Bromley: Club history
For Yeovil Town fans of a certain age Bromley means the night we clinched the Isthmian Premier League title on April 29th 1997 with two goals from Howard Forinton; but they do have a history of their own.
Credited with being founded in 1892, the club moved around a host of leagues in its early years, playing in the South London League, Southern League, London League, Kent League, Spartan League and Isthmian League (during which time they won the FA Amateur Cup in 1910-11) before finally ending up in the Athenian League where they remained until 1951, winning the title three times and the FA Amateur Cup a further twice.
In 1952 the club moved to the Isthmian League for a second time. There was a lengthy spell bobbing up and down the various Isthmian divisions. When the Glovers first came across the Ravens in 1986-87 they’d just been promoted back to the Premier. Yeovil Town finished second to Wycombe Wanderers in that campaign with Bromley in mid-table, but the following season the title was a race between the two clubs. Bromley entered the April run-in a point ahead but the Glovers had two games in hand and once the head-to-head had gone 3-0 Yeovil’s way at Huish with a Mick Doherty hat-trick the race was almost done and dusted. Yeovil went on to become Champions, with Bromley five points adrift in second.
Although, with Yeovil’s promotion back to the Conference, the two clubs were in different leagues in 1998-99 we did meet again, in the Isthmian (Vauxhall-Opel) Charity Shield. I was wondering why Bromley as opponents, but checking the matchday programme the Isthmian chairman’s notes mention that as we’d won the double with the title and the Isthmian League (A.C. Delco) Cup they’d been drafted in as league runners-up. Anyway, Doherty slammed in another hat-trick in a 4-0 win.
Bromley carried on in the Isthmian, relegated in 1998-99 and promoted back to the Premier in 2004-03 through the play-offs, beating Horsham in the Final. In 2006-07 they finished second to Hampton & Richmond Borough but play-off wins against AFC Wimbledon 1-0 and Billericay Town 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw saw promotion to Conference South.
There were six season of complete mid-table obscurity until 2013-14 when Bromley finished third. However the play-offs weren’t kind, seeing them knocked out at the semi-final stage by Ebbsfleet United. The following season, 2014-15, they ignored the play-offs by gaining promotion to the National League as Champions.
Now into their eighth season in the NLP they were initially determinedly mid-table again, finishing 14th, 10th, 9th 12th and 13th. They did reach Wembley during this period, as losing FA Trophy Finalists in 2017-18 to Brackley Town 5-4 on penalties.
The 2020-21 season saw mid-table shaken off as Bromley finished in the highest position in the pyramid in its history, squeaking into the play-offs in 7th by a point over Wrexham. It was a brief moment in the sun, knocked out by Hartlepool United 3-2 at the quarter-final stage.
Last season they were 10th in the league but did secure another trip to Wembley in the FA Trophy, defeating Wrexham 1-0.
Like many clubs Bromley moved around different venues initially, before eventually settling at Hayes Lane in 1904. In 1938 they shifted site when the current stadium was opened, but still in Hayes Lane. The arrival of successful businessman Robin Stanton-Gleaves in 2015, initially as an investor, then quickly becoming a Director and finally Chairman/owner, has coincided with some substantial development of the ground, with an artificial 3G pitch installed in 2017 and an all-seated 1,450 capacity stand and new club offices opening in 2019.
