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This 19th C. pub on the corner of Freelands Road and Plymouth Road is a traditional community place with a popular local following and currently owned by Greene King. Named after the former farming estate that once existed, this is located in an area characterized by former artisan cottages and houses from the late Victorian era. It has a central U-shaped bar that serves seating areas on three sides.
The pub was refurbished in the of summer 2014.
Instagram page is @freelandstavern
Historic Interest
Built sometime in the 1870s to serve the new housing development which began in the 1860s of what was then called New Bromley, this later became a Beasley's Brewery tied house. Along with the road, this was named after the nearby Freelands mansion, which was built in the early 18th C. and existed until the late 1880s. This, in turn, was named after the Freelands estate dating from the 16th C., which was used for farming (the name "free lands" is derived from the surrounding fields that once existed). The short cul-de-sac of Plymouth Road with its artisan cottages was originally called Campbell Road. The cul-de-sac of Henry Street, which runs parallel, is named after Major General Henry Babbage, who developed the area.
This delightful one storey street corner local dates from the 1870s. A former Beasleys of Plumstead pub, it has a hipped roof and two prominent pillared doorways with segmented pediments. The pub is now a single space. There is a central servery with a promontory counter which is almost certainly Victorian. At some point, the right hand counter has been moved inwards, thus reducing the size of the servery. The mirrored bar back looks old, and is a two sided affair. Much of the lower shelving remains. A narrow passageway runs behind the servery; this provides access to the door to the cellar. The former Saloon Bar is to the left, and the outer door here retains its etched glass denoting this appellation. Beyond is a slightly lower area with a panelled dado. This was formerly accessed by a doorway that is now blocked.
There was formerly a vestibule at the front which would have had doorways to the two separate bars and an off sales An attractive feature is the sunrise stained glass in the upper lights. There’s a cast iron fireplace on the left (possibly an import ), and in the former backroom an attractive wooden one. That towards the rear of the right hand side is an interwar job. A refurbishment took place in 2014.
Freelands Tavern, Bromley