Bromley Football Club are currently in the National League, the fifth tier of English football, and play at Hayes Lane, Bromley BR2 9EF. The Bitter End bar, 139 Masons Hill, is a short walk from Bromley South railway station and is a good place to start a day’s visit to Bromley FC. When it opened in December 2017, the Bitter End was the first micropub in Bromley town centre.
On the day of our visit there were three cask ales on and the bar was busy with fans on route to see their team. The bar has a relaxed atmosphere, with a friendly welcome for both home and away fans. The nearby Shepherd Neame pub, the Bricklayers Arms, just a few doors down, is ‘proud to be affiliated with Bromley FC’ and the pub also welcomes both sets of supporters. These two drinking spots are the nearest places to get a decent pint before heading to the ground.
Arriving at the ground after a 14 minute walk, we were able to buy tickets on the gate for Bromley FC v Torquay United for £20. Hayes Lane has a capacity of 5,000 and there are standing and seated areas which you can move between throughout the game. The attendance at this game was over 2,500, which was their biggest gate so far this season. The Ravens bar within the ground was packed with fans having a drink before the match. Although there were handpumps on the bar, no cask was available but there were a few Shepherd Neame beers on tap. No beers are allowed outside the bar area because drinking alcohol while watching football is not allowed at National League level. For those interested in watching a game while having a decent beer, this is allowed at Dulwich Hamlet FC because the club is in the sixth tier, the National League South. The final score was 2-0 to the home team, including a spectacular opening goal. Details of upcoming fixtures can be found on the official club page.
Heading back to Bromley town centre, the Barrel & Horns had several interesting keg beers and is worth a visit. The final stop of the day however was the Grade II-listed Star & Garter, which has eight handpumps and a good selection of keg beer, supporting smaller independent breweries. At the time of our visit there were beers from the likes of Titanic, Fyne Ales, Manchester Brewing Co., Siren and Donzoko, both on tap and on the pumps. The pub has won the local branch Pub of the Year award for 2020.
Supporting a lower league football team can have its rewards, such as more affordable ticket prices, being close to the pitch, visiting interesting stadiums and, where allowed, being able to have a beer while watching the game. Bromley FC are on the rise so watch them in the lower divisions while you still can. If you are a Premier League fan who can’t afford to watch the team you support in the stadium, then a trip to a lower league football team can be very worthwhile and rewarding, not to mention less stressful!
Joanne Scott