Above Google image, September 2008.

Above Google image, July 2014.

Above Google image, September 2015.

Above photo 2015.

From the https://www.bexleytimes.co.uk By Luke May, 12 April 2016.

One year, and 16,000 pints later Blackfen’s the Broken Drum celebrates its first birthday.

A Blackfen micropub owner has praised the sense of community from the regulars as they celebrate the pub’s first anniversary since it opened.

The Broken Drum, on Westwood Lane, will host a celebration this weekend, as its owner, Andy Wheeler, continues to pour the pints.

The former computer programmer from Bexleyheath claims he’s served up 16,000 pints of different ales in the past year.

He said: “We’ve offered 200 different ales, I don’t have one constant beer, I’m always changing, looking for local and national beers.

“Each cask holds 70 pints so its just a case of simple maths - that’s not including the real ciders that we sell.”

Bexley is currently home to three micropubs including the Broken Drum, with the other two, the "Penny Farthing" and the "Door Hinge," in Crayford and Welling respectively.

Mr Wheeler explained the appeal for micropub regulars.

He said: “It’s a breakaway from the noise of pubs or the restaurant-type pubs that just have a bar to drink at.

“We don’t sell lager, we don’t sell spirits and we don’t play loud music. People come in, enjoy a chat with each other and talk to people they don’t know.

“People can come in, chat and make friends, we have run three quiz nights and raised around £1,000 for the British Heart Foundation.”

“We also donate to Alzheimers UK, as the pub is named after a pub in Terry Pratchet’s Discworld book series.”

The author died from the disease last year.

The micropub’s 58-year-old owner remains optimistic for the future.

He said: “I never realised how important the sense of community would be to me.

“There are no problems, business is all going well, and we’ll be celebrating on Saturday.”