please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
CLOSED - Shut at the start of 2016. Now a Restaurant.
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Ok pub if you are starting a night out. Imagine the same old faces prop up the bar day in day out - found the selection of beer to be ok and staff seemed friendly enough, just the atmosphere felt a little flat
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Was quite busy when I visited. Clientèle seemed to be on the elderly side but it was early afternoon so I guess that was the reason.
Staff were friendly. The place seemed on the untidy side though not dirty. The ales were Doombar, Brains Gold and Westerham Grasshopper Gold. I went for the Westerham which was not that great.
This wouldn't be high on my list of pubs to visit in Bromley.
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Had not been to The Compass for quite some time so I decided to pop in the other evening. Expecting it to be packed to the rafters given it was a busy evening of football fixtures, I was pleasantly surprised to find just the opposite. I plumped for a couple of decent pints of Adnams Southwold Bitter. The Landlady and staff were very welcoming and the service friendly (which is not always the way in Bromley sometimes it has to be said) The usual selections of larger were on tap and just the two of Adnams and Guinness too (i think) as far as bitters/ales. All in all I was pleasantly surprised and would defiantly pay another visit.
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I haven't a clue what the previous "snobs" have been talking about...okay this pub does have its faults but compared to the JD in Bromley South, this pub is is like drinking in The Ritz...! We drink in there about once a month, we are always recognised by the friendly staff, we are always served with a smile and once you've ordered once you don't have to repeat what you want to drink..yes the d�cor could do with updating but couldn't most pubs? We have even spoken about having a private party there...give this place a try, you might be pleasantly surprised and it is cheaper than the chav, slag filled JD in Bromley South...(and believe me I like to drink in "nice" places)
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What a khazi. This is a desperate place to drink. The bar staff look like they are seeing out their last 20 hours of community service. They never smile and seem incapable of any interaction other than taking money for drink. This pub seems to have collected all the shit and filth that the rest of the Bromley pubs have sicked up. Not only is it a dirty shithole, it also seems to smell of drains, which is nice when you're eating or drinking in there. Going home is a serious alternative to drinking in here, I won't be going back.
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This pub is defiantly a dive. Quite surprising really seen as there are 3 very quaint pubs in its immediate area. I think that the only reason this pub survives is by soaking up all the borderline alcoholics and trouble makers in the area. To look at it from the outside it looks like an inner city pub with a look that dose not jump out and say; �drink in here!�
The inside is not much different. There are usually some middle aged men who are unemployed sitting at the bar drinking their troubles away until they can no longer stand, which is usually 3.30pm. After they have left you have remaining the miserable bar staff who want to talk to you about how bad the government is and the crime on the council estate where they live, even though they insist that they won�t vote because; �it�s a waste of time�. General moaning and complaining comes from all customers and staff which is slightly annoying when you want to sit down and read the paper.
The quality of the beer is ok but nothing special, the attitude seems to be that it will be drunk anyway so the odd doggy pint and chipped glass doesn�t matter. There was food being served there however I did not stop for lunch. There was some food being served to a guy sitting down however when it arrived from the kitchen it didn�t look very appetizing. I�m sure that it was ok to eat but not much effort was put in to the presentation.
There was satellite TV in the pub showing the horse racing, also big football games were advertized. I�m not sure that I would want to stay to watch them though, I�m sure that a pub such as this would have trouble once everyone has had 14 pints of Stella.
Over all I would not recommend this pub to anyone.
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used to drink here a few years back, (don't know why now looking back) - crappy little pub, crap beer with off food; as said previously, wouldnt take a lot to make this pub decent, at the moment though the place is full of loners and the two old women who work here are bloody miserable.
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A bit of a last resort if you are waiting for the bus outside Boots. Plus point is some cheap beers and a lot of cheap wine. But I do get the impression that it is run for the benefit of the staff and a few lumpen regulars. Not much atmosphere and no spark.
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I and my drinking associate are usually in 2 minds whether to go in the Compass. As a pub it looks like a really good pub from the outside and from the inside it has a very nice interior. It has a variety of small but very different drinking areas. It would take little effort for this pub to be very good.
It can be a bit cliquey in there with lots of loyal locals in their 'usual' seats. From the appearance you would think you would be treated to some good well kept ale but it is very limited.
