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The Broken Drum (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 |  | 1 |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | | 1 |
| New River - Lost River | | 1 |
| Fyne - Jarl |  | 1 |
| Wantsum - Black Prince | | 1 |
| Bexley - Golden Acre | | 2 |
| Bexley - Old Mill Autumn Ale | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Green and Gold (2025 Green Hop) | | 1 |
| Bexley - Hukins' Ernest Green Hop Pale | | 1 |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Health | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | | 1 |
| Broken Drum Home Brew - Two Flower - APA | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Traditional | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | | 1 |
| Kent - Session Pale | | 2 |
| Kent - Future Hop | | 1 |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Grandstand Bitter | | 1 |
| Broken Drum Home Brew - Ponder Stibbons |  | 1 |
| Bexley - Bexley's Own Beer (BOB) | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - KGB or Kent Golding Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Heavens | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
Jason Jones
Visits Details
04 Sep 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Third visit of this outing: By this time of late afternoon, the birthday gathering was building on its number of attendees. Prompt, friendly service from the new staff team on and following a change of hands at the beginning of 2026. It had a much larger bar than previously with two cask on handpumps at the bar. Its inside seating area appears to be somewhat slightly reduced.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New River - Lost River | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Good head and lacing sticking to the end on this pale straw-coloured blonde ale from brewing set up in 2015 on the banks of New River in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. A gentle citrusy first hit. A fruited hoppiness rising with lemon-like citrus notes and a hint of grapefruit and peach for me. Its likely hops are Citra or Cascade behind its lemony citrus and grapefruit touches, New Zealand hops, Wai-iti or Nelson Sauvin, favoured for their lighter ales lending peach and stone fruit touches, and Goldings or First Gold, the traditional British hop, aiding its mild bittering foundation. A dry hoppiness prevailing with the merest hint of malt joining in from local malts likely to be Maris Otter or Extra Pale Malt aiding the light straw colour to remain intact alongside a touch of Caramalt or Wheat Malt to aid a light sweetness and the beer’s head retention. A lingering dry bitterness abseiling out. Served in very good nick. |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Health | 3.60 | | 1st beer of this visit: Displaying very good head and lasting lacing on this Kentish honey-coloured golden ale brewed just outside Herne Bay at the Bleangate Brewery in Herne, Kent, set up in 2012. A lightly fruited first hit. A slightly citrusy fruit-infused hoppiness rising with touches of orange peel flavouring. A faint hint of maltiness from its hand-turned, floor-malted Maris Otter barley. Its fruited hoppiness prevailing from its locally grown Kentish hops before the slide downwards. Its likely hops are First Gold, a modern Kentish dwarf hop behind prominent citrus, orange peel and sweet marmalade, East Kent Goldings routinely used in golden ales behind a honey-like sweetness and Pilgrim lending a bittering foundation and subtle fruity notes so befitting the overall flavours of Good Health. Served in good nick with lasting conditioning. |
21 Mar 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit on 2nd day of its re-opening. Some familiar faces in situ. More wine bar feel than alehouse now with the changes made here and 2 handpumps have replaced the former gravity dispenses.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bexley - Old Mill Autumn Ale | 4.50 | | Not my favourite Bexley ale but poured with good head and retained lacing. Quite creamy texture |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried |
29 Dec 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Valedictory visit until close. Valedictory as current licensee is closing on New Year's eve with a new regime taking over in about a month's time. Seems highly likely to be the end of Broken Drum brewery too although operates elsewhere.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | Suffering from cellar chiller not seeming to be working so insufficiently chilled |
| Bexley - Bexley's Own Beer (BOB) | 4.20 | | Suffering from cellar chiller not seeming to be working so insufficiently chilled |
| Bexley - Golden Acre | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | Not Tried |
28 Dec 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
3rd visit of the outing: This micropub set up in 2013 is being passed on to younger blood from the end of 2025 and so the reason today for joining two other real ale enthusiasts I know locally in there. It was suitably packed for this Sunday mid-afternoon visit but a seat soon presented itself after the walk from Bexleyheath station for the Kentish Belle and through Danson Park to Blackfen. A good appetite for some further real ales the walk encouraged and the usual prompt service from the staff helping out. The guvnor also joined the gathering which everyone was delighted by and following his recent heart op. This micro which just concentrates on cask ale currently, and not KeyKeg as well, is rumoured to open again about a month into the new year.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Kent Golding Bitter or KGB | 4.10 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Undoubtedly, my favourite of the visit is this Kentish bitter from Birling, north of West Malling. Superb head and lacing and lasting. A very dry bitter first hit. A fruity bitterness rising from its Golding hops, lending it notes of honey, floral blossoms and mild spice. Its additional Fuggles hops affording it herbal and wood resin notes. A caramelised, biscuity maltiness getting in on the act with hints of toasted bread crusts. A good malty sweetness and a dry bitter hoppiness sliding down admirably. Very moreish indeed! |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | 1st beer of this visit: Very good head and lacing on this Kentish session pale ale from Birling, north of West Malling. A lightly hoppy first hit. A citrusy note or two rising with the odd gentle kick among its floral flavourings. A fruity hoppiness competing with its lingering bitterness. Very quaffable! |
