These are not loud or sprawling venues. Instead, they focus on simple things done well: good beer, good company, and a welcoming atmosphere.
There are now several places in and around Bexleyheath that fit this bill.
Each one has its own feel and story, but together they’ve created a community around well-kept pints and personal service.
With three of the best within walking distance, it makes for a rewarding and relaxed crawl through some of the area’s most characterful spots.
Â
The Bird & Barrel
100 Barnehurst Road, Bexleyheath DA7 6HG
Opened in April 2018, The Bird & Barrel sits in a former bakery on Barnehurst Road. It’s run by Cliff and Jane from Bexley Brewery along with their son Cameron.
Cliff is a lifelong Barnehurst resident and said the idea of opening a micropub had been on his mind for years.
When the shop became available, it felt like the right moment. The family brought in Cameron’s partner Becky in 2020, and together they created a space that blends a strong local identity with a sense of quiet pride.
The pub serves two Bexley Brewery cask ales alongside a guest cask and four keg beers. There’s also a wide range of wines, Kent ciders, whiskies, soft drinks, and low-alcohol options.
Seasonal drinks are popular too, including summer Pimms and gin, and mulled wine and snowballs closer to Christmas.
Inside, the walls are decorated with awards from national beer competitions and CAMRA festivals.
Out back is a well-kept garden that has won Ruxley in Bloom three years in a row.
The space is used for regular events like Ploughman’s Sundays, cheese and charcuterie nights, mini beer festivals, and quiz nights in support of Pancreatic Cancer Action.
The team previously told the News Shopper they wanted to create a place where customers feel comfortable coming in alone or with friends and always find someone to talk to.
Over time, regulars have become close friends through meeting at the pub.
Â
The Long Haul
149 Long Lane, Bexleyheath DA7 5AE
The Long Haul opened in August 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. For owner Kirsty Baker, it was a big change from her former job in banking.
She had never run a pub before but was already a fan of micropubs and decided to give it a go.
It hasn’t been easy. Within weeks of opening, new lockdowns meant closing again. Later came curfews, seating restrictions, and all the shifting rules that made running a pub feel impossible.
Through it all, The Long Haul stayed focused on what mattered: good drinks and good service.
In 2022, the pub was named Bexley CAMRA Pub of the Year. Kirsty said she had not even been aware of the award criteria, which made the win feel even more special.
She previously told the News Shopper that when the pub first closed during lockdown, she wasn’t sure it would ever reopen.
The Long Haul remains relaxed and down to earth. It offers a regularly changing range of cask and craft beers, along with wines, spirits, and the kind of atmosphere that keeps people coming back.
Â
The Kentish BelleÂ
8 Pickford Lane, Bexleyheath DA7 4QW
Just up the road from the station is The Kentish Belle, a multi-award-winning micropub with a wide range of drinks and an easygoing feel.
It describes itself as both an ale house and gin palace, and it lives up to both names.
The tap lineup changes often, with cask and craft beer sitting alongside quality ciders, wines, and a huge selection of gins.
There’s also a well-stocked fridge for takeaway bottles and cans. Coffee and Wi-Fi make it a welcoming spot even on quieter afternoons.
The venue hosts regular events, including tap takeovers, quiz nights, and cheese board days.
It is a flexible space that works for different kinds of visits, whether you’re meeting friends for a drink or settling in with a book. Dogs and families are welcome.
The Kentish Belle has managed to find that rare balance between being ambitious with its drinks list and unpretentious in its attitude.
It has become a staple for locals and a handy stop for anyone passing through Bexleyheath.
Â
How to Walk It
This Bexleyheath crawl covers around 1.4 miles in total and can easily be done in an afternoon or early evening.
Start at The Bird & Barrel on Barnehurst Road. From there, walk north to Erith Road, continuing onto Lavernock Road. A short cut through Francis Avenue will bring you to Long Lane, where The Long Haul is just up ahead on the left. This leg takes about 14 minutes on foot and is mostly flat.
After a drink at The Long Haul, continue south along Long Lane and turn onto Haslemere Road. Follow the route through Belvedere Road, Fairfield Road, and Church Road, before turning onto Pickford Lane. The Kentish Belle is about 18 minutes from The Long Haul, located just near the station.
The full route makes for a relaxed afternoon walk through residential backstreets and local landmarks. All three venues are distinct in style but united in spirit, and the trail is a great way to explore a lesser-known side of Bexleyheath.
It’s worth checking opening hours before setting off, especially if visiting midweek. Trains run from both Barnehurst and Bexleyheath stations, making it easy to get home.
