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The Real Ale Way (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Brew Buddies - Beckenham Bunny |  | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Wolf & Olicana Joined at the Hop |  | 1 |
| Larkins - Best Bitter |  | 1 |
| Larkins - Pale | | 7 |
| Larkins - Porter | | 1 |
| Larkins - Traditional | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Traditional | | 1 |
| Wantsum - Portly Pig | | 1 |
| Bexley - BOB (Bexley's Own Beer) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Lord | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Fuzz - Old Chap English Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Export India Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Joined at the Hop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Rosherville Red | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Seconds To Midnight - Black Rye IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Whiteout IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Prohibition | Not Tried | 0 |
| Koomor (contract brewed at Iron Pier) - Trunk | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Green & Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Jet Black Stout (previously Meaney's Jet Black Stout) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Cat - Saint Augustine's Cross | Not Tried | 0 |
| Musket - Fife & Drum Golden Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Musket - Flintlock Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nelson - Shipwrecked | Not Tried | 0 |
| Northdown - Tidal Pool | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ripple Steam - Classic IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ripple Steam - Farmhouse Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ripple Steam - Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Southwark - Routemaster Red | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - House Session Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Old Chestnut | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Black Pig | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Red Smacker | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - Helles Belles | Not Tried | 0 |
| Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Whitstable - Winkle Picker | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
15 Aug 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
First visit of the outing: For a Saturday, this micropub set up in July 2018 is a late opener at 2pm and a fellow real ale enthusiast and I were only the second in, with one other already in place at the bar minutes after its opening. Very attentive, friendly service from the barmaid. Seven real ales on to choose from and on gravity dispense from a temperature-controlled cold room. They are always from the county of Kent. Of the three sampled, all were in top notch condition.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | 3rd beer of this visit: Exhibiting good head and lasting lacing on this Ramsgate-brewed red-ruby best bitter which grew out of brewing first set up in Ramsgate in 2002 and operating out of the back of a seafront pub called Ramsgate Royal & Harbour Brewhouse before the move to is current location in 2006 to the Pysons Road Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Ramsgate and Broadstairs. A dry malty first hit. A rising caramel and biscuity bitterness from its six different malts, including British pale malt aiding a biscuit and bready flavour, Crystal Malt behind its ruby colour and toffee and sweet caramel hints, and specialty malts comprising a mix of wheat, chocolate and roasted malts. A hoppy fruitiness winning over with an earthy floral bitterness. Its Fuggles hops lending a woody, grassy dimension alongside red berry and dark stone fruit flavours for me. Its bittering hops lending a lingering green-hop sharpness. A touch of spicy blackcurrant before its slide downwards with a dry lingering bitter finish. Served in fine fettle with good conditioning throughout. |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | | 2nd beer of this visit: Came with superb head and lacing and sticking all the way on this bronze-coloured best bitter from East Peckham in Kent. Brewing was first set up in 2010 on Tudeley Road in Tonbridge. A fruited bitter first hit. A toffee and caramel flavouring rising from its UK-grown malted barley with subtle hints of coffee. A dry bitterness prevailing from its English leaf hops featuring Kent’s Northdown, Fuggles, and the scarce Kent-grown Epic variety. On the descent, a lingering spicy note. Served in very good nick with lasting conditioning. |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | 1st beer of this visit: Served with very good head and lasting lacing on this Larkins pale ale from Larkins Farm in Chiddingstone, near Edenbridge, Kent, and first set up in 1986. A dry hoppy first bite. A fruited bitterness rising with floral and herbaceous notes from its 100% home-grown hops processed on-site in traditional oast houses purposely built for drying hops using wood- or coal-fired kilns as part of the beer-brewing process. The hops used are Early Choice Goldings behind its sweet floral notes, spices, honey and earthiness, Bramling Cross behind its dark berry, such as blackcurrant, loganberry, and plum flavours for me, and Whitbread Goldings lending a woody touch with hints of garden herbs, green fruit, and woody bergamot which is a fragrant, yellow-to-green citrus fruit roughly the size of a small orange and a cross between a bitter orange and a lemon, alongside hints of fig and thick caramel. A gentle malty note joining in lending a subtle sweetness from its locally sourced malted barley. A hoppy bitterness paddling out. Served in top form. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | Not Tried |
08 Mar 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet for my early afternoon visit just minutes after opening at 2pm as on a Saturday. Prompt and friendly service in this micropub and the first of three. All sharing the one name, another ran for about two and half years in Westerham, Kent, shutting in August 2022, and the third one which is still running is in West Wickham.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | Good head and lacing on this Kent-based Chiddingstone micro-brewery's pale. A pleasantly dry and hoppy first hit. There was a hop-infused mouthfeel with the hops grown on Larkins Farm and a moreishly dry aftertaste. There was not a hint of grapefruit which is very welcome to my palate. |
| Larkins - Porter | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Helles Belles | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - House Session Bitter | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Fuzz - Old Chap English Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | From Hythe, south-west of Folkestone, Kent, and for my future reference. Should have tried it! |
