. Whilst CAMRA members receive a discount off ale, the same does not apply to the cider. BT Sports matches are shown. But, they don't appear to have Sky.
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St Austell's Tribute is a welcome find. Decent enough pub worth ducking into before you trip down the neon funky broadway of Beckenham High Street.
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5-10 years ago this was the mos horrible pub in Beckenham by a long way which is why it has a low rating.
However, it's improved a lot since then although it is a little odd. Full of old men sitting at bar, but a huge inflatable spider-man on the wall!
Big sign outside last week declared beer festival 14-20th November. Went inside, no real evidence of this at all. Ales on were St Austell's Proper Job and St Austell's Tribute. It was cheap for Beckenham £3.30 a pint, so I'm guessing beer festival meant cheaper beer rather than variety of beer.
Located opposite Beckenham Cinema, Pub shows Sky Sports and plently of seats in outside area to side of pub.
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The pub is seriously under-rated on this site, I now realise because of the behaviour of its previous owners/managers.
Great local pub with friendly staff. This was my first visit there, despite frequenting the cinema opposite. It won't be my last.
The life size spider man stuck on the wall was bizarre, but the pub was great. They even provide blankets embroidered with the pub name, for those people sitting in the beer garden.
And the prizes were reasonable - £2.70 for a small glass of wine and no charge for the soda water making it into a spritzer.
There is a discount for Camra members, but I wasn't drinking beer, so I don't know how much the discount was.
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My first visit here for over 5 years so today being Easter Saturday and me being at a loose end seemed the right day to return.
Just before 12.15pm when I came in and there was about 10 punters in. Music playing from the radio and the television was off.
4 ales on the pumps which were St Austell Tribute and Proper Job, Young's Special and Harvey's Sussex Best. I chose the Sussex Best and was surprised and pleased when offered a discount for being a Camra member. The Sussex best was drinkable but it wasn't the best kept pint I've had.
Good neutral decoration with large sofa's, stripped wood tables and a welcoming brick fireplace. Bizarrely there is a large Spiderman climbing up one wall. In the corner there is an original American gas pump, beautifully restored.
A decent honest locals pub. Hopefully the other 3 ales are better kept.
I shall return to try the other ales.
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Popped in for a pint on Saturday and sat in the newly refurbished outside area, catching a few rays of sunshine. They had a few real ales on & the bar staff were prompt and polite. There are a number of screens showing sport but they don't overpower the place. I didn't eat but a couple nearby had some Thai food which looked good. The pub isn't worthy of the low rating & I'm happy it's nice and local to me! I will be back.
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The comment about the bar staff sometimes favouring locals is valid but overall I find this a thoroughly decent boozer. Had an enjoyable evening in there recently - friendly locals and the Tribute and Harvey's Sussex were well kept. The current 2.6/10 rating is ridiculous and must reflect reviewers' ratings from yesteryear and before the change of ownership. Anyone having a problem with the Bricklayer's should pop 'next door' - they'll soon be back.
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Seems like a perfectly reasonable pub - 4 real ales on - friendly bar maid. As first time vistors we were treated just fine. Doesn't deserve the bad reviews on here. Thai food was being served and it looked great, but we were here to drink not eat. Would go back. And I liked the Spiderman.
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If you're a local, which we weren't, then you'll be served before everyone else regardless of the order you were at the bar, Won't be back!! Not sure what the giant Spiderman on the wall was about either...
0/10 as there are no minus figure options.
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Definitely a lot better than it used to be. Looks like it's being run a lot better than it was. Beer ok and can feel reasonably relaxed in here which is very different from when the last owners were here. Beer ok too and lots of screens.
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WOW What a turnaround.
The Bricklayers Arms is where it should be. Excellent pub, well run
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getdrunkquick is appropriately named. If he thinks the Elvis was boring he must have been in one of his drunken states. The pub was always packed when he was there and they must have taken a fortune behind the bar.I tried to get to the last Elvis show in May and couldn't get in, it was totally packed. Long live the King
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The Elvis guy on a sat was the best I've seen. When will they get him back. The pub was rocking when he was there !
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Popped in there the other day, I see it has new owners, much nicer!!!. Its nice to see it has had a spring clean and a few more people. Still looks not very inviting from the outside, so I hope thats next on the list!!
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well they have gone at long last and lets hope they have took that boring elvis impersonator with them Zzzzzzzzzzzz
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how much longer are Enterprise Inns gonna let these two run this pub into the ground. They have ruined a good pub over the years by the way they treated staff, customers and regulars.
getdrunkquick - 27 Feb 2011 16:5
Well that has answered my question: not for much longer noticed a TO LET sign above the front door last night. OH HAPPY DAYS
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how much longer are Enterprise Inns gonna let these two run this pub into the ground. They have ruined a good pub over the years by the way they treated staff, customers and regulars.
