please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Chancery was the most upmarket of the 5 pubs I tried in Beckenham. One room is set up for dining and a family were taking advantage. There is a function room upstairs and an outdoor seating area at the front, overlooking a busy road. 3 real ales were on - Hooky Gold, Wherry & Coaster.
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Called The Chancery. No thugs in here when I went in. I reckon they are probably all off down the Bridge Bar drinking alcopops and discussing Vauxhall Corsa's listening to 2Unlimited what.
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The Clarence opened last night - 9th October 2014. It's got a quite minimal look at the moment - bare floorboards and walls .. could do with a some pictures or a splash of colour. A few unusual beers on tap and the food menu looked good.
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It will be called the Chancery..
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The owner of the Jolly Woodman in Chancery Lane, next to the Oakhill has bought the Oakhill. It is being refurbed, with a new name and should open sometime this year..
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Just been past the pub and it is closed down. Had many memories there, mostly good, but sometimes bad. I had the pleasure of meeting "Japanese" Paul Vermes, "Yorkshire" John Rogers, Michael "the Cheese" Eilers and Peter "the cabbie" Bourne - all sadly departed to the beer garden in the sky. Also remember the Alex Banks rat pack nights which drew in good crowds and the brainy barman Richard from some years back. Once these old characters had left/died and a thuggish crowd took over the front bar I followed the lead of many others and drank elsewhere. Most of the old Oakhillians seem to be in the George or the Coach and Horses. R.I.P. the Oakhill.
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could be such a nice pub but it's a thugridden dump
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such a shame, the sniffers paradise, the rascasse should have a shuttle service between here and them, so sad but then shit always sticks together
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Sad to say that the Oakhill goes from bad to worse. �3.80 for a Guinness! This is NOT the West End...
It is full of thugs, and the people I used to see of an afternoon have departed to either the Rascasse or the Coach and Horses. Now Yorkie John has passed away as well, so there's little point in my going there. Shame.
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Not a bad little pub. Been a few times lately and some nice pints on the go especially the ales (Tribute and Westerham). Staff are nice and friendly. The pub just needs something else though, not sure what, but something's missing! Nice beer garden in summer tho.
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Update - Jim, the previous landlord is set to return soon. Last night in the Oakhill there was a wake for a recently deceased regular, Peter Bourne.
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The Oakhill seems to go through managers like a dose of salts. The recent manageress, Sue, barely lasted a few months. Now they have a relief manager who clearly does not want to be there.
At least some of the old regulars like Japanese Paul and Yorkie still go, though I've seen a drop off in attendance from the cabbies who used to frequent the pub. The price of a Guinness (though good quality) is �3.80 and extortionate. They have had Alex Banks singing there again recently, but the Jam Nights and the Tuesday Quiz have fallen by the wayside. Unsure if they still do the poker nights. There's an air of dismay here...
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The best thing to do in this pub is to have a slash in the stinking pissoir before going next door to The Jolly Woodman for a pint. That really is about all it is good for.
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Ale prices now down to �3.30 (gasp!). But the whole place could do with some care and attention.
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Rather plain high ceiling pub with two 'fires' in close proximity. Of the 3 ales on tap, the Westerham 1965 was well kept but even more expensive than the Jolly Woodman at �3.50/pint
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Right next to Jolly Woodman q.v. Open and airy pub with an attempt at a trendy design. Served by a barmaid who seemed rather uninterested and looked like she'd rather be somewhere else. 2 gas fires to warm the cockles. 3 real ales, Courage, Tribute and Westerman Ales' 1965 a well kept fruity little number, yours for �3.50
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what can i say... it smells, we had flies buzzing round our heads for the hour we endured in there, the toilets are grim, the bar staff cant be arsed and how they can charge �3.70 for heineken i dont know
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Took my wife to this place after visiting a good while back. What a depressing change. Frighteningly expensive - and the decor is more like a 70's working men's club. Thank God for the pub round the corner.
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k
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A brief enquiry as to progress regarding the heating system, or rather the complete lack of it, has been met with the response that it is unlikely to be repaired or operational this year.
Faucett Inns have lied yet again addressing the concerns of the pub's clientele.
This will be the third winter that there has been no heating.
What is the problem with Faucett Inns?
OK, they went bust a short while ago, created an alter ego company and transferred the assets. (Nice business ethics)
So money might be tight... but not to invest in your business is rank stupidity.
Sell up, please!!!
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I have finally discovered something positive about this pub.
The departure lounge in Gatwick Airport is 5p more expensive.
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If Tue, 13th July 2010 is anything to go by...
If for no other reason than curiosity, then visit this pub.
Make your way past the occasional thug standing outside wielding a baseball bat against his protagonist (allegedly his drug dealer).
Make your way to the freshly painted exterior. (The expression "fur coat and no knickers" has been used to describe this cheap make over)
The interior is shabby. A freshly sanded and varnished floor in part of the bar does not improve the general condition of the interior.