Bromley: We’ve Met Before
Previous Results for Yeovil Town First Team vs Bromley
| 21/03/1987 | Away | IS-P | W | 2-0 | 551 | Zachhau (2) | |
| 02/05/1987 | Home | IS-P | W | 4-1 | 2398 | Donnellan, Randall, Coates, Wallace | |
| 05/09/1987 | Away | IS-P | L | 1-2 | 480 | Rutter 48 | |
| 09/04/1988 | Home | IS-P | W | 3-0 | 3451 | Doherty 52, 66, 79 | |
| 29/08/1998 | Home | IS-CS | W | 4-0 | 1102 | Doherty 33, 77,80, Grimshaw 84 | |
| 01/02/1992 | Away | FATR2 | W | 3-1 | 665 | Carroll 10, Spencer 21, 90 | |
| 28/10/1995 | Away | IS-P | W | 5-1 | 358 | Dillon, Patmore (2), St Hilaire, Burton | |
| 24/02/1996 | Home | IS-P | W | 4-3 | 1869 | Braybrook, Whale, Patmore, St Hilaire | |
| 24/08/1996 | Home | IS-P | W | 1-0 | 1810 | Turner | |
| 29/04/1997 | Away | IS-P | W | 2-0 | 979 | Forinton (2) | |
| 28/09/2019 | Home | NLP | W | 3-1 | 3960 | Smith 45+2, Okoye (og) 72, Lee 77 | |
| 30/11/2019 | Away | NLP | D | 1-1 | 2261 | Murphy 90+7 | |
| 07/11/2020 | Away | FACR1 | W | 1-0 | 0 | aet Rogers 120+2 | |
| 08/12/2020 | Away | NLP | W | 2-1 | 710 | Murphy 7, Quigley 45+1 | |
| 16/03/2021 | Home | NLP | L | 1-2 | 0 | Murphy 64 | |
| 23/11/2021 | Away | NLP | W | 2-1 | 1910 | Knowles 18, Wakefield 45 | |
| 22/03/2022 | Home | NLP | W | 2-1 | 1732 | D’Ath 10, Knowles 71 | |
| 03/12/2022 | Away | NLP | (Match abandoned, 11 mins) | ||||
| 14/01/2023 | Away | NLP | L | 1-4 | 2245 | Oluwabori 65 | |
| 25/03/2023 | Home | NLP | L | 0-1 | 3480 |
Results Summary For Yeovil Town First Team vs Bromley
| Home | Away | Overall | ||||||||||||
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A |
| 7 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 42 | 20 |
Bromley: Club Statistics
RECENT SEQUENCE OF RESULTS
| 01/10/2022 | Solihull Moors | Away | NLP | D | 2-2 | 1498 | Alexander 34, Arthurs 67 |
| 04/10/2022 | Boreham Wood | Away | NLP | W | 2-0 | 751 | Marriott 30, 62 |
| 08/10/2022 | Gateshead | Home | NLP | D | 1-1 | 2593 | Dennis 72 |
| 15/10/2022 | Hereford | Home | FAC4Q | L | 1-2 | Whitely 72 | |
| 22/10/2022 | Chesterfield | Away | NLP | L | 2-3 | 5909 | Marriott 53, 78 |
| 25/10/2022 | Barnet | Home | NLP | L | 1-3 | 2092 | Clayden 66 |
| 29/10/2022 | Maidenhead | Away | NLP | L | 0-1 | 1255 | |
| 01/11/2022 | Notts County | Away | NLP | D | 1-1 | 6389 | Cheek 60 |
| 09/11/2022 | Woking | Home | NLP | L | 0-2 | 1633 | |
| 12/11/2022 | FC Halifax Town | Home | NLP | D | 1-1 | 2488 | Cheek 63 |
| 19/11/2022 | Dorking Wanderers | Away | NLP | W | 3-2 | 1907 | Cheek 36, Sowunmi 45+9, Forster 54 |
| 03/12/2022 | Yeovil Town | Home | NLP | (Abandoned, 11 minutes) | |||
| 10/12/2022 | Wealdstone | Home | NLP | D | 3-3 | 1674 | Sowunmi 51, Arthurs 62, 88 |
| 20/12/2022 | Bath City | Away | FAT3R | L | 2-2 | 551 | Webster 11, Whitely 21 (lost 5-4 on penalties) |
| 26/12/2022 | Southend United | Away | NLP | W | 1-0 | 6660 | Dennis 51 |
| 01/01/2023 | Southend United | Home | NLP | D | 0-0 | 3256 | |
| 07/01/2023 | Altrincham | Away | NLP | POSTPONED (waterlogged pitch) | |||
| 10/01/2023 | Wrexham | Away | NLP | L | 1-2 | 9807 | Whitely 33 |
| 14/01/2023 | Yeovil Town | Home | NLP |
ATTENDANCE STATISTICS
Highest League Attendance: 3,628
Lowest League Attendance: 1,618
Average League Attendance: 2,365
CURRENT LEAGUE MATCH SEQUENCE STATISTICS
| Games Without A Win: | 2 | Games Without A Home Win: | 6 | |
| Games Without An Away Win: | 1 | Games Without Defeat: | 0 | |
| Games Without A Home Defeat: | 3 | Games Without An Away Defeat: | 0 | |
| Games Without A Draw: | 1 | Games Without A Score Draw: | 3 | |
| Games Without A No-Score Draw: | 1 | Games Without Scoring: | 0 | |
| Games Without Conceding: | 0 | Home Results Sequence: | LLDDD | |
