The Best Pub in Blackheath: A Local's Guide to Ten Favourites

Blackheath isn't short of places to raise a glass. From centuries-old coaching inns to backstreet locals hidden down residential lanes, the village and its surrounds boast some of southeast London's most characterful pubs. But ask any resident which is "the best" and you'll get a different answer every time — because the best pub in Blackheath depends entirely on what kind of evening you're after.

Here's a personal guide to ten of the finest, each chosen for what it does better than anywhere else in the area.

"Where everybody knows your name" — The British Oak

109 Old Dover Road, SE3 8SU · britishoakblackheath.com

This was the first pub I discovered when I moved to the area with my partner at the beginning of the Covid outbreak — it's just around the corner, and I fell for it instantly. What I loved was that it reminded me of the East London pubs I'd left behind: unpretentious, characterful, and built for conversation .

The British Oak is an imposing early Victorian pub built around 1850, constructed in London brick across three storeys. It's been a trading hub since at least the mid-19th century, originally linked to Oak Terrace off Shooter's Hill Road. The pub is laid out with a smaller public bar at the front — which shows sport and features a jukebox — and a larger main bar beyond it, where I tend to settle in. Both bars have regulars propping up the counter who are more than happy to strike up a conversation, and the pub features both a front and rear beer garden.

The beauty of the British Oak is that you can go in alone and be guaranteed a friendly face. It also hosts regular events including live bands, open mic nights, and evenings discussing current affairs. It serves Pieminister pies — which are genuinely excellent — and is one of, if not the most reasonably priced pubs in Blackheath.

For people-watching — The Crown

49 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ · crownblackheath.co.uk

The Crown sits in the heart of Blackheath Village and is brilliant for people-watching — well, in summer at least. The front beer garden gives you a prime view of a section of the village, and you can watch the world go by as you sip a Spritz.

This is a genuinely historic pub: a former coaching inn dating back to the 16th century, making it one of the oldest licensed premises in the area. It's now a Shepherd Neame pub — Britain's oldest brewer, founded in Faversham in 1698 — which means the beer on tap is different from most other pubs in Blackheath and well worth trying. Shepherd Neame invested £750,000 in a refurbishment that celebrates the pub's traditional heritage while freshening up the space, and the kitchen focuses on locally sourced produce and award-winning Kentish beer.

Upstairs there's a function room available for private hire, and the pub regularly hosts live bands on weekends and quiz nights. If you want to feel the village buzz with a pint in hand, this is the spot.

For sport — O'Neill's

Blackheath Village, SE3 · oneills.co.uk

Everyone knows O'Neill's. I have to confess I only visited for the first time recently — a bank holiday Monday for a spot of lunch — but the bar staff were extremely friendly and the food was good. As an Irish pub, it brings a warm welcome and a proper pint of craic to the heart of the village.

O'Neill's is the go-to in Blackheath for live sport. There are plenty of screens throughout the pub showing all the major fixtures — football, rugby, Champions League, you name it — and it's a popular choice on match days. It's dog-friendly and family-friendly, and there's a small patio at the front so you can still watch the world go by whilst sipping a Guinness. Happy Hour starts from £4.50, making it one of the more affordable options in the village too.

To feel special — The Princess of Wales

34 Tranquil Vale, SE3 0BU · princessofwalespub.co.uk

This definitely feels a bit more upmarket than some of the other pubs in the area, and it was the second pub I really got to know in Blackheath. It's a large pub with a big beer garden at the rear and a smaller one at the front, and the food is excellent — the kind of place you'd take someone you wanted to impress.

The Princess of Wales has a remarkable history. It dates back to 1847 and was rebuilt in around 1865 by the Cator Blackheath Estates, who leased it to the City of London Brewery in 1888. It was once owned by Charrington's Brewery and was remodelled in the 1930s in a Mock Tudor style that gives it much of its character today. Perhaps most famously, in 1871 the England rugby team gathered here before the first ever international rugby union match — England vs Scotland at Edinburgh's Raeburn Place on 27 March that year. A plaque inside the pub commemorates the occasion, and there's a modest alcove of rugby memorabilia. The pub is also the sister pub of The Cuckfield in Wanstead.

If you're visiting Blackheath for the first time, this is the pub I'd recommend above all others — though it does get busy during peak hours and finding a table can be a challenge. Onsite parking is available, which is a rarity in the village.

For variety — The Royal Standard

44 Vanbrugh Park, SE3 7JQ · royalstandardblackheath.co.uk

Surprisingly, the Royal Standard is one of the most versatile pubs in Blackheath. It caters to many different demographics: families spanning toddlers to grandparents; groups of lads and lasses out after payday; the local estate agency celebrating a great week; a couple going for a meal; tradespeople unwinding; or the office worker desperate to finish a spreadsheet before heading home. Whatever you need from a pub, this one will accommodate you.

