Pub review: The White Cross, North Cray Road, Sidcup

How would you describe ‘pub grub’ to a foreign tourist? If they asked me I would reel off a long list of dishes including fish and chips, ploughmans and scampi in a basket. I would never have included caviar — until my most recent visit to the White Cross.

The boozer might never get a visit from a tourist because it is in a pretty inaccessible place on the dual carriageway between Sidcup and Bexley Village.

But if they did stop off they would find caviar on one of the largest pub menus I have ever seen including a seemingly never-ending choice of sandwiches and hot food with prices from around £2.20.

The financial climate means I should have chosen one of the cheaper options but I like to think I am eating to save the country’s economy so chose the seafood platter which comes in at £10.

If you ordered a side of bread or chips then I think you might have enough food for two because there was a lot of fish. As well as the caviar there was scampi, smoked trout, tuna, sardines, peeled prawns and some of the crustaceans still in their shells – and a little bit of salad.

This food meant I did not have enough room for dessert but luckily had enough room for a few pints of well-kept Courage Directors Bitter while I marvelled at the knick knacks.

I was prepared for the sight of copper kettles, jugs, china pots and other items suspended from the ceiling and hanging on the walls, after enjoying them on my last visit to the boozer some years ago.

But it is still a collection to behold and it is worth visiting the pub just to see them — even if you do not like eating or drinking.

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