The Kentish Belle (Free House)
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Jason Jones
Visits Details
08 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
4th visit of the outing: A return trip to the Kentish Belle as just moments from Bexleyheath Station for train back to East Greenwich. Unlike my very early visit just after its opening at 1pm, this time around it was mid-evening and it was packed with everyone seated around these huge dining room-sized tables, left behind by the previous people running it, and but for a couple of smaller round tables. I managed to time it just right for a table and chair and again prompt service at the bar. Same 4 ales on as earlier in the day but two of these ales then ran out towards the end of my 30 or so minutes' visit.
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) | 3.40 |  | Minus much head and lacing unlike earlier in the day on this bitter just north of Tunbridge Wells at High Brooms. This time around what little lacing there was did not last. Still a dry bitter first bite. A fruity bitterness rising and its East Kent Goldings and First Gold hops lending it a dry hoppiness. A malty note edging up with hints of caramel and toffee. A dry maltiness ebbing out with a fruity finish aided by its tangerine flavouring. I observed it was taken off but I was not in time to see what replaced it. |
| Redemption - Trinity | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Big Chief | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Hand Brew - Kora - Old Ale | 6.50 | Not Tried | Ran out during my second visit of the day. |
08 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
1st visit of the outing: this is to the Bexley borough and which claims to have the most micros in the whole of London. This micropub is conveniently just outside Bexleyheath railway station by a few minutes. This is my first visit since early 2024 as I recall. On my first visit a few years before that, I walked straight past it as pretty non-descript looking from the outside in a parade of shops. Not busy for my early afternoon visit with just a few others in and well timed as opens on a Saturday at 1pm. Friendly, prompt service from the barmaid on. Although it has changed hands in recent years, its furnishings have not changed much. Full of very large dining-room sized tables at the normal height unlike many micros with high benches and stools so that even the seated are at the same height as those left standing. A good range of cask ales from a cold room at the rear and some KeyKeg ales as well.
| Pig & Porter - Caravan (was 3.6%) | 3.40 |  | Good head and lacing and lasting on this bitter just north of Tunbridge Wells at High Brooms. A dry bitter first bite. A gentle maltiness rising with hints of caramel and toffee. A dry hoppiness from its East Kent Goldings and First Gold hops winning over. Going out with a fruity finish aided by a touch of tangerine flavouring derived from its English Ale yeast. Very palatable! |
| Hand Brew - Kora - Old Ale | 6.50 |  | This dark ale from just north-west of West Worthing railway station did not present much head and lacing and so no lacing to report lasting. A very dry malty first hit. A dry bitterness jumping up to greet me. Crystal and chocolate malts tap dancing on my taste buds with hints of treacle and dried fruits such as dates and raisins. The odd sweet biscuity note or two joining in before sliding out on their downwards journey. |
| Redemption - Trinity | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Redemption - Big Chief | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
29 Dec 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit. Several small groups in.
| Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 |  | On the slightly bitterer than plummy side of this ale's taste spectrum |
| Redemption - Hopspur | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Yu Lu | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - The Joy of Sesh IPA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
05 Oct 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit, my first under the new operators. Been off my radar for a long time deliberately.
| Brass Castle - Northern Blonde | 3.90 |  | A little bit of zest but little head or lacing |
| Bexley - Bursted Session Bitter (was 3.8%) | 3.40 |  | Rather flat |
| Marble - Pint (was 3.9%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Tiramisu Lucaria | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
03 Mar 2020 (Magnus Greel)
Mid to late evening, friendly welcome as always from Nick the guv, we spent our entire time chatting to him at the bar and getting in the way of other customers ordering their drinks! Only three beers on tonight, Thursdays were advised as the best time to visit with a much wider range put on.
