A BEER expert has branded the ale on sale in Bexley as "bland and boring".

Dave Evans, from Bexley Campiagn for Real Ale (CAMRA) was speaking as the organisation gave its pub of the year award to a family-run boozer in a Bexleyheath back street for a record sixth time.

The Robin Hood and Little John pub, in Lion Road, has been run by the Johnson family for the last 25 years.

And the record-breaking award for Ray and Catarina Johnson coincided with their silver jubilee celebrations.

Ray, 59, was originally a tailor before going into the pub game. The couple have been joined by their son Tony, 31, who has lived in the pub since the age of five.

Catarina still cooks up bowls of fresh pasta for customers but Tony is hoping to persuade his parents to take a back seat in the business soon and take a little time to relax.

Tony said: "We run a proper pub. We don't allow any swearing or loutish behaviour. It is a pub where a woman can feel safe coming in on her own."

Mr Evans says the Robin Hood and Little John stands out among the other pubs in Bexley.

"The pub is famous for the range of beers it sells so it meets our criteria for its variety of real ales."

But he admitted: "It hasn't got a lot of opposition to beat.

"We would encourage the pubs in the borough who can put on a guest beer, to do it."

He added: "Most beers on offer in Bexley are the same strength, bland and boring.

"We need to expand the range of ales on sale in the borough. Stronger beers, lighter ones and mild ales are not to be had anywhere."

The Robin Hood and Little John dates back to the early 19th Century.