| Away Results Sequence: | LDWWL | Overall Results Sequence: | LLDLDWDWDL |
Bromley: Club Information
Hayes Lane Stadium
Hayes Lane
Bromley
BR2 9EF
Telephone Number: 0121 705 6770
Email: info@bromleyfc.net
Chairman: Robin Stanton-Gleaves
Club Secretary:
Stadium Manager/Safety Officer:
Media Manager: Josh Tindall
Manager: Andy Woodman
Capacity: 5150
Seated: 1606
Covered Terrace: 2500 (but away support uncovered)
Record Attendance : 10,798 v Nigeria, 24th September 1949, score 1-3 (The Story of the 1949 Nigerian Football Team’s UK Tour)
Colours: white shirt, black shorts, white socks
Nickname: Ravens
Programme: £2.50 (last season, don’t know this)
Ticket Prices
Tickets purchased for the fixture (abandoned) on 3rd December 2022 remain valid.
Adults: £20.00
Concessions (Over 65, Student, Registered Disabled with carer free): £15.00
Under 16: £7.00
Eleven and under: FREE (when accompanied by a paying adult)
Follow the LINK to purchase on-line. All tickets are e-mailed with an attached PDF file. There’s the option of printing your ticket off to take to Hayes Lane and scan at the turnstiles. Alternatively, it can be scanned via a mobile phone.
NOTE: There is a matchday purchase surcharge in place at Hayes Lane of an additional £2.00 on the above prices and that this applies to both on-line from midnight as well as walk-up. The ticket office opens for walk-up sales an hour and a half before kick-off. Card only payment.
Note that all the away provision at Hayes Lane is side-on uncovered standing terrace. Any visiting fans with reason to require a seat should speak to a steward who will escort them to one of the (limited) number of seats reserved in the home South Stand for such contingencies. The pitch is 3G.
Away fans enter through Entrance 2.
Official Away Travel
The Green & White Supporters’ Club is running away travel to Bromley on Saturday, January 14th with a 3.00 p.m. kick-off.
Note: those who travelled with the G&WSC for the original fixture can travel to this rearrangement for the reduced price of £12.
Details are as follows:
Members: Adults £24, Concessions £22
Non-Members: Adults £27, Concessions £25
Coach departs Huish Park: 9.00 a.m.
To book, call Paul Hadlow on 07736 044570 (only after 6.00 p.m. please) or email him on paulhadlow@outlook.com.
If you are getting in touch by email, please make it clear which match you are booking for and that you give your full name, the names of people that are travelling and a contact telephone number.
You may be asked to pay a £5 deposit to reserve your seat.
Bromley: Directions To The Ground
Bromley is towards the South-East corner of London at the northern edge of the Borough named after it. Hayes Lane (capacity 5,150 with 1,606 seats), which Cray Wanderers have ground shared throughout this century, is on the southern side of Bromley almost on the fringes of Hayes (the Kent one, not the Hayes & Yeading one!), as the ground name suggests. The open East Terrace we’ve been allocated is on the far side of the stadium as one walks up, in the north-east corner.
By Road
London is quite easy to find, a big place at the eastern end of the A303/M3. Then take the M25 anti-clockwise round to Junction 6, first exit northwards onto Caterham Bypass (A22).
At the end of the bypass, as approaching Whyteleafe, take the fourth exit off Wapses Lodge Roundabout onto Succomb’s Hill, a famous route for club cyclists eager to accept the challenge of its steepest point which tops out at 25%. Continue straight on as Succomb’s Hill becomes Narrow Lane.
At the end of Narrow Lane turn right onto Westhall Road. Keep following this road until it becomes Limpsfield Road (B269), continuing straight on until passing through Sanderstead.