Order your beer and pay an extortionate price (Fawcett Inns runs a policy of 104% return on a barrel - check the head on the glass. The bar staff will obligingly top it up for you if requested - but you shouldn't need to as it should be a full pint in the first place)
Some ales need better care - apparently the traces of cocaine found in the toilets have proven to be of better quality (That's a joke! I don't know if it was better quality)
The toilets - lets not go there... really... I mean it... lets not go there.
And here we are - half way through summer and still no sign of the central heating being repaired in time for winter.
Jim, the new manager, is a pleasant guy who certainly has his work cut out for him and I wish him well.
Fawcett Inns do not care. They charge excessively and do not invest in the pub to provide suitable facilities for their customers. I wish to God that they would sell it on.
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Gone rapidly downhill since Chris (guv) left. Gents stink, only one door on them last time I checked. Not verified on last couple of visits as I couldn't be bothered to order a second drink.
St Austell Tribute (not that well kept) a very expensive �3.50/pint. When I pay this much for a pint I expect some decent surroundings.
Staff seem to struggle to keep busy and smile. Shame used to be a reasonable pub with a good team doing their best.
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I could not agree more with hoohum!!!
That company went under and re-apeared 24 hours later under different name ha ha !!!! Shame they still got the pub, cuz how long can the locals be ripped off by these greedy b$�%&*$�" you name it.
Oh thaye must consider themselves very lucky with the good weather coming up so they don't have to fix the heating!!!!
well done guys!!!
anonymous - 26 Mar 2010 14:48 |
Why is there no heating? An attempt to appease unhappy customers produced a myriad of small fan heaters... these have now all vanished... I can only guess that the leccy bill came in and so it is now blooming cold again.
Sort it out Fawcett!
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Is it not a legal requirement to have two doors between places where food is served and the toilet?
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Why do they charge �1.20 for a packet of crisps which they purchase from the supplier for less that 25p
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Why is the broken toilet door sitting on top of the BBQ? Eat from that?... No way!
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This website is not the most honest.
Comments posted are deleted by the mods at the request of (I can only assume) the chain that own the lease (Fawcett Inns).
Whilst some comments may be inflamatory and deserving of deletion, those that challenge Fawcett on their pricing as applied to a genuine local rather than central London is certainly worthy of retention and response from the Leaseholder.
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I went into this pub on Saturday night (9th May)
I was very impressed with the setup of the bar. , There was a DJ playing GREAT tunes that night , bar service was very good , didnt try the food although the menu looked very promising.......
ok , thats the pro's
The cons ??? , The Toilet was STINKING , and not just from a punter that had left something behind them , I mean it stank of piss the WHOLE night
Please Oakhill , get you act together and do something about your grotty toilets
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I went in the Oakhill this saturday for an early lunch and it was very pleasant. All the Fires were roaring and the barman very helpful. Ordered food, which was reasonable and decent. Was just enjoying a quiet pint when two groups of lads walked in who all thought they were in Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels.
This pub is really trying to change from its past and is to be commended for trying all the Jam Nights, Roast & Records and Quiz nights - i really hope they do well but until they shed the clientel which always seems to come crawling back then it won't be the success it can be unfortunately.
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I went last week, and it was so cold inside the pub that everyone had their coats on ! I kid you not. I was told this happens all the time and it seems the Landlord is directing the central heating up to his own apartment and leaving the pub freezing. There was a broken window which has been boarded up for some time now. I was also amazed that a pint of beer cost me �3.20 ! this is 60p more than you would pay in the High Street in a similar style pub.
The lavatories are revolting as well. Why endure such treatment ?
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Mid week visit last week and found the place not too bad at all. Good beer and service but didnt get a chance to sample the food - the pizzas are supposed to be excellent by all accounts. Thinking of trying the roasts and records and will let you know!
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With the weather turning good, The Oakhill is a great place to come and relax in their beer garden. Staff seem to know what they're doing and the food's not bad either.
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Have been heading down for the roasts 'n' records sessions on the second Sunday of the month. Awesome food, good quizzes, sometimes a little hard to get a table. However, really am enjoying these Sunday's, hungover or not!
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A breath of fresh air in Beckenham. Can't fault it. Good service, beers and food and it seems to attract a mature, friendly clientele.
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I have been going to this pub in it various transformations since I was 18 and, as an old school friend's parents still live around the corner, we go there when she is in town. It's still the best pub in the area and the food is great (the best pizzas in Beckenham).
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This place is great find if you want a beer in Beckenham. Off the beaten track of the Beckenham badlands, it has a great atmosphere and friendly staff. It is, unfortunately, run by Faucet Inns so the chances of getting the same beer for more than three months in a row are slim, nonetheless a good pub with good food on the menu (fantastic pizzas!). If you want to experience the true nature of the pub, get to their Roasts & Records on the second Sunday of each month, great music with a 'I hanen't heard that for ages' feel. It incorporates a written music quiz and themed requests, great fun for a Sunday afternoon. Roasts start at 12pm and Records run from 2-8pm.
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Last Thursday's live acts were superb.
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Very friendly pub. Nice garden out the back. Live music on Thursdays.
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Really lovely pub, just about the only in Beckenham that still has such a wide range clientele that all seem to get on well! The food is also great and the service from the barstaff is great. Would strongly recommend this place!
