please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
With few other pubs opening ahead of midday on a Sunday, my third stop in Bromley was the Barrel & Horn. It was open early presumably to profit from the breakfast trade. But, whilst nobody was eating, there were a few drinkers. Fuller's Due South was the only cask ale, with Weston's Old Rosie the real cider. But, more importantly, there is an impressive range of craft beers. An 8.2% stout from Fyne Ales caught my eye. But, I didn't want anything particularly strong on a Sunday morning. So, I settled for the Old Rosie at 7.3%! There is a good range of bottled beers too. With a CAMRA discount, my half of Old Rosie was only £2. So, it's only the keg options that are pricy. A very pleasant place to while away some time whilst waiting for other local establishments to open.
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Dropped in for a quick pint on a Thursday afternoon between Christmas and New Year.
Relatively busy when I arrived with a mix of clientele and ages.
Only 2 ales on cask so I went for a keg option from the 17 hand pumps. These were a mix of ales, lager and ciders with all but 3 coming from the UK. My choice of Weird Beard's Little things that kill @ 3.9% was extremely good but a little hard to swallow at £5.15 a pint, blimey is Bromley really that expensive now!
A nice enough place that is more of a bar than a pub but with a good choice of ales and a calm atmosphere it's worth a visit.
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Great beer and a fantastic choice, what lets this place down is the staff seem to fail to clean the tables and often serve pints that are questionable in volume.
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This has been called the Barrel & Horn for a couple of years now (still owned by Fullers)
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My first visit here since the name and decor changed from the Tom Foolery.
Now has an entry in the GBG 2014 but is still wrestling away from being a Bromley High St pub. The clientele & costs is similar to the other pubs in the High St area....ie expensive and full of people that think they are 'something'.
4 hand pumps that had 2 ales on, the gravity taps number in excess of a dozen and boost a couple of ales alongside the craft lagers.
Good selection of bottled beers but you need to stare them out to find them. I went for a bottle of Bear Republic's Hop Rod Rye @ 8%...just over £4.40 a bottle. It sounds steep but its the same as you would pay in San Francisco which is a damn sight closer to where this ale comes from. My 2nd choice was a beer from Koha Brewery and was pretty much the same cost, yet again though another quality bottle of craft American ale.
The layout has remained pretty much the same but credit to Fullers as this feels much more like a free house than a owned and managed brewery pub, hats off to them for that.
At last Bromley has some decent pubs in the High Sr area.....its long overdue.
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This pub sells a very large and good selection of draught beer, best sampled in half pints, mostly because it is so expensive.
The decor is what I would call shabby sheek.
The food is excellent if a bit on the costly size.
Lots of customers have thier little Rodney and Camilla in tow, just dont know why parents take thier little darlings in hear, must cost them a fortune.
Top of the beer list is one called Fruili, a strawberry flavoured beer from Holland, just pop in and have a couple of halves, this stuff can creep up on you, the taste is very deceptive, reminds me of carona.
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Just been to the Barrel and Horn and was very impressed. Very friendly and knowledgeable bar staff, a great range of beers, good music and a relaxed atmosphere.
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Although I haven't visited yet the Barrel and Horn is now open. Apparently it is still officially a Fullers pub.
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Going, going, gone. The Tom Foolery is no more with a new venture The Barrel and Horn opening shortly. For Fullers' drinkers you just have to move a couple of doors along to The Partridge.
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Well kept Fuller's ales and good service in one of the better Bromley pubs. However in grumpy old sod mode - the middle section did resemble a creche during recent Saturday late afternoon visit.
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This pub is far too expensive for what it is. Whenever I go in there it seems to be full of people who think they are a little bit above everyone else. One word sums this pub up, BORING!
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This place recently lost its Sky TV coverage. The Fullers pub a few doors down will continue to show all the big football matches this season, and no doubt get the lion's share of the trade. Someone's hatched a plot and it doesn't augur well for the Tom...
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Regular watering hole of mine. It has a nice atmosphere, although as other users have said, a bit on the pricey side. Usual Fuller's mainstays on the pumps (ESB, Discovery, Fullers). One of the nicer pubs in Bromley.
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I'm not sure whether it's crass stupidity or brilliant positioning by Fullers to have two pubs within a few doors of each other on the High Street. Perhaps they reason that drinkers fleeing from the Swan and Mitre can take refuge in the Tom Foolery and those avoiding the Compass can use the Partridge, so they get the trade both ways. I prefer the Partridge and have only recently used the Tom when the P has been packed out. It would only work for me as a pub if they raised the roof a few feet, put in some decent lighting, lowered the prices and extended the bar.
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The steep prices in the Tom contrast markedly with the Swan & Mitre and the Walkabout nearby. Given that there have been some very serious incidents or concerns recently associated with the latter two establishments, it doesn't take a genius to work out that the Tom's prices are, at least in part, designed to keep out some extremely dodgy characters. And it seems to be working.
On 3/11 at about 5.30pm, police closed all the pubs along that stretch of Bromley High St. after trouble apparently kicked off big time at the Swan. And that followed a fatal assault following an incident in the Swan over the weekend. The Tom and The Partridge are oases of sanity in that area, so if you do want to drink and eat around there, you're gonna have to stump up the cash.