08 Mar 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Second visit of the day and early evening following the bus back from Westerham. Now very busy compared to when first there earlier. A DJ was setting up with many boxes of vinyl and two turntables positioned on one side of the bar counter. Speedy and warm service and a seat to be had for the now weary two on this outing.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Porter | 5.20 | | Came with reasonable head but no lacing from the start in this Chiddingstone porter. A dry and fruity first hit. Red berry flavoured to my taste buds and certainly a sweetish mouthfeel with a hint of bitter chocolate. A dry maltiness lingered. Reading up on it, it had grapes from the vine and peppery hops. Would not have drunk too much of it and my half sufficed before the bus connection to Orpington for the real ale club to follow. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Helles Belles | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - House Session Bitter | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Fuzz - Old Chap English Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried |
23 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for mid-afternoon visit with a Bromley CAMRA crawl to this little awarding-winning micropub. Good, friendly service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 | | Good head and lacing. A bitter mouthfeel. |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | Good head and lacing. Pleasant lightly hoppy mouthfeel which lingered. |
| Westerham - Helles Belles | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - Jet Black Stout (previously Meaney's Jet Black Stout) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Rosherville Red | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - Green & Gold | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Seconds To Midnight - Black Rye IPA | 5.20 | Not Tried |
11 Feb 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit. I felt positively invisible as I tried to order at the bar, seemed attentions were elsewhere.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | Superb condition but the service made me want to drink up and catch the next bus |
| Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 | Not Tried | Badged here as a house ale |
| Musket - Fife & Drum Golden Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Musket - Flintlock Best Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Bexley - BOB (Bexley's Own Beer) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Red Smacker | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Cat - Saint Augustine's Cross | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Export India Porter | 5.90 | Not Tried |
22 Jul 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit. As on previous visit never felt cosily comfortable here probably because all stools being occupied at the bar counter makes for a view of backsides.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Best Bitter | 4.40 | | Rather cloying and lost all condition once half way down the pint glass |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Lord | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Southwark - Routemaster Red | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - House Session Bitter | 3.60 | Not Tried | Re-badged Traditional |
| Koomor (contract brewed at Iron Pier) - Trunk | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Northdown - Tidal Pool | 4.60 | Not Tried | Beer of the week here but as a murk job not to be for me |
12 Dec 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening re-visit until 10pm close having yo-yoed back from the Westerham sister pub to this one. 2 extra ales on in the couple of hours betwixt.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wantsum - Portly Pig | 5.50 | | New cask on - still rather fresh |
| Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA) | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Nelson - Shipwrecked | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Whitstable - Winkle Picker | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried |
12 Dec 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Early evening visit on a miserable wet night. Brief stay with intention being to catch the 246 bus to its sister pub of the same name in Westerham.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | Quite a sharp bitter, quite intense on the lips |
| Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA) | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Nelson - Shipwrecked | 5.00 | Not Tried | Blackboard says beer of the week! |
| Whitstable - Winkle Picker | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Traditional | 3.60 | Not Tried | Badged here as the house beer |
13 Jul 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit, my second after nearly a year. Well settled in with a thriving clientele. Good chat with a fellow about his early life on Gravesend Marshes.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Wolf & Olicana Joined at the Hop | 3.80 | | First rate |
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | Difficult to judge as a long time since I last had this one. Teeny suspicion of a forming off flavour |
| Wantsum - Black Pig | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Rustic | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Whiteout IPA | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Iron Pier - Rosherville Red | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - House Session Bitter | 3.60 | Not Tried | Bound to be Tonbridge Traditional |
01 Aug 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until 10pm close. Immediately friendly Micropub which has only been open 10 or so days. Good to see the concentration on Kentish ales and ciders and I was delighted to see a rare appearance (this far from its home) from Larkins which will be a regular beer here.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | |
| Brew Buddies - Beckenham Bunny | 6.20 | | Presumably unfined as it was very hazy, no pre-warning though. A malty brew |
| Larkins - Traditional | 3.40 | | |
| Ripple Steam - Classic IPA | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Ripple Steam - Farmhouse Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Old Chestnut | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Ripple Steam - Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried |
About The Real Ale Way
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 6 |
| 5 |
| 5 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Hayes (SE London), Greater London, BR2 7EB.
In Station Approach right opposite Hayes railway station this family run micropub opened on Friday 20th July 2018 in former bank (and latterly accountant's office) premises. Real ales and cider/perry are sold on gravity dispense from a temperature controlled cellar room behind the bar counter. Smart décor in contemporary style with more floor space than some micropubs. Concentrates on Kentish made ales and ciders but does sell some wine and gins inevitably from elsewhere. Handily placed on several bus routes to and from Bromley.
We have visited this pub 10 times, seen 45 different beers and tried 9 of them.
Postcode: BR2 7EB