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Sunday 23rg january
Just had a text, 4 police cars, two ambulances then a private ambulance. Notice on pub door closed due to bereeavement
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I know this place has bad reviews - but I gotta say I thought it was alright just going in there tonight with my brother - 2 pints of Stella (he had two Guiness) - both were fine. It was rather quiet in there - couple old guys, one bloke at the bar looked a little lost, but friendly enough, barmaid was pleasant, couple sat round to the left of bar were maybe the owners people have posted about, they said thanks when we left - no problem. Prices bit high for Beckenham maybe? �6.30 each round (1 pint Stella, 1 pint Guiness).
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Could any let me know who owns this pub / details of the head office? Many thanks.
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Saturday 20 Nov: Very few people in - went in with a couple of mates who used to use it years ago who were on a sentimental journey.
Asked for 3 pints of Guinness and got 1 full pint and 2 nearly full ones. Barman said he didn't have any more Guinness and that was it.
All real ales clips turned round. Looks like an extensive and fancy menu on offer with good prices but who knows anyone can write a menu on a blackboard.
Place intrigues me for some reason and am going to go back on a Saturday to see what the food is like. Something tells me that from the previous comments on this board it should be interesting (probably in a bad way).
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Jesus how is this pub still open every time I go past it it's empty and the the stories about him Fred (I think thats what he's called) the landlord and his excessive drinking which has got him in trouble recently. Same old entertainment every few weeks some boring elvis impersonator how droll.
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c,mon everybody lets all get together and shift these two on then we can have our pub back i have spoken to somebody at the head office and they have said if we can get enough people to complain then we have a 90% chance of getting rid of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I no longer drink in this pub like many other regulars because of the guy that runs it. Have heard that hopefully there moving on soon GOOD RIDDANCE then the lost regulars can have there pub back and have someone who know's how to run a pub prioperly.
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after reading these reviews, on behalf of the people in the village of Doddington, we do not want you to take over our local pub, you will not have any customers if you do, because this is a close knit community and we will not stand for racsim and abuse, i say if you take over then the village will just boycott the pub!!! WE DONT WANT YOU IN THE VILLAGE OF DODDINGTON!!!! WE WANT TO KEEP ARE RESPECTABLE FRIENDLY AND CLEAN PUB!!!!!
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I'm amazed that the Bricklayers has remained open all this time. We've lived in Beckenham for 3 and a half years and it certainly hasn't improved in that time.
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First time at this pub, as it's opposite the cinema in Beckenham. Looked bright and clean, served Harvey's and London Pride.
London Pride stank, and tasted appalling. Politely approached the barman and quietly apologised and suggested that the Pride was 'off'. He looked at a couple sat at the end of the bar, I imagine the owners, who took over. Extremely rude, foul language, they appeared to be drunk. Overheard them say 'they can f off out of here'.
I'll be complaining to the Brewery. Absolutely appalling behaviour.
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Many people from work have been to this pub and claim that the lady who runs it keeps touching them?!!
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I went in here last Thursday night (before I went over to the Odean picture house)
The owners were NOT there thank god , because I couldnt stand to see them drinking their profits away and abusing their staff. (I have seen them do this on a previous visit)
I just had a quiet beer and was served by a very nice and quiet blonde barmaid
This would be a lovely little boozer if the owners stayed away from it and let their staff run it...........
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the last time i went into the pub i ordered food when he the owner came out he had realy bad personal hygene problems he stunk. and as for his wife she was also cooking and wasnt wareing a hair net her hair was everyware dont wish to think of it going in anyones food it is disgusting. never have i seen owners of a public house like these we all feel sorry for the staff. GOD HELP THEM PLEASE!!!!!
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i am a new customer. since just before christmas i have been going there. the staff is excellent all of them the beer is great cant go wrong. the only thing wrong is the owners they sit at the end of the bar getting very drunk every day they treat their staff like shit expecially 1 member of staff they dig him out for no reason at all they are convinced it is him the reason the customers have left but it is not at all. it is because of them the manager he thinks he can fight everyone and his wife is to faced. they are very possesive with their customers they think they either drink in their pub or not at all. they are running the pub into the ground cant wait untill they leave we will all come back and the pub will be alive again.
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Ignore the previous bad reviews. This is a nice, normal pub. The staff have always been welcoming and polite to us. They also serve a couple of real ales. For the price, it's a bargain.
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Has now been completely refurbished and serves food. Excellent value for Sunday lunch( �10.00 for three courses),snack menu and daily specials during the week.
Live music and a BBQ advertised for Saturday. If it's as good as last week's BBQ it should be a fun evening.
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well have walked past it a few but today i decided to go and have drink, i should of carried on walking past when i saw 2 old drunks sitting outside, wondered if 1 was dead at 1st!!!!! once inside there was a very bored looking barman and some bloke with out of control hair standing at the bar. Well had a drink quickly and left....will make sure i carry on walking past the place in future!!!!
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If anon19678 has such a low opinion of this pub and it's management, why does he class himself as a regular?
The Bricklayers Arms is currently undergoing a major refurbishment, organised by the management in conjunction with the brewery and I have to say that I have never encountered anything other than courteous, polite and efficient service from the staff and management.
The real ales are always good and the atmosphere friendly.
Anon19678 should drink elsewhere.