At Sanderstead Pond Roundabout take third exit onto A2022 (Addington Road). When reaching the Coney Hall Roundabout with the A232 stay on Addington Road (second exit), which takes you towards Hayes.
At the fork take the left option, Tiepigs Lane rather than Bourne Way. Follow Tiepigs Lane up to the junction with Hayes Hill Road. Turn right and at the end of Hayes Hill Road right again onto Pickhurst Lane (B251).
Take the first left off Pickhurst Lane onto Bourne Vale. Follow Bourne Vale until the mini-roundabout, turning right onto Mead Way, then after a hundred yards take the first exit off the roundabout onto Hayes Lane (B256). The stadium is on the right off Hayes Lane.
If the challenge of Succomb’s Hill is not for you (first gear could well be needed) this can be avoided by continuing on the M25 until Junction 4, then taking the A21 and A232 towards Hayes until the Coney Hall Roundabout, after which the route is as above. This will add an extra ten miles to the journey.
Parking
The club’s website claims: “There is ample free car parking. Free parking is also available for minibuses and coaches.” I have no idea what they are talking about – perhaps this hasn’t been updated since them were getting Isthmian and NL South sized crowds? Or maybe there’s a whole area of car park I completely failed to spot as all have seen is a relatively small amount at the ground in which, unless one turned up pretty early, the chances of any spaces remaining seemed slim to non-existent.
Otherwise, there are no car parks close to the ground so it’s street parking. This is London, which means parking spots can be like gold dust – and just about as expensive. Rates in the Bromley area are at the cheaper end, between £1.00 and £2.00 per hour. The ground is situated right on the edge of Bromley Town Centre Outer CPZ. This is where an evening fixture would be advantageous as Outer CPZ parking charges end at 6.30 p.m. (though note that in central Bromley this extends up to 8.00 p.m.) Monday to Saturday.
However, never just assume in London, so do check the individual signage small print (such as permit only/resident only/registered disabled only) when thinking you’ve found that ideal parking spot. Although some cash & display options do remain these are decreasing rapidly and phone & card is far more common, with this Borough using the RingGo app system. Parking penalty charges range from £60 up to £130 in Bromley, depending on how much you’ve irritated them and also what type of zone the infringement has occurred in. On the plus side, Bromley does have a declared policy of not clamping vehicles and taking them to a pound many miles away (unless your parking is so outrageous as to be deemed hazardous) unlike some other London boroughs.
By Rail
The closest station to the stadium is Bromley South, served by Thameslink and Southeastern trains, which is 0.8 of a mile walk from the stadium. There is a bus service (see By Bus, below) towards the ground from Stop Y.
The next closest station is Hayes, served by Southeastern, 1.2 miles from the stadium. There is a bus service (see By Bus, below) towards the ground from Stop D. Bromley North railway station, served by Southeastern, is a 1.5 miles from the ground.
Bromley South trains run from Victoria; Hayes trains from Waterloo East; and Bromley North trains from London Bridge. Both Hayes and Bromley North are terminuses.
Journey time between Yeovil Junction and Bromley South (via Waterloo and Victoria) is usually from just over three hours to around three and a half hours depending on connections. At the time of writing there are no indications of industrial action planned on 14th January (but check nearer the day in what is a fluid situation for strikes). However, there are engineering works scheduled for that weekend on sections of the Exeter-Waterloo line. South Western Railway has implemented a revised timetable (which includes a bus replacement between Basingstoke and Woking) across the weekend. Average journey time has thus increased to around four to four and a half hours.
By Bus
The Nos. 119, 146 and 314 services all run from Bromley North railway station, going via the town centre and Bromley South railway station and then along Hayes Road and then Hayes Lane past the ground. The junction of Hayes Road/Hayes Lane (Stop V) north of the stadium or the Norman Park Stops south of the stadium are the closest, both a few minutes walk away. During the day expect one of these services around every ten minutes. During the evening this stretches out to one about every 15 minutes. Journey time is anything from about 15 to about 25 minutes depending how bad the traffic is from the centre; 7 to 12 minutes from Bromley South station.
The 119 and 314 are also the relevant services running from and to from Hayes railway station. Get off at Norman Park (Stop S). Journey time is around ten minutes on a clear run, significantly longer at busy times when the traffic snarls up.
