Bromley Shortlands Tavern pub wins Greene King innovation award

The Shortlands Tavern in Carlton Chambers is housed in a rustic stock brick building with a hipped tiled roof, which underwent a remarkable transformation during the Edwardian period to become a beloved pub.

The front of the pub has five arches along the ground floor, providing a glimpse into its fascinating history.

The roots of the Shortlands Tavern trace back to a building marked on the 1870 Ordnance Survey map, likely associated with the nearby railway.

Inside the venue (Image: ST)

While it was officially recorded as a public house from 1881, the pub’s owner Terry Lee explained that its rich heritage may extend even further.

The venue also played a prominent role as a filming location for ITV's acclaimed series, "Liar," starring renowned actors Peter Davison and Ioan Gruffudd.

Terry and her partner Geoff Keen are the operators of The Shortlands Tavern and took over the pub when their youngest child was just three-weeks-old.

The pair met whilst attending Coopers school in Chislehurst and also own two other pubs, The Pelton Arms in Greenwich, and The Two Doves in Bromley.

The outside of the venue (Image: ST)

Terry told the News Shopper: “I think our aim is to create a traditional London Pub with good food that isn’t a gastropub.

“A place that is the hub of the community.

“We have a great team of staff that run the pub on a day-to-day basis and most of these return from uni every year to work the busy summer shifts.”

• RELATED: The Silver Fox Micro Pub: Ran with love by Bexley couple

Like many businesses in hospitality, the pub hit hard times during Covid but the duo had an innovative plan to keep things running with their “Guinness Cabs”.

The “Guinness Cabs” are converted London Black Cabs that serve draught Guinness and other beverages.

There are four of these cabs, which operated both at The Shortlands Tavern itself and travelled to customers, providing freshly poured pints at their doorstep whilst restrictions made normal operations difficult.

This innovative idea has helped the pub stand out and win the Greene King Pub of the Year for innovation award.

The converted taxi (Image: ST)

Whilst the cabs currently are no longer in service due to a decreased demand, the duo look back fondly on their achievements with the scheme.

The pub offers a variety of food options, including pizzas from a shack in the garden, as well as classic pub dishes like roast dinners and burgers – on Sunday nights, guests can even enjoy a complimentary cheeseboard.

They also boast a wide selection of beers, ales, and cocktails.

The Shortlands Tavern often has live music events in their bustling beer garden during the summer months and host various bands and events in their function room, often showcasing the work of local artists whose paintings are available for purchase.

The beer garden (Image: ST)

Looking towards the future, Geoff and Terry have plans to improve the pizza setup in the outdoor area and continue with their vision of maintaining a traditional pub atmosphere while offering a range of entertainment options for the local community.

During the awards ceremony, Geoffrey Keen, Licensee for The Shortlands Tavern, said: “We are over the moon to have won Innovation Pub of the Year at the Night of Excellence Awards.

“Be it at the pub itself or on their own doorstep, customers love our four ‘Guinness Cabs’ because they are such a unique experience.”

Pizza that is served at the pub (Image: ST)

Phil Venables, Business Development Manager for Greene King Pub Partners, said: “Well done to Geoffrey and the team at The Shortlands Tavern for winning Innovation Pub of the Year.

“Not only is the unique experience of the ‘Guinness Cabs’ at the pub a must-see, but the pub also offers a great vibe and incredible food.”