please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Major fire at this pub - last month.
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This pub is now simply called the Charcoal. After a long walk in the rain from the Hill Top Tap after the bus went early, I was happy to see the door open. But, with the landlady still hoovering, they weren't yet open. Another Sidcup pub with incorrect opening times on various websites. This place does not open until midday. I set off for the Alma and returned after. I wish I hadn't bothered. There's 2 rooms. The larger one was sparsely furnished and had no atmosphere at all. The toilets were well decorated though. Sharp's Doom Bar is once again the regular ale. The guest was Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter. Disappointing to say the least.
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Visited the Charcoal Burner a couple of weeks ago. A dramatic improvement since change of owners. In the main bar the alcoves have been removed giving more space and light. A great atmosphere. Keep up the good work.
Boyne - 29 May 2013 13:14 |
Went to the Charcoal Burner this week, surprised its now under new ownership. Had a nice pint of 1664 and the staff were smart and friendly, what a difference it has made !!
The atmosphere is great now, met the new owner Stan, seems a real people person ! Definitely worth a visit !!
jonjo - 13 Apr 2013 13:04 |
Dreadful! Devoid of atmosphere, hideous interior and very expensive. Also tends to attract a yobby element.
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could be a great pub
se9er - 29 Oct 2011 13:19 |
Have heard that the Charcoal Burner is to be sold. Not before time. A perfect opportunity to turn the place into a decent pub.
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I can't add any positive responsives, I'm afraid, even though I would love for a such a local establishment to prosper.
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Give that the the UK is (or has been) ina a recession and that the on-trade is seeing pub clousres running at between 4-9 per day, it's a wonder that this place survives.
Had an attempt at Sunday lunch in here today and it was an unmitigated disaster; ordered drinks at the bar - as driving I had a p9int of Lime and Soda, not the hardest drink to get wrong, but I ended up with a pint of flat green water. The wife had an oj and both glasses were dirty and smeared. Not a great start.
We had reserved a table this morning by phone - however the secen in the main dining area was awful; set in a grubby conservatory, which was crammed full of chaep looking furniture. Managed to squeeze our way into a corner table only to find dirty cutlery laid out on the table. Ordered the roast lunch with a soup starter; soup was awfu and had obviously just been poured from a tin and out through a microwave. At this point we though about leaving. However we deceided to wait for the main course. 90 minutes later we were still waiting and when it did arrive it looked disgusting and tasted little better. The lamb was more fat than meat, roast potaoes had been fried, veg was limp and looked like it had been cooked a week ago.
Being fair, we spoke to the manager who, while disagreeing with our comments about the quality of the food offered us a full refund. Went ot the bar to settle up only yo be told that their card machine was broken so they could only take cash!!
All in all an awful example of how not to run a pub. Will never set foot in this excuse of a pub again. I just can't beleive that int he current climate the landlordlady can afford to offer such a porr service and hope to keep this pub alive.
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It's a bit of a joke of a place really. The toilets being in the middle (and you have to walk through them or go outside to get from one bar to the other) is something you would have thought would've been sorted ages ago. They could probably add three floors to the place with the prices they charge. It's a pub on the corner on a Sidcup street, so why so much for a Fosters and a Kronenbourg?
I've never known there to be anything resembling a decent atmosphere in there either. A last resort pub if ever there was one. Surprising I go in there so often really.
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Not only is the beer dear it is also not very good. Yet another pub which can't be bothered to keep beer properly.
Boyne - 20 Jan 2009 13:20 |
dear pub to drink in
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This is my local, I'm a well known builder around the area.
Very expensive though due to Bruce & Sharon's previous lifestyle of thinking they were celebrities instead of figure of fun folk.
They are now hands off (won't mention Keep it Cool Ken) ;-)
Anyway the beer is okay although the bar staff change nearly every other week due to the low wages they are given, they don't put up with if it for long.
