The Railway, Blackheath

Perfect venue for a chilled out Satruday afternoon session. Just make sure that
a) You're not in a hurry to get a drink, cos the bar staff certainly ain't in a hurry to serve you
b) You take out a second mortgage before buying a round which includes any lager drinkers having to 'settle' for a pint of Hoegaarden cos there's nothing else for them.
c) You try the All-Day Breakfast. Five star grub. Five star prices.

23 Jan 2005 11:40

The Star and Garter, Bromley

A pub with a personality disorder - in trying so hard to get away from the scummy reputation it had, it has tried to reinvent itself as a jazz bar/restaurant and it just doesn't work. Had a Frank Sinatra DVD playing one of the wide screen tvs on muted loop for 3 hours, had a host of barstaff who were ruthlessly efficient at emptying ashtrays and badgering people sitting at tables as to whether they would order food, but useless at serving drinks. The layout is poor, the acoustics are appalling, it's not a pub that people stay in for the evening. On the night we went it was advertised as a Jazz evening with a live singer from 8 til 11, but the singer (who was excellent) finished her set at 9 and we were then treated to the sounds of some anodyne pap being blasted through the sound system. I give the place six months before it goes bust - whether you love or hate the surrounding pubs - Greyhound, Swan, Bell etc - at least you know what you are letting yourself in for, whereas this place doesn't know what the hell it's trying to be yet.

28 Nov 2004 09:09