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WARNING NEVER SET FOOT IN THIS PUB
I can safely say, this is the WORST PUB i have ever been to in the whole of my life,
the decor is far less than poor, they struggle to keep more than one person working for them, and are frequently rude to customers, HOWEVER
the management seem to be the sole reason for this shambles of an establishment.
i can safely say they are all of the following things:
1 - racists - a well know fact as they refuse to serve black people making up ridiculous reasons for it.
2 - incompetent - the pair of them have no idea how to run a pub leaving it in the hands of whichever unfortunate sole is working there at the time.
3 - Alcoholics - they can be found sitting at the bar in there own pub drinking there stock away, and displaying embarrassing behavior, especially from the extremely large wife who seems to think she is Brittan 's next top model, its a crying shame she cannot she what she looks like parading around in dresses which do not fit and expose her fat body and hideous legs.
the pair of inbred fools than currently own this poor pub go by the names of john and karren -
referred to as fred and rose west by all the pubs regulars including myself - i will let you imagine why they are called this.
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I wasn't impressed by the karaoke last month. Kept breaking down and the sound quality was rubbish. They don't seem to have any live acts advertised at the moment either.
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I agree with mr2wheels100 - bring on the car park.
Any amount of refurb can't hide the drug problem - I saw 3 people come out of the gents khazi and then walk up to the bar and start chatting with the staff as if they were regulars!!
Don't go in there!!!!
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This pub serves the best London Pride in Beckenham! The Harveys is good as well. For lager drinkers it offers a good range too. No food at the moment but I understand that the management intend to get the kitchen up and running soon. Improving all the time it now has a quiz night once a month and karaoke form time to time if you like that kind of thing.
anonymous - 2 Apr 2007 12:58 |
Under new management and getting better all the time. Friendly courteous staff and good beer. Great atmosphere.
anonymous - 2 Jan 2007 22:03 |
I understand it is now under new Management and opened up again last night (Friday 15 December).
Hopefully it can't be any worse than before - watch this space!!
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It's closed . . . . Yippee!!!!!!!!!!
This pub would be better off as a car park
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Met a friend there the other day to go to the cinema, at 8pm on a Thursday evening there was a group of very drunk people, knocking over drinks, stumbling about and singing...if it could be described as that, had one swift drink and as my friend was delayed rapidly moved to the Goose to meet there.
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this is a cinema pub. Ideal when going to Pizza Express, then a few drinks before the cinema.
anonymous - 18 Aug 2006 08:17 |
I went there last week with my brother who was over from the Far East on holiday. He was shocked at the state of the place. Some customers were squaring' up to each other and others were asleep in the chairs and the rest were so drunk they wouldn't have known what day it was.
It was as if the local bail hostel had closed down and moved in to this once reliable, and honest pub.
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Horrible and very small sums it up !!!!
Avoid !!
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fairly grotty little hovel. would avoid if out for drinks in beckenham
hazey - 20 Dec 2005 13:06 |
I went in to the Bricklayes just prior to the refurbishment and afterwards. I agree that the only noticable change was that I could see through the windows. Beer was bad, and drinks served in glasses which were dirty. there are much better places to drink in Beckenham
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Atlast ! They seem to have had a refurbishment. Don`t get too excited though, as the decorating bill came to about �7.50.
I would say this pub is the worst in the area. The place is so basic and lacking in any sort of frills or comfort. One good thing though, now you can actually see in through the windows, before you decide to go somewhere else.
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This pub has been refurbished and it is a great improvement internally. However thought the service was dreadful, the barman was unwelcoming and inefficient. I clearly asked for two gin and tonics and there was only myself and my friend standing there - no one else was waiting to be served. He then poured 3 gin and tonics and I advised him that I had only asked for two. I was then charged �7.20 - I queried the cost and he said that the measure was 35cl and that was why the cost was higher than normal. I would not recommend this pub - there are plenty of much better pubs in Beckenham.
anonymous - 26 Sep 2005 09:54 |
The pub has recently been refurbished and has a new manager who has re-introduced the Karaoke (see previous post) and plans to extend the live music beyond the usual Friday night, as well as bringing in Quiz nights and other attractions.
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Small, dingey and grubby. Staff friendly and beer good though.
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The Bricklayers Arms no longer has Karaoke. "Fever Karaoke" can be found at the Alexandra in Penge and the Wandle Arms in Croydon.
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The Bricklayer's Arms now has Karaoke on Friday nights. However, the barmaid could not tell me how often, so it is a case of either ringing beforehand, or turning up on the off chance if you want to sing and hoping they will be there. I managed to get three songs in last week, and the Karaoke system sounded quite authentic (i.e. the backing track actually sounded like the songs people try to sing), unlike the poor sap who runs the Karaoke in the Litten Tree, Victoria, which was the worst I have ever taken part in!!!
If you enjoy doing Karaoke, I would try this pub on a Friday night.
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It's a bit of a dump, but the Young's is good and there isn't another pub in Beckenham that regularly serves it.
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This pub is in dire need of sensitive refurbishment. It is small and very basic inside. You would not really consider going here, if you compare it to the other pubs just up the road.
It could be a real money spinner if the owners made it nice inside.
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Traditional pub, not part of a chain.
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