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Dorota and Chris (new proprietors) now serve Polish food on occasions. Could become a magnet for Bromley's Polish community?
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Very pleasant, friendly bar staff and home like vibs.
cool garden, best pub in Beckenham
anonymous - 30 Jun 2006 18:00 |
I went there for lunch as the high streets always crowded and the time waiting..............
So I was positevely suprised! Food was exellent, the portions very good at reasonable costs and service great, very friendly staff, lovely garden, the only drawnback I couldn`t enjoy the garden for longer, dashed back to work in a lovely, sunny day.
A I have forgotten the pub dog-very adorable.
I will go to Oakhill at least once a week.
anonymous - 30 Jun 2006 11:49 |
This pub has over the past year been refitted and has new management. The landlord and staff are very pleasant and have bought back a very homely feel to the place. The food is a bit up and down but again there is a clear effort to provide something different. I would rate this pub 8/10 if it wasn't for the downside that is the clientele. It is White van man and builders paradise. On a recent visit to watch some football, an area right in front of the TV was reserved for what can only be described as 10 or so 20yr old ish lads with a total IQ between them of around 9. They had no interest other than seeing who could swear loudest and were more concerned with shouting at each other than watching the footie. Sadly they are atypical of most the punters and must be a frustration to the landlord's attempts to bring in freindlier punters.
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Nice pub but marred by the horrible state of the crude Gent`s toilets. The floor is permanenly soaking in you know what, and the liquid is trodden in to the carpet of the pub. YUK.
anonymous - 13 Mar 2006 16:47 |
Was the counter damp because they were serving liquid - Shock Horror ?
Must agree though, the toilets do smell, funnily enough like pub toilets (cant speak for the ladies I hasten to add).
Its an ok sort of place though - certainly better than the Woodman close by !!
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I was looking for an occasional alternative to my usual local pub. I had a drink in The Oakhill shortly after its latest refurbishment and was pleased enough to return despite the wet counter and lack of beermats. However, on two recent visits there was a constant overpowering smell coming from the gents toilets of urinal tablets wafting all around the back lounge. Very off putting.
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when i get to beckenham this is the place i feel most welcome in. large enough to accommodate various groups of people, beautiful summer garden with fish pond & al fresco dining, staff are more friendly than efficient but i'd rather that than the other way round. management has regenerated recently, looks like for the better.
anonymous - 2 Feb 2006 16:12 |
Great character pub with good beer.
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The Oakhill is still a nice pub before 7pm. The back bar is ideal for a pint or two after work, with some great characters
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I have noticed lately that the Manageress is unable to deal with situations. On three different nights, I have witnessed trouble or really bad violent behaviour and nothing is done to stop it. Infact the bar staff all seemed to be cowering in the other bars.
Maybe she doesn`t want to get a bad review from the Police when they come to re-new the license, either way it is bad.
anonymous - 1 Aug 2005 09:05 |
Although the comments below are fair, I had issues with the staff as they were completely unable to take my order and deal with it. I only wanted a Gin and Tonic for goodness sake. Still, the pub is infinitely improved of late and is worth a look as it's now clean, airey and serves a good range of drinks.
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More good news about this pub - Alex Banks, the crooner, who I mentioned on 30th December, has agreed to perform every 4th Saturday in the month (but check first to confirm). His next performance will be on Saturday 26th March 2005. It is always an entertaining performance and the pub will be packed. It is the place to be this Easter.
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What a joy to see a pub refurb which actually is stylish and considerate and works. What an improvement to a declining run down pub !
The front bar area, now enlarged, is minimalist and spacious whilst the rear bar is comfy and old fashioned.
A great choice of drinks and even three types of bitter. Friendly and efficient bar staff.
My only criticism is the state of the back toilets which have been cheaply left almost as they were before.
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definitely the proverbial oasis in the beckenham decent pub desert. looks lovely after a complete refurb, good u-shape layout of seating around the bar so even when its busy you can have some privacy. superb sunday roasts and sizeable 'oakhill-style' sandwiches keep bringing us back for more every weekend. three fireplaces give the rooms an all-time welcoming warmth in winter but the real hit is their gorgeous back garden in late spring/early summer - what better way to enjoy your sunday lunch - or BBQ - than sharing a wooden table and a drink with your friends in the sun, surrounded by an abundance of colourful flowers and greenery listening to water slowly spilling from a fountain into their little pond ? see you there.
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Until recently this was an uninviting run-down local, with two bars - the cosy saloon bar and the public bar, which was filled with pool tables and thugs. Now this Stella Artois pub has undergone a complete revamp, the pool tables (and thugs) have gone from the public bar, and a Jazz Duo and Sinatra-style crooner have appeared here in the last 2 months. The bar staff currently include Russian, Indonesian and Polish and the landlord and his wife are friendly and keep out trouble. It is full of characters, such as "Japanese" Paul, who has many stories to tell about his time in Japan, and Alex who performs the Sinatra songs, and claims to have done the voice-over for a recent Guinness commercial. The best pub in Beckenham - even better than the George!
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