| East London (ELB) - Peacock English Pale Ale | 4.20 |  | Red fruits caramel and biscuit for ths complex fare.. |
| Time and Tide - Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Cloudwater - Popularity Context | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
15 Mar 2019 (Magnus Greel)
Venue for this months FEG, we arrived mid afternoon and luckily wasn't too busy just a few others dotted about hence procured a few free tables leaving plenty of room for others who joined us later. Excellent atmosphere and beer range as always, when I left 5.5 hours later the place was rammed, standing room only!
| Iron Pier - Whiteout IPA | 5.30 |  | This stood out by far - wheat beer style bursting with tropical fruit flavours combined with a spicy aroma. Faultless. |
| Saltaire - Amarillo (was Amarillo Gold) | 4.50 |  | |
| Iron Pier - Bitter | 4.00 |  | |
| Buxton - Downfall Citra | 4.30 |  | |
| Iron Pier - Dana & Bullion Joined at the Hop | 3.80 |  | |
| Vibrant Forest - Kick-Start | 5.70 | Not Tried | |
| Arbor Ales - Sean of the Red | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Little Critters - King Crow | 7.20 | Not Tried | |
| New Bristol - French Toast | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
13 Dec 2018 (ChrisE)
A group of us met here at 12:00 opening time for a tour of micropubs in the Bexleyheath and Sidcup areas.
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Munro | 4.00 |  | |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Tribute | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Special (was Special) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Proper Job | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Wadworth - Swordfish | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
12 Aug 2018 (Stephen Harris)
I just popped in for one on passing. But the beer range was so enticing I ended up staying for much of the afternoon.
| Beerblefish - Barrel-aged Black Beerble | 5.30 |  | A strong version of their Stout which has been barrel-aged (possibly for as much as a year if I heard right). It is superb. Faultless. |
| Arbor Ales - Chasing Caterpillars | 4.90 |  | Very pale gold. Very nice, smooth and hoppy. Arbor at their best. |
| Brew York - Skedaddle | 4.20 |  | Golden. Ever-reliable brewery, with a light, hoppy pint. |
| Beerblefish - 1892 IPA | 6.90 |  | Murky-brown in colour – not pleasing to the eye. Tastes better than it looks though and has a big alcohol kick. |
| One Mile End Brew Co. (formerly Mulligans at the White Hart and then WH Brew Pub) - Dockers Delight | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| 3 Piers - Golden Smiler | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Siren Craft - Suspended in Magic | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
01 Jul 2018 (Stephen Harris)
An afternoon visit, with a steady trickle of customers present. The atmosphere is one of studious silence, although I notice that several people are surreptitiously watching World Cup football on a variety of devices in a way that is usually a big no-no in these micro places – although one of the less-surreptitious viewers is the guv’nor, so I guess it’s OK. There are a lot more beers available than I have listed here.
| Great Heck - Mosaic | 4.50 |  | I’m always impressed by Great Heck beers and I love the taste of Mosaic hops. Put them together in a beer in perfect condition and it adds up to a five star rating. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Strawberry Lucaria | 4.50 |  | A yummy black Porter, heavily flavoured with strawberries. |
| Mallinsons - Komosal | 4.30 |  | A dry, golden beer with Mosaic and Centennial amongst the hop mix. |
| BritHop (originally cuckoo or contract brewed at Franklins) - Sweet Symphony Mosaic Amber Ale | 4.20 |  | An amber-coloured beer with a decent balance from a brand new brewery in Belvedere. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaywick | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
13 Jun 2018 (Magnus Greel)
Shutters opened a minute or so after 1600 we were the first customers soon joined by many more. Friendly welcome from Nick the Guvnor who's keenness and enthusiasm complements the MicroPub ethos perfectly.
| Park - Killcat Pale | 3.70 |  | Hazy with a mix of peaty smoky cirtus flavours |
| Brew Buddies - US Hop IPA | 4.90 |  | Too sweet & syrupy not what I was expecting |
| Moor - Raw | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Twickenham (also uses sub-brand Old Hands) - Redhead | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
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