| Bexley - Golden Acre | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Good head and lacing and lasting. A very dry hoppy first hit on this golden ale from Erith in the Bexley borough. A hoppy fruitiness rising up and a dry bitterness winning over. A hoppy fruitiness paddling out. |
08 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
2nd visit of the outing: By far one of the smallest micros in the Bexley borough with just one front room containing some 6-7 tables but a fair amount of standing room also afforded. Prompt, affable service from the guvnor for our late afternoon visit following meeting up with a fellow real ale enthusiast in a favourite Welling café and walk with the faithful hound through Danson Park to get here to Blackfen. A conveniently placed table closest to the bar became our suitable resting place.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | | This Ramsgate-brewed pale bitter ale was but the introduction to a Gadd's themed next visit. Very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A very dry bitter first hit. A moreish hoppiness leaping up aided by its Goldings hops for a good bitter aftertaste. Its hoppy flavours are lent by its dose of Fuggles hops. A welcome sight to behold with its crystal malt giving it an attractive colour and body to aid my taste buds helping to slide it down without hesitation. Very moreish indeed and the precursor to a good few more Gadd's back in Welling to follow. |
| Bexley - Golden Acre | 4.00 | | Good head and lacing and almost lasting to the end on this Erith-brewed pale ale, from just inland from The Thames between Erith itself and Slade Green. A lightly hoppy first hit. A touch of zesty orange rising with hints of grapefruit aided by its mix of Citra & Cascade hops. A citrusy, fruity note or two sailing out on its downwards voyage. Perfectly palatable. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Green and Gold (2025 Green Hop) | 5.70 | | Good head and lacing but not lasting on this green hopped brew from south-west of Canterbury and north-east of the village of Chartham. A spicy, grassy, hoppy first hit. A touch of citrus in its fruited hoppiness rising from its green Ernest hops. The oiliness from its green hops helping it slide down well on its onwards journey. Very moreish but a touch too sweetly fruited for my liking. |
| Broken Drum Home Brew - Two Flower - APA | 3.90 | | Very good head and lacing for starters on this micropub's home brew and its lacing lasting throughout. A fruited hoppy first hit. A hint of citrusy hops rising on this American Pale Ale. A fruity but also a pleasantly dry hoppiness paddling onward on its journey downwards. |
20 May 2025 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. My first for several months at least.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 | | Good basic sharp bitter |
| Kent - Future Hop | 4.30 | | 2nd or 3rd pint out of a new cask on |
| Fyne - Jarl | 3.80 | Not Tried |
21 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Absorbing cross tables chatter.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bexley - Hukins' Ernest Green Hop Pale | 4.30 | | Good zesty green hopper |
| Broken Drum Home Brew - Ponder Stibbons | 3.80 | | A dark old ale recipe, strong taste hit but did go quite flat and condition-less very quickly |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Heavens | 4.10 | Not Tried |
09 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Grandstand Bitter | 3.80 | | A get anywhere locally rather ordinary bitter, well kept |
| Fyne - Jarl | 3.80 | | Totally clear and in very good form |
05 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Lower footfall than seen on past Mondays.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | Good to have a traditional dark mild every so often |
| Mighty Oak - Jake the Snake | 4.00 | | Very zesty and loads of mouthfeel. Not really a taste I enjoyed |
| Kent - KGB or Kent Golding Bitter | 4.10 | Not Tried |
03 Jun 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Quite humid inside.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wantsum - Black Prince | 3.90 | | Well balanced dark brew |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale | 3.60 | | Refreshing bitterness |
| Tonbridge - Golden Rule (was 3.5%) | 3.20 | Not Tried |
About The Broken Drum
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 3 |
| 118 |
| 203 |
| 102 |
 | 4 |
The pub is found in Blackfen, Greater London, DA15 9PT.
Bexley Borough's 3rd Micropub shop conversion in Westwood Lane planned to open in Spring 2015 sometime just after Eastertide. Finally opened on Friday 17th April 2015. Named after an inn in a Terry Pratchett novel. Formerly a nail salon called Simply Nails. Real ales and ciders sold under gravity dispense from a temperature controlled cellar room visible through its glazed door. 2 level wooden stillage holds up to 10 casks. A settle in each bay window and low tables and chairs provide the seating. Unisex toilet. Has a small bar counter in one corner. Note that last sales are 30 minutes before the advertised closing time. SPBW London Pub of the Year 2018. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2018. Card payments accepted. Closed 31st December 2025 by licensee - venue has a new operator lined up expected to re-open perhaps end January 2026. Re-opened Friday 20th March 2026 with new operator. 2 toilets now, bar counter moved and 2 cask ales now served on handpump and the addition of 5 keg taps.
We have visited this pub 222 times, seen 448 different beers and tried 309 of them.
Postcode: DA15 9PT