Regarding the staff. I took a friend to the Tom about three weeks ago. He'd never been before. His mother had died that day so we found a comfy sofa to have a quiet chat. Having not eaten for ages, he took an interest in the menu, but the barmaid informed us the chef was on an hour's break.
Neither of us had said anything, but she had clearly picked up that the poor guy I was with needed some TLC. She urged him to pop to the cafe next door and bring back a take out, and when he returned, a full table had been set for him. My mate was a bit stunned by all this, and then a cup of coffee arrived for him, on the house, courtesy of the manager who had appeared behind the bar. Service like that... priceless.
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Have to agree with Jones - we are in a credit crunch and the only pubs that deserve to survive are those that satisfy their customers, on price, beer and facilities. Wetherspoons have held prices, and even Walkabout are doing 25% off. It's now �5.45 for a pint of lager and a half of coke in here, which is an insult - what planet are these people on?
It's a really good pub otherwise, but I refuse to pay top dollar for a quiet pint - if you can afford it then good luck to you, but I'll never set foot in the place again on price principle.
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Sorry CC12 SH, the fact is there are better pubs within the square mile that offer better beer for less money - that's just the way it is. I would have thought that the economic clich� you mention will see the cheaper pubs do better than this slightly unatmospheric, inferior cousin of The Partridge. Decent beer, excellent staff and not a bad spot to watch the football but it's not worth paying more for.
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A very nice place to enjoy a nice pint. Good selection of Fullers Ale's, along with some good lagers, especially the Franziskaner Weissbiere. A little more expensive than other bar's in the area, but this appears to have got rod of the chav element, and left a nice mix of drinkers, so it has had a positive impact. Good atmosphere, and good food, worth paying a little extra for I think. Although this place does have the smallest, and worst beer garden I have ever seen!
Sunday afternoon can be a little annoying when football is on, due to people insisting on shouting at TV's (they can't answer back you mongs!), so if you want a quiet sunday lunchtime pint, this may not be for you sometimes, on the whole though, well worth a visit.
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Honestly, to the people complaining about beer being 5p more expensive than the Partridge, firstly, it is 2009, there is an economic crisis going on, i doubt you will find many pubs serving bitter or larger under �3. anywhere. Secondly, you pay for service in here, it is welcoming with a lovely atmosphere, unlike i have to say the partridge which i feel has a very men only atmosphere, probably only seeing 5 women inside a year, including the female staff! whereas the staff of the tom foolery are very amicable, and always polite.
If it's an old man's pub your looking for in bromley, where it smells of dead moths, the drinks are slightly cheaper, served on a sticky bar, and the toilets are foul, rarely seeing a good clean then head on over to the swan instead!
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Not sure why people are saying this is expensive �3 a pint is about average nowadays in fact i had a Discovery in here which was �3 and next door in the Partridge a pint of Jack Frost was �3.05 and the food looked better in this pub than next door
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The most expensive pub in Bromley - �5.05 for a half of coca cola and a pint of London Pride. Ouch.
Shame as it is quite reasonanable inside. However, have voted with my pocket and will not be back - people are not stupid and will not wear this kind of pricing
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Back working in the area and popped in after an absense of a couple of years and i have to say its gone downhill, and has been mentioned three quid for a pint of pride is a bit excessive, especially as they can't be bothered to clean the toilets.
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The Tom Foolery used to be a great pub a few years ago. however recently it has really gone downhill. it used to be a well run clean and friendly pub however that's not the case now.
i haven't been in there for a while now but pass it often. every time i go past it is nearly empty even on a Saturday evening it looked very quiet. �3 for a pint of London Pride that pretty bad when it is cheaper in the Partridge.
it used to be a main choice to go in the north part of the town centre but i have no plans to go back while it is in it's current state. while the pub market remains unpredictable and tough i can see this place closing in the not too distant future. Bromley Town Centre needs a decent 'old man' style pub serving lots of ales with lots of character. Pubs need to make more of an effort to bring the punters in.
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OK pub. As a country cousin I was a bit surprised to be charged an eye-watering three quid for a pint of Pride, especially as it was only 2.85 in the Partridge.
BTW I bought two half-litres of beer in a restaurant in Portugal a couple of weeks ago. Cost? Three euros.
Rip-off Britain lives!
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Would agree with recent comments. Despite winning Fullers Pub awards in previous years, I feel the character of the Tom Foolery recently just hasn't hit the spot; it's on its way to becoming another run-of the mill town centre boozer. Big screen for sport, and well-kept beers, though never seems to have the range of seasonal Fullers ales which the Partridge a few doors down has; plus I've often had to ask for a short measure pint to be topped up. Hope it returns to its former glory days.
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This used to be a real gem within the dross pubs of Bromley. Ale kept properly, good food and sport on good sized screens. One of the few pubs you could be guaranteed to get to see a Rugby International without endless Football.....
But now for some completely inane reason, real sport is banished to the rear screens with no commentary and the front screen is used for Sky Sports News???.... only to be watched by a few saddos, clutching their racing post and losing betting slips..........
