please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This gets a good review from me. To be honest it's not really my sort of pub I like to play pool and darts in the pub and you can't do that here.
Having said that I certainly see the attraction with this pub. It's got a great beer garden, excellent beer, really friendly staff .If you want a quiet drink with your bird or even on your own ,you couldn't do much better than here..
One of the best pubs I've ever visited
|
Why is this pub not in Farnborough in Hants, it sounds great!
|
quick update on the woodman, it's recently been cask marqued & they have new kitchen staff, the food is lovely, christmas menu looks good and their winter menu should be out for october, they still only do lunch (and thursday nights before the quiz) but rome wasn't built in a day..
|
Woodman is my local as there is no better pub in the area. A rare place to find the speciality beers brewed by Sheps micro brewery with the odd guest. The current special is called Old Faversham Gold and it is so nice it won't be around for long!
The pub is clean and bright and the garden has recently been done up (and survived Farnfest!)
Yes the pub is off the beaten track but is equally as good as the nearby 5 Bells in Chelsfield and that won a local CAMRA award.
Quite why this pub is not in the GBG defeats me, so come on SEL CAMRA get down to Farnborough Village and see what you are missing. (Let me know when you are going and I will meet you there!)
I have lived in the area for 10 years and moaned about the lack of decent unusual and well kept ale. There are pubs that do ale, do unusual and some even on the odd occasion do well kept. The Woodman does all 3! If I had one moan, it would be that the beer is on the pricey for the area side but am happy to pay abit more for quality.
|
update on this pub which is now my local. the refurbisment of the beer garden has now been completed and it has had a radical transformation for the better. the regular beers are sheps best, masterbrew and spitfire and the other handpump normallly has either a sheps seasonal or something from the new micro brewery. excellent food is served at lunchtimes and various entertainment is laid on several evenings a month. usually a music night and quiz nights and other things at the landlords choice . see the events page for forthcoming events. finally the landlord and his fiancee have settled down along with their friendly dog buddy and they make people welcome. dogs are permitted too. well worth seeking out if you are in the area
|
Beer was great and well kept
Heard recently that they will be introducing new brews from the Shep's micro brewery, can't wait to try them cos they're very hard to find.
Food good, can't face a desert tonight had so much in my main course!!
Farnborough may be a little out of most people's way but definately worth seeking out.
|
An quick update on the Woody, new (old) management been there a while now and the beer quality is back to its absolute best. At the moment its Kents best, Masterbrew, Spitfire and Bishops Finger and all are superb.
The new team are putting the pub back where it was, at the heart of village life and I can not praise this place enough.
If you've not been there for a while and fancy somewhere different, give it a go.
The Woodman has to a certain extent restored my faith in local pubs (as opposed to pubs for locals!) Around here they all seem to be a bit samey. Its refreshing to see someone doing something different and for that the team at the Woodman deserve aplause and custom! (Would even comtemplate a 10, but if I did what room would there be for improvement!?)
|
At time of last post a change of ownership had not (recently,) happened, but it now has and this has led to a few changes all for the better. Beer quality improved and a kitchen refit should mean the food offerings get better.
As for the beer being cheaper elsewhere, well quality costs and the Spitfire in the Woodman is currently top notch
|
I suspect a change of ownership has taken place.Have visited over the years anyone remember when it was the "Brocks Sett"
Prices are very ott A pint of Spitfire now �3 yet Harveys at the "Jailhouse" still �2.85 SAY NO MORE
|
Visited the Woodman during the FarnFest and have to say I was impressed with the quality of SN beers and the bands playing in the garden. One gripe - the pub will need more barstaff for next years FarnFest to keep up with demand.
|
The last post does not reflect the Woodman I know, (and I am by no means a local.)
Yes the pub is well used by the locals but they are a friendly lot and I have never had any problems getting served.
Good range of Sheps beers to boot.
|
Pokey pub with tiny bar area, add to this a Mafia of locals guarding their precious barspace, therefore getting served is a real chore. Shepherd Neame house so not much choice of ales.
Nice looking garden but you will be spending most of your time waiting to be served.
Shame cos i could walk home from here.
|
Have to disagree naturally young - though obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Firslty, the selection of beers you have mentioned is wider than most pubs that are inflicted on us these days - and you do omit to mention the two or three local ales/beers they always have on tap. Secondly I`m not sure what you mean by "no sign of the rotation policy" - what I meant was that they change their guest and tap ales on a regularly basis, something which again is not that common.
I have now moved away from the ghaslty suburbs of Orpington but still pine for the Woodman and would still recommend drinkers visit it if they can.
anonymous - 6 Nov 2005 14:40 |
Checked out this place due to the enthusiasm of the visitor below & was certainly expecting a lot. I was a little disappointed to find it was another Shepherd Neame boozer with the standard selection of Spitfire, Master Brew & the seasonsal special, Goldings. No sign of the "constantly changing rotation policy". A nice back garden with a decent weekend BBQ. A good regular haunt if you live locally but not sure it's worth missioning for.
|
The outskirts of Orpington have a lot in common with the dark side of the Moon � both have featureless landscapes and most members of the human race wouldn�t go there if you paid them.
However, something that this settlement on the backside of London has which the Moon obviously doesn�t, is the Woodman, a simply outstanding little pub. The interior is snug, classic and oozes traditional character from the dark wooden d�cor and slightly separate seating areas through to the interestingly traditional paintings hanging on the walls and a well stocked bookshelf. The ale selection is awesome and constantly changing thanks to an adhered to rotation policy, and to top everything off, there is a good sized beer garden and a pretty decent pub menu that is well above average.
In short, its about as close to a perfect boozer as you are going to find and therefore its something of a tragedy that it lies both in a sleepy suburb and far removed from any infrastructure that might allow the fortunate passer by to happen upon it. However, if you ever get the chance to visit this 10/10 pub, TAKE IT!
anonymous - 30 Apr 2005 17:15 |
