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The Hare & Billet (Metropolitan Pub Co. (Greene King))

[More Visits]

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Cronx - Pop-Up!Excellent1
Great Heck - ChopperExcellent1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue TopExcellent1
Five Points - Railway PorterGood1
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Winter StarGood2
By The Horns - Diamond GeezerGood1
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Roadkill Opaque IPAGood1
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - ZephyrAcceptable1
Bexley - Howbury 2 Bexley Special BitterAcceptable1
By The Horns - Stiff Upper Lip (downgraded from 3.8% in 2023)Acceptable1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über BrewAcceptable1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Red TopAcceptable1
Sambrook's - JunctionNot Tried0
Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale AleNot Tried0
Greene King - Hare Ale (house beer)Not Tried0
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)Not Tried0
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Roll Out The BarrelNot Tried0
Dark Star - Carafa JadeNot Tried0
Sambrook's - American Red AleNot Tried0
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Bold as BrassNot Tried0
Sambrook's - SessionNot Tried0
Rebel - Bal MaidenNot Tried0
Wimbledon - Copper LeafNot Tried0
Southwark - Bankside BlondeNot Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked LadiesNot Tried0
Adnams - Prop HopNot Tried0
Windsor & Eton - GuardsmanNot Tried0
Siren Craft - Dinner For EightNot Tried0
By The Horns - Lambeth WalkNot Tried0
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)Not Tried0
Bedlam - PorterNot Tried0
Caveman (latterly a cuckoo at Leatherbritches) - PalaeolithicNot Tried0
Five Points - XPANot Tried0
TicketyBrew - Table IPANot Tried0
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Red SkyNot Tried0
Hop Stuff - Oatmeal StoutNot Tried0
Oakham - InfernoNot Tried0
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Gunboat SmithNot Tried0
Greene King - Hare of the Dog (house beer)Not Tried0
Bedlam - PilgrimNot Tried0
By The Horns - London Surrey ClassicNot Tried0

Visits Details

03 Mar 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit. Well patronised but serene.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Cronx - Pop-Up!5.00ExcellentExcellent, with strength coming through and an intriguing floral hop induced flavour
Oakham - Inferno4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Hare of the Dog (house beer)3.90Not Tried
By The Horns - London Surrey Classic4.20Not Tried
21 Feb 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Latish evening visit. The 10% CAMRA discount took the angst off a £5 pint.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Five Points - Railway Porter4.80GoodExcellent condition but served too cold and so neutralised some of the complex flavours
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Sambrook's - Junction4.50Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Red Sky4.10Not Tried
15 Dec 2021 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit alas during quiz night. Seemed to be almost exclusively table service, no idea how.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Winter Star4.40GoodVery dry and very malty
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies4.40Not Tried
Sambrook's - Junction4.50Not Tried
Bedlam - Porter5.00Not Tried
Five Points - XPA4.00Not Tried
22 Jan 2020 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until 11pm close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
By The Horns - Diamond Geezer4.90GoodA very malty red ale
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies4.40Not Tried
Sambrook's - Junction4.50Not Tried
By The Horns - Lambeth Walk5.10Not Tried
Greene King - Hare Ale (house beer)3.90Not Tried
25 Dec 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
A lunchtime sojourn. All tables taken with diners. Seems this place shoots itself in the foot each year - had advertised opening times as 12-5 but was refusing drinks only customers from 3.30 - how un-customer-friendly and misleading. A number of new entrants looked most downcast when refused service.
BeerABVScoreNotes
By The Horns - Stiff Upper Lip (downgraded from 3.8% in 2023)3.40Acceptable
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew3.80AcceptableLittle condition
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Winter Star4.40Acceptable
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Naked Ladies4.40Not Tried
Sambrook's - Junction4.50Not Tried
Windsor & Eton - Guardsman4.20Not Tried
Greene King - Hare Ale (house beer)3.90Not Tried
28 May 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Last knockings visit until 11pm close. Last one out.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Zephyr4.40AcceptableThin and unexciting, perhaps tired
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Greene King - Hare Ale (house beer)3.90Not Tried
Sambrook's - Session3.40Not Tried
Wimbledon - Copper Leaf4.00Not Tried
25 Dec 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
A rare Christmas Day outing. Efficient cheery bar staff but place let down by once a year drinkers accepting some appalling ale short measures, lack of a potperson clearing tables heaving with dead glasses and, although signage outside declared "Festive hours 12 - 5.30", potential "walk-in" customers without a table booking were refused service from 3.30. Senseless!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue Top4.80Excellent
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Roadkill Opaque IPA6.50GoodCertainly opaque, like a farmhouse gate scrumpy cider. Vicious smack in the face hopping not really to my taste but I stuck with it and actually sort of enjoyed the pineapple notes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Red Top3.80AcceptableQuite lacklustre
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Sambrook's - Junction4.50Not Tried
Sambrook's - Pumphouse Pale Ale4.20Not Tried
Greene King - Hare Ale (house beer)3.90Not Tried
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Roll Out The Barrel4.20Not Tried
Sambrook's - American Red Ale4.20Not Tried
18 Jun 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening. Entrance refused at 11.40pm. The manager said a recent change in Lewisham Council's licensing conditions for this pub meant no new customer could be served after 11pm. The pub's website makes no reference to this in showing midnight close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
27 Nov 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. Sadly all stools except mine were on tables by the time I left.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Great Heck - Chopper3.80Excellent
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Hogs Back - Tongham TEA (previously T.E.A.)4.20Not Tried
Caveman (latterly a cuckoo at Leatherbritches) - Palaeolithic3.80Not Tried
TicketyBrew - Table IPA2.80Not TriedA taster implied a certain aceticness
Hop Stuff - Oatmeal Stout4.80Not Tried
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Gunboat Smith5.20Not Tried
Bedlam - Pilgrim3.70Not Tried
29 Sep 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. Always sad as the chairs start to be placed upon tables.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Bexley - Howbury 2 Bexley Special Bitter5.00Acceptable
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Dark Star - Carafa Jade5.00Not Tried
Big Penny (formerly Truman's) as of late 2022 contract brewed - Bold as Brass4.20Not Tried
Rebel - Bal Maiden4.00Not Tried
Southwark - Bankside Blonde3.80Not Tried
Adnams - Prop Hop4.00Not Tried
Siren Craft - Dinner For Eight4.10Not Tried

[More Visits]

About The Hare & Billet

The pub sign. The Hare & Billet, Blackheath, Greater London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent10
Good7
Acceptable8
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Blackheath, Greater London, SE3 0QJ.

In Hare & Billet Road, formerly a Whitbread pub including time as one of its Hogshead brand. Then owned by Greene King which has transferred it into its Metropolitan Pub Co. sub brand. Located right on the edge of Blackheath with a small pond opposite. Refurbished again in early 2013 and now has a long bar on the left hand side with a Southampton Arms style white tiled back bar. Bare boards, a raised seating area on the right and a restaurant area at the rear. 10 handpumps on the bar. Refurbished once more and re-opened in August 2021. 10% CAMRA discount for card carrying members on cask ales. There is a wall-mounted locally funded defibrillator inside. Card payments only here, no cash accepted.

We have visited this pub 19 times, seen 83 different beers and tried 22 of them.

Map location

Postcode: SE3 0QJ