Dating back to the 1800s, the Royal Standard is one of the area's most established pubs, occupying a prime spot on the corner of Vanbrugh Park and Strathaden Road at the edge of Blackheath and leafy Greenwich Park. If I checked my Google timeline, it would probably say this is the pub I've frequented the most in Blackheath. The food is good, there's a front and rear beer garden, and parking is available for customers. The pub also hosts regular quiz nights — including the memorably named Vicar's Knickers Pub Quiz.

Hidden gem — The Dacre Arms

11 Kingswood Place, SE13 5BU · facebook.com/dacrepub

I hadn't even heard of this pub until a local at The British Oak mentioned it in hushed tones. Once informed, I made a point of setting off on a pilgrimage to visit it — and I'm glad I did.

The Dacre Arms is tucked away in a residential area between Lewisham and Blackheath, and it's a proper piece of history. The building dates back to the 15th century and has been operating as a pub since the 1700s. It's a Grade II listed, timber-framed building that was once part of the legendary Blackheath Cator Estate. The current landlord has run it for over 30 years, and it has the feel of a traditional country pub that happens to be in London.

On my visit I found the staff and the locals at the bar to be genuinely welcoming, which put me at ease right away. What struck me most was the pub's quirkiness — it has accumulated various decorative pieces over the years, especially in the beer garden, which reminded me of The Prince of Greenwich pub. The Dacre Arms is quite a way from me, but it's a pub I'll continue to visit whenever I can.

For overall value for money — The Fox under the Hill

Shooters Hill Road, SE18 4LT · greeneking.co.uk

The Fox under the Hill recently underwent a renovation and looks all the better for it. I first discovered the pub in its pre-renovation days and embarked on an annual visit for a Christmas dinner — my partner is Jewish and we're a pork-free household, but I cannot resist pigs in blankets.

The pub is extremely spacious, with plenty of seating and television screens showing sport and Sky Sports News dotted throughout — including in the booths at the back where the twin pool tables sit. It's a Greene King pub, so expect the familiar range of ales and a solid pub grub menu. The prices are very reasonable: it offers some of the best value for alcohol in the area, and the food is competitively priced too, with certainly no skimping on portion sizes.

You'll often find events going on in the front conservatory, large families enjoying a meal together, tradespeople trying their luck on the fruit machine, and lone locals reading a paper. They regularly host quiz nights and DJs. Being a Charlton-area pub, on Charlton Athletic match days expect it to be busy with fans.

For a Sunday roast — The Hare & Billet

1 Hare & Billet Road, SE3 0QJ · hareandbillet.com

The Hare & Billet gives you a lovely view of the Heath and sits slightly off the beaten path. In the 18th century it was a coaching inn, and it retains that old-world character — the décor is one of my favourite things about it. It's a dog-friendly pub with a cosy, modern feel that's loved by locals and visitors alike.

The Sunday roasts served here are epic and definitely worth sampling — you will not be disappointed. In fact, the pub has been recognised as serving some of the best Sunday roasts in London. There's a private function room upstairs for hire, and although there's no beer garden, the staff will provide plastic glasses so you can take your drinks out onto the Heath — which on a sunny evening is hard to beat.

On weekdays you'll often find parents in here with children after school, lone drinkers, or small groups, so during off-peak times I'd highly recommend it. On weekends it's extremely busy with larger groups, so plan accordingly.

For locals of the Village — The Railway

16 Blackheath Village, SE3 9LE · therailwayblackheath.co.uk

I must confess, I had never thought about visiting this pub. The Princess of Wales was about five minutes away, and I opted not to visit The Railway for years — but one day I thought, why not give it a try, and I discovered I had absolutely nothing to fear.

The pub is extremely large with lots of seating space, as well as a small beer garden at the back and a roof terrace — one of the few in Blackheath — which is well worth a visit on a sunny day. The prices are reasonable, especially for such a prime village location, and the staff are friendly. The pub often hosts solo visitors, couples, tourists staying at the nearby Clarendon Hotel, and larger groups, and there are usually evening events going on.

If you've been walking past it for years assuming it's not for you, do what I did and give it a chance. You might be pleasantly surprised.

For beer connoisseurs — The Green Goddess

Vanbrugh Park, Blackheath, London · thegreengoddess.pub

If you take your beer seriously, The Green Goddess is the pub for you. Tucked away on Vanbrugh Park, housed in a former bank building, this independent beer cafe and microbrewery is a proper labour of love — the kind of place where the person behind the bar can tell you exactly what's on each of the 22 lines and why you should try it.

The selection is extraordinary: up to 22 different lines of beer, cider and wine on tap, plus two fridges stuffed with rare cans and bottles you won't find anywhere else in the area. Whether you're after a hazy IPA, a sour, a stout, or something from a brewery you've never heard of, this is where the beer geeks gather. It's the best pub in Blackheath for craft beer connoisseurs, hands down.

Beyond the beer, it's a wonderfully welcoming space — child-friendly, dog-friendly, and fully accessible — that hosts beer tastings, food nights, quizzes, and comedy nights. It's the sort of place you pop into for one and end up staying for three.

---

Have we missed your favourite Blackheath pub? Let us know in the Village Square — and raise a glass to the heath.