Taxi
It may be London but there aren’t going to be many Black Cabs out round here. Click here for some taxi companies based in Bromley.
Of the railway stations mentioned above, Hayes and Bromley South have a taxi rank, Bromley North doesn’t.
Web Sites
The club’s Official Website can be found here: Bromley Football Club. In terms of organisation, navigation, ease of use and up-to-date information it’s an absolute shambles. The club also has an official Twitter account.
We’ve not come across any unofficial web presence.
Local Press
Presumably Bromley has some sort of local newspaper(s), but on-line at least it appears to fall into a press No Man’s Land between London and Kent and both town and club get very little coverage. Or perhaps just nothing ever happens there.
Bromley : Food & Drink
General
The area in the immediate vicinity of the stadium is very much residential housing to the West and North and parkland and patches of countryside to the East and South. Neither contains anything much in the way of places to eat or drink. The nearest pubs are probably the Bricklayers Arms and Bitter End Bar (both below), next door to each other on Masons Hill, 0.7 miles from the ground; and there’s a Wetherspoon, Richmal Crompton (below), right outside Bromley South railway station. Apart from those, and a couple of outlets that are more dining than pubs, you’ll need to be further up towards the centre of Bromley (a lot of choice) or down into Hayes (less choice) to find a wider variety of options.
Club Bar
There is a clubhouse, called Raven’s Bar – but not for us. Apparently it’s rather nice, alleged to have comfy furniture, central heating, Sky and BT Sports, fresh Pizzas, pies and pasties etc.; and cask and keg beers, some of which may come from tempting micro-breweries on occasion. But you’re not going to find out whether this true or myth & fable because we’re not welcome. At segregated matches visiting fan provision is some undefined food and drink out in the cold from a temporary outlet inside the away entrance. Our hosts add that contactless card is their preferred method of payment.
Local Pubs
Barrel & Horn: Officially a Fuller’s pub, though probably not like any one has come across before. Has two hand pumps, of which one serves a Fuller’s (usually whatever is seasonal, and never London Pride) and the other a guest beer. There are 14 keg lines; and again a mere nod to being a Fuller’s with Frontier and Asahi Super Dry lagers. The rest of the taps are a mix of a few mainstream offerings and a larger number of changing ‘craft’ options from small breweries. A (changing) Real Cider is always available. Food served from noon – 3.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m. weekdays, 11.00 a.m. – 10.00 p.m. Saturday and 11.00 a.m. – 9.00 p.m. Sunday. Family and disabled friendly. A few yards from The Partridge (see below), 1.2 miles (20+ minutes walk)from the stadium. Buses (see By Bus, above) can be picked up at Stop W (south from the pub along the High Street) and run past the ground. Opens from 12.00 noon every day, closing 11.00 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 1.00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Barrel & Horn, 204-206 High Street, Bromley, BR1 1PW. Tel: 020 8290 2039. Map: Barrel & Horn.
Bitter End Bar: Literally next door to the Bricklayers Arms (below) and 0.7 of a mile from the stadium so around 15 minutes walk, this micropub opened late December 2017 expanding from what had been a longstanding off-licence and delivery service. Has up to five Real Ales on, with something from Oakham as the regular and the other mostly but not exclusively sourced from south-eastern breweries. Typical recent offerings have been from the likes of Adnams, Harvey’s, Signature Brew, Tonbridge Brewery, Westerham Brewery. Has some keg beer lines, and a Real Cider is also available. Opens from 4.00 p.m. weekdays, 12.00 noon Saturday, 1.00 p.m. Sunday, closing at 11.00 p.m. everyday.
Bitter End Bar, 139 Masons Hill, Bromley, BR2 9HY. Tel: 020 8466 6083. Map: Bitter End.
Bricklayers Arms: On (something of a dog-legged, admittedly) route from Bromley South station to Hayes Lane this, along with Bitter End Bar (above), is one of the closest pubs to the ground at 0.7 of a mile so about 15 minutes walk. A split level two bar Shepherd & Neame hostelry, it restricts itself to their beers under either the Shepherd & Neame or Whitstable labels. No food on Monday, or on Tuesday lunchtime. After that it’s noon – 2.00 p.m. and from 6.00 p.m. in the evening weekdays; and all day Saturday & Sunday. It’s of the ‘pub grub’ variety. There’s both Sky and BT Sports on multiple screens. Football fan friendly, their website states: “We are proud to be affiliated with Bromley FC and we welcome all match supporters (home and away).” Outside there’s both a beer garden and upper floor patio area. Opening is from 12.00 noon every day, closing 11.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10.00 p.m. Sunday.
