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Situated in an unspoilt 17th century village, this welcoming pub was the local CAMRA 2010 pub of the year. Small local breweries often feature amongst the guest beers, which in summer sometimes includes a cask on gravity in the public bar. Beer festivals are held at Easter and in October
The R7 bus service from Chislehurst via Bickley, Petts Wood and Orpington now runs half-hourly for most of the day. The pub is located very close to junction 4 of the M25 - but just far enough away to avoid any motorway noise, allowing it to retain its rural feel.
The large garden includes a play area for children.
Note that closing times may vary according to the time of year.
Instagram page is @thefivebellschelsfield
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed status: II
The major attraction of this pub is the two entirely separate drinking/dining areas only accessed by their own doors from the street.
This is an 18th century brick, part weather-boarded and part tile hung village pub, with an easily discernable original internal layout, but with additions dating from the 1930s and 1960s. The public bar on the left/main road side was extended to the left in the 1930s, and further extended to the far left and rear in the 1960s mainly to bring the toilets inside. This room has a ‘Public Bar’ etched window in the door, old dado panelling all around the room, an old brick fireplace which could be original, a 1930s looking bar counter - but the mirrored bar-back was replaced by a plain and modern one in 2023.
From a separate entrance up a few steps on the right/Warren Road side are two rooms with a wide gap between them. The room on the left or corner of the building has what appears to be a 1930s bar counter, old dado panelling around the room and some old cupboards/shelves in the servery that look from the same time, but the bar-back here is also modern. The rear room has another old bar counter, and another modern bar-back, and was extended further to the rear in the 1960s.
18th century brick, part weather-boarded and part tile hung village pub which was extended a little to the left in the 1930s and further extended to far left and rear in the 1960s mainly to bring toilets inside. It is little changed since the early 1960s as confirmed by a local of 50 years standing. The public bar on the left / Main Road side could have been this size since an extension in the 1930s (or increased due to the 1960s extension?) and has a ‘Public Bar’ etched window in the door, old dado panelling all around the room, old brick fireplace, a 1930s looking bar counter, old bar back fitting of shelves on a mirrored bar back, but there is a modern counter added to serve the left hand side of the room (from 1960s?).
From a separate entrance on the right Warren Road side with ‘Saloon Bar’ painted on the door are two rooms with a wide gap between them. In the Apex of the building is a room with an old bar counter (1930’s?), old dado panelling around the room, some old shelves on the right hand side, old cupboards in the wall and what looks like a large fireplace blocked up many years ago. The rear room was extended back in the 1960s and has another old bar counter (1930s?), the bar back lower section my be old but the top section is modern.
This Pub serves 2 changing beers and 1 regular beer.
Five Bells, Chelsfield
Changing beers typically include: Butcombe (varies) , Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter , Young's (varies)
Source: National