Madness!!!
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A Fullers pub which has won several awards (a fact attested by the plaques by the entrance); I sadly left The Tom Foolery disappointed on my visit last Saturday (12th Jan). The beers, as anticipated, were top notch and my first pint of Discovery in five months, was washed down my gullet with most ease. However, strip the goodness of the ales away, and you are left with a rather bare, dull and in my opinion, incredibly boring pub. Beers are not everything. The background dross served up cunningly as �music�, insulted my ears and whilst those within seemed content enough, I wasn�t. Fullers have seemingly decided to opt for all things contemporary and trendy and whilst such establishments have their place, they could�ve at least made a good stab at it. I was looking forward to my visit last Saturday (12th Jan). I�ll give it a 6 for the Discovery, but this bar unfortunately gets given the �must try harder� tag by this reviewer.
HTM69 - 16 Jan 2008 18:29 |
Another boring old fart pub similar to the partridge.
anonymous - 23 Aug 2007 15:26 |
A bit too yuppie like for me & a tad pretentious. However the staff are efficient, and the beer is fine - all be it a little pricey though.
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Absolutely spectacular - first pub I've been in on a high street in ages and enjoyed myself.
Was introduced to the Manageress who is great... Will definately return!
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Average town centre Fullers pub with modern feel and decent enough Pride - nothing to detain you long.
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Good place, nice service, welcoming environment. Very expensive for a pub though.
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This pub continues to amaze me in that unlike many others which open with good service for the first few weeks and then tail off into indifferent and slipshod service, this has kept up a consistent high standard since it first opened. The staff are always well-turned out, polite and friendly, careful to serve customers as quickly as possible and in the right order, and always say a cheerful farewell as one leaves. Although its prices are at the high end for drinks and pub food, the food is always first-rate and there's an interesting range of daily specials. The secret I think is that the manager Sue takes a close interest in running the pub well - even though she oversees the kitchen she's visible in the bar every day - unlike the nearby Partridge where I've never seen anyone I could identify as the manager.
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Great staff, very clean, good beer and selection of spirits. More like a living room than a pub with people's behaviour matching the setting. Worth the extra money to drink in a calm safe environment.
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It's not a bad place considering what's around it - but a bit yuppie and very expensive.
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This is a pleasing and relaxing place for a beer. It is a good cross between a traditional pub and a more bar-like set-up. So wooden seats and sofas, bare floors and thick rugs! The Fullers beers on draft are always excellent. Although the clientele in this pub are fine, the bar is unfortunately in the middle of the drink-fuelled Bromley North warzone, so bear that in mind when you leave!
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Feels like drinking in a shop rather than a pub. Food expensive. Beer above average. Very clinical atmosphere. Rather drink in the pubs just down the road.
Leslie - 23 Sep 2004 10:43 |
I've only popped into the Tom Foolery once, and I'm sorry to say that I am a 'Kid', although fortunately not a chav!
To be perfectly honest, I went in to impress a girl I was with, she was a bit sophisticated for me so I figured all the usual haunts would be out of the question.
Just the two of us, wandered in and tried to act like I frequented the place...unfortunately they need to make the place easier to blag - a fine establishment, but I don't think I pulled it off.
Good drinks, nice atmosphere, cosy furniture - even for a young 'un like me!
(maybe put up some sign posts to things like the toilets...that would really help next time)
Matt - 2 Jun 2004 15:17 |
Best pub in Bromley by far. It has a mix of all ages but generally all over 21 years, good food, good friendly staff and they have a decent plasma screen and show most football matches. It's refreshing to have a nice place in Bromley away from most of the trouble-making Chavs!
The Chin - 13 Apr 2004 15:29 |
Yep best pub in Bromley with no kids.. All mid twenties.
Adam - 12 Feb 2004 17:27 |
Definitely the best pub in Bromley. Excellent food, great staff and a proper landlady! Suits the 25+ professional crowd, but it's not poncy. If you like this one, try the Partridge two doors down. Again, for over 21's and no kids or lager louts get in there.
Louise R. - 5 Feb 2004 09:39 |
The only decent pub in existence - should I rephrase in 'Bromley' The place has a reasonable selection of ales, the staff are always on good form and it has that slightly more pleasant look that keeps the lager louts at bay. The only way ahead for a good hassle free night in Bromley....
Ross - 23 Dec 2003 18:21 |
Probably the best pub in Bromley. I wish I'd known when the ex-carrier AC crew were going though as that would have been a laugh! the more thoughtful persons pub in Bromley.
David - 11 Dec 2003 22:04 |
Definitely the best pub of a bad bunch in Bromley. Food is excellent and they serve draught strongbow. Tip - don't drink in Bromley on Friday and Saturday nights unless you are 15 or nuts.
Sal - 23 Jul 2003 13:26 |
Not bad - doesn't tend to get quite as rammed at the weekend as the Pamphilon, and has nice comfy leather sofas. Nice place to go for lunch - had excellent smoked salmon and scrambled eggs there.
Pauly H - 10 Jul 2003 13:56 |
1 year old Fullers bar. Brilliant atmospere, and good food.
Lee - 10 Apr 2003 14:00 |