Bricklayers Arms, 141-143 Masons Hill, Bromley, BR2 9HW. Tel: 020 8460 4552. Map: Bricklayers.
Craft Beer Rooms: Micropub that opened March 2018 and was originally called Pie & Pints. On our last Bromley trip this was yet to re-open post-pandemic. Now appears to have resumed trading again. Details are hard to find as its Facebook page has remained completely dormant for a year and half and the website doesn’t look to have been updated in that time either. The beer range would seem to be ‘craft’ keg (no Real Ale) sourced from small independent breweries mainly from London & South-East but also more widely. Food is pizza brought in from a nearby pizzeria. Best guess opening times (sources vary or are out of date): from 4.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and noon Friday; closes (again best guess) 9.00 p.m. Sunday, 10.00 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 11.00 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. Just a few yards from Hayes Railway Station so 1.2 miles from the ground.
The Craft Beer Rooms, 6 Bourne Way, Hayes, BR2 7EY. Tel: 020 3876 1201. Map: Craft Beer Rooms.
Lock & Barrel: Newest (at the moment) micropub in the Bromley area, opening May 2019. It’s about six minutes walk from Bromley North station. One and a half miles from the stadium. For a bus to the ground pick up the No. 314 at Stop C (called Hammelton Road Stop though the Stop is actually on College Road), four minutes walk from the pub – journey time 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic – or walk back to the station to pick up more options. Serves up to seven changing Real Ales and four Keg beers mostly sourced from small independent London and Kent breweries. Food is of the Panini/Baguette sort available from 12.00 noon to 3.00 p.m. only. Small discount on Cask beers for CAMRA members. Opening times: Tuesday and Wednesday 12.00 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday 12.00 p.m. – 11.00 p.m.; Sunday 12.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m.
Lock & Barrel Ale House, 18 London Road, Bromley, BR1 3QR. Tel: 07939 550367. Map: Lock & Barrel.
Partridge: Large (bank conversion) Grade II listed Fuller’s pub in its ‘Ale & Pie’ format, a few yards from the Barrel & Horn (above) which is also a Fuller’s but the two couldn’t be much more different in style. Refurbished 2019, at the same time they increased the cask range from six to eight – presumably to accommodate more Dark Star beers – but seems to have cut back to six again more recently. CAMRA member discount of 50p a pint. Food served from noon – 3.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and all day Friday to Sunday. Disabled access, beer garden, further tables and chairs out the front, family friendly (including baby changing facilities), live music Saturday night. Opening hours: from 11.00 a.m. every day except Sunday which is 12.00 noon; closing 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11.30 p.m. Friday, midnight Saturday, 10.30 p.m. Sunday. Pretty much in the middle of town, right by the parish church, 1.2 miles (20+ minutes walk)from the stadium. Buses (see By Bus, above) can be picked up at Stop W (south from the pub along the High Street) and run past the ground.
The Partridge, 194 High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HE. Tel: 020 8464 7656. Map: Partridge.
Railway Tavern: The hostelry outside Bromley North Railway Station, owned by smallish Pubco Antic Collective which has around fifty outlets around London, mostly south of the river. Food, mostly in ‘Traditional British’ style served 4.00 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, noon – 10.00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon – 6.00 p.m. Sunday. Children allowed until 9.00 p.m. There are 7 handpumps. The keg lines are a mix of multinational and ‘craft’ options. Disabled access. Opening hours: 4.00 p.m. – 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday; noon – midnight Friday and Saturday; noon – 10.30 p.m. Sunday. 1.4 miles from the stadium (so 25 – 30 minutes walk) or pick up a bus (see By Bus, above) at Stop D outside the railway station.
The Railway Tavern, 45 East Street, Bromley, BR1 1QQ. Tel: 020 8460 7957. Map: Railway Tavern.