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Often see punters hopping between here and the Ladbrokes bookie just over the road. I also know two people who have had stuff nicked while their back was turned. Known locally as a haven for thieves and swindlers so one to avoid. Having said that, the beer and food is satisfactory but I would only go in if someone else insisted!
spexx - 23 Mar 2008 16:47 |
A dump full of lowlife.
anonymous - 23 Aug 2007 15:23 |
Turned into a bit of a plughole with the waifs and strays of Bromley's mental now occupying most of the front bar. Walked out before being served.
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What was probably the best pub in Bromley has gone down hill recently. The new manager seemed to find it a chore serving me yesterday, and got rather irratated that I wanted to wait one minute for my friend to get there until I knew what she wanted to drink. They also do not have as good selection as beers as what they used to.
The prices however seem to have gone down quite drastically and the new food menu is an improvement. Also, the good atmosphere from the clientele remains the same.
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i visited the compass recently to see if their had been any changes i noticed that a new manager had taken over the premises. i stopped had a pint which was i have to say a bit off. the new manager was behind the bar. i knew he was because he made a point of telling me. i chatted to him for a while and i have to say that he seemed intent on bad mouthing the previous manager and some of the older regulars whom i happen to know quite well. i decided to leave. i must say that i am sad to see such a great old pub that was such a success and a joy to visit be spoiled so badly, in my opinion the management needs a face lift.
anonymous - 20 Jun 2006 12:54 |
This is still a friendly pub with good quick bar service, but the staff could usefully pay more attention to clearing the tables (especially in the back bar)and cleaning the ashtrays.
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I think I preferred the pub before it's makeover as it was more an honest pub before. Now it's dressed as a foody pub, but retaining the original alkie letching customers who are thrown into sharp relief by the over-bright lighting. Staff only appear friendly to their locals (not surprising in Bromley) and the chef was loudly sharing his suffering of a serious drug comedown with all within earshot - nice touch boys.
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What a great pub with super staff, the only place in bromley that doesn't attract the youngsters. The manager is a real friendly guy that knows his customers and buisness..... Oh yeah and the belgian beers are wicked.
Keep up the good work
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The Compass is definitely the best pub in Bromley, no doubt about it. It has a great selection of interesting beers and even a fruit beer. Good selection of wines (only fault being that there a little on the pricey side).
OK so it is a little on the dark and dingey side, but the atmosphere is great - there's always a friendly crowd and despite it's tiny size it's never too packed....
I recommend it.
Dee - 6 Oct 2004 15:38 |
Its a brill pub-the bar staff are very friendly and helpful. A bit pricey but has a good pub feel.Tue nights are great 2 4 1 on bottle beers. The food is also lovely.
Lucy - 28 Jul 2004 17:03 |
Further to Peter's comment below. OK, so scrapping the heavy metal night may have been a bad move, but anyone who thinks Belgian beer is 'imitation' just lost all credibility as far as I'm concerned. Probably drinks lager shandy through a straw!
Jimbo Smith - 29 Jun 2004 16:11 |
They scrapped the heavy metal night and turned it into another foody type pub. I wish people would leave pubs alone and not keep changing things. They now stock 125 Belgian lagers for people who like poncey foreign imitation beer.
Peter - 27 Mar 2004 16:25 |
an ok place to start an evening in bromley.
but too small to spend all your evening in. there are far better places to go
Bobby - 13 Mar 2004 18:47 |
Good pub... good selection of European lagers and some speciality belgian beers. Pleasent staff. As stated it is now called the Compass. (It was previously called the three compasses before S. Murphy's - i don't know what they did with the other 2 compasses !!) i recommend the chip butty. �2.50 a shot seems high, but it is massive and well tasty. Pleasent staff. One of the better pubs in Bromley.
Mark - 5 Mar 2004 16:57 |
I am not sure this pub is still existing.... I think It is now called "Kompass"...
Lucie - 22 Feb 2004 14:14 |
Nice little pub especially on a saturday afternoon, however does get little rammed of weekend evening. Recently refurbished and renamed as the compass it looks alot better as was a bit run down before. Very impressed with Amstel on tap (nice glasses as well) however pool table very small and no real room to play. Overall a good pub for a few hours off peak but not recommended for a whole night.
andrew - 18 Jan 2004 16:47 |
I know the bloke, but i don't drink there any more coz it's crap. Just a smaller version of the Firkin. You want to drink in the Railway.
Paul - 3 Oct 2003 02:34 |
Does a bloke with a big beard called Woody still drink there? The bloke was called Woody, not the beard...
Pauly H - 10 Jul 2003 13:59 |
Old Mans Pub, crazy bar staff and lots of smoke - pretty traditional irish!!!
kat - 27 Nov 2002 03:48 |