I remember dear old Bruce and Sharon once had a trip from the pub to Lingfield where they raised �100 on the coach from everyone on scratch cards for "the driver". Anyway the poor old driver didn't see any of this money and good old Brucie & Shaz whoofed all the money in the champagne bar as soon as they got to the races! Shocking! Anyway worth a visit, see you soon!
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Revisited and went into the posh bar, quite pleasant, surprisingly busy at 5 pm. Bought some DVD'S from Mr Chan. Worth going just to see the blonde barmaid, straight out of a 60's movie.
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Made the mistake of going to the pub on a Saturday afternoon. I think the local rugby team had just arrived along with the local football team, could not hear myself speak, why do these types always shout at each other and hang around the bar so you have a struggle getting another drink. Lady bar staff ok, but to noisy for me, bye bye.
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First went here 3 years ago when they sold Stella in ice cold glasses! Decor not too bad but makes up for that with female only bar staff!
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The Charcoal Burner is an awful pub. No atmosphere and the beer is far too expensive. The pub should be razed to the ground and a better one put in its place.
It was a good pub when Smithy ran it but the new owners have ruined it.
Boyne - 31 Aug 2007 12:22 |
Pleasant locals pub typical of South London surburbia but with a very cosy feel, visual interest and excellent Courage Best. Visit
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hi i have recently moved to the local area around the charcoal burner, so have made it my new watering hole! A bit of an old mans boozer but being 26 and young and good looking i thought this is the place for me! I love the fact that there are no male bar staff so whenever you fancy a pint there is always females to chat up, wheather its pat for the mature gentleman or claire and her pals for us younger hot blooded males! I love this boozer, but it hurts the hip for the price of a pint. joe
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Go in here some Fridays with the old man and a few pals if we fancy having a quiet 1 nice crowd very much a locals pub although you will probably get some stares you won't recive any aggro, if you can go to the main bar back bar is pretty poor and lacks atmosphere all the lads that have just turned 18 seem to gather in there for there 1st years of pub life experience mailny wearing a polo shirt with some tracky bottoms. Nice 1 lads
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Eyes burn into your back as you enter the bar not a good feeling especially for a woman! Weird interior layout almost like Handy Andy has been round and forgot to finish decorating. I would not call it a friendly pub for strangers maybe only suitable for the odd bunch of regulars who grunt and groan at each other in a bid to emminate some masonic gathering. Drink was ok but pricey, I would not recommend you take your children there or even yourself!
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the pub has got alot better now deb has gone it went right down hill but now its getting back to being a nice pub again with nice bar staff!! good food good beer and no deb what more would we want WELL DONE!
anonymous - 1 Jan 2006 15:46 |
Currently the best bitter drinking pub in the area although the Alma does come a close second and not much else can challenge. It is worth an extra few pence for a decent pint also sells draught Fosters and San Miguel which I'm told is also well kept.
Davetheaddick - 23 Jul 2004 10:30 |
Fantastic beer - Harveys Sussex Best Bitter is a fantastic pint, better than any gnats pee lager that the under 18s seem to prefer. Forget the shabby furniture, this is a pub the way they are meant to be.
Dave - 2 Jun 2004 22:56 |
Not a good pub. Looks rubbish, get a bad vibe when you go in if no one recognises you. Drinks are absurdly expensive considering the state of the place. Patio furniture inside the pub. Two bars, one of them shows whatever sport is on terrestial and has a dartboard. Has seats for a drink outside. Wide choice of beers available (including favourite lager Kronenberg 1664 - automatically gives it a pont for me) and sometimes has attractive barmaids, but that can't rescue this abysmal pub. Which is unfortunately my local.
Aaron - 9 Jan 2004 01:20 |
Great pub, doesn't look much from the outside but great inside. An excellent music quiz on the first Thursday of every month. Good beer, surprisingly good food......give it a visit
Homer - 2 Oct 2003 16:46 |