Real Ale Way: Micropub (a larger one than often the case) that opened July 2018 right opposite Hayes Railway Station. Opening times 2.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 2.00 p.m. – 11.00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m. Sunday. Up to nine (more usually six) cask beers on at a time, very much focused on local Kent breweries, and (several) Real Ciders, again with an emphasis on Kent producers, all served from a cold room. The House badged Session Bitter is produced by Tonbridge Brewery. 1.2 miles from the stadium (c. 25 minutes walk), 119 and 314 bus services run up past the ground from Hayes railway station (see By Bus, above). Did have a website when we first came across it but this appears to have been discontinued. Click here for a Facebook presence.
The Real Ale Way, 55 Station Approach, Hayes, BR2 7EB. Tel: (none currently listed by the pub itself). Map: Real Ale Way.
Richmal Crompton: One of two Spoons in town (the other is The Greyhound in the High Street). This one was a former supermarket – makes a change to see a pub converted from a supermarket rather than into one. Directly opposite the south side exit from Bromley South Railway Station, thus 0.8 miles – so around 15 minutes – walk to the stadium or you can take a bus (see By Bus, above). The three regulars here from the Wetherspoon core beer range are Greene King’s Abbot, IPA and Ruddles Best Bitter. There are four changing cask beers offered, plus a Real Cider. Family friendly (this one allows children up to 8.00 p.m.), disabled access, beer garden. Opening 8.00 p.m. every day, closing 11.45 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 12.15 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Richmal Crompton, 23 Westmoreland Place, Bromley, BR1 1DS. Tel: 020 8464 1586. Map: Richmal Crompton.
Star & Garter: Reopened in 2016 after being shut down for two years, this is now owned by the same people as The Stormbird in Camberwell. If there’s a better pub in the Bromley area for beer geeks we don’t know it: up to eight Cask hand pumps and fifteen Craft Keg lines. In fact we’d put it high in a Top Ten Beer Pubs list for the entire current National League Premier circuit. Beers are sourced from micro-breweries all over the country. A Real Cider is sometimes available, though more often in the summer. From September 2019 introduced a flat rate of £3.00 for all Real Ales – which for London, outside of Wetherspoons, is very good value. Post-lockdown re-opening this was up to £3.60 on our last visit. Family friendly though doesn’t do food, customers are allowed to bring in food from local takeaways. Disabled access and toilet facilities. Yet another pub where there are significant differences between what various sources say about opening hours. However Beer London has gone out of its way to try settle the matter and come up with: from 3.00 p.m. Monday; 1.00 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday to Thursday; 12.30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closes at 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday, 9.00 p.m. Sunday. At the north end of Bromley High Street, 1.3 miles (so about 25 minutes walk) from the stadium; buses that run past the ground can be picked up at Stop W further southwards along the High Street (see By Bus, above). There is a website but it was adapted for trading conditions under lockdown and hasn’t been refocused since.
Star & Garter, 227 High Street, Bromley, BR1 1NZ. Tel: 020 3730 9458. Map: Star & Garter.
Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You: London suburbia – absolutely no interest in West Country yokels, nor much in football, so there won’t be anything in common to talk about.
Top-Tip: Bring a mac, hat, gloves, scarf, thermos… hot water bottle! – it’s an open terrace in January.
Bromley Local Amenities: There’s a large shopping centre, The Glades, and a market on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The Green Midget Café, named as the Bromley venue serving spam in the eponymous Monty Python Spam sketch , was fictional and does not exist – which will be a huge disappointment to Gloverscast’s own Ben Barrett.
Other Points Of Interest: The Gateway to Kent – as no one has ever called Bromley. There are a lot of interesting things in Kent. Not so much in Bromley. H.G. Wells was born in Bromley. He didn’t recall his time there fondly, describing the place in one of his books as a “morbid sprawl of population”. When offered the Freedom of the Town he refused it, stating: “Bromley has not been particularly gracious to me nor I to Bromley and I don’t think I want to add the freedom of Bromley to the freedom of the City of London and the freedom of the City of Brussels – both of which I have.” Enid Blyton also lived in Bromley. Her fiction probably suited the town’s intellect more.
[No responsibility is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice.]