Bromley Gloss - London Borough of Bromley - Current, Upcoming, Historic

11/03/2026

East Street Bromley BR1, October 1928. Leather trench coats were all the rage.

11/03/2026

Visit original post at: https://www.facebook.com/LBBromley

Engagement session taking place on options for Elmfield Road improvements

Views are being sought on potential options for public realm improvements on Elmfield Road in Bromley Town Centre, with an engagement session taking place on Thursday 19 March.

Residents and local businesses are invited to attend the engagement session at Devonshire House on Elmfield Road between 3pm and 7pm on 19 March and provide feedback about their experiences of Elmfield Road to help shape emerging options for delivering public realm improvements. Elmfield Road runs in parallel to Bromley High Street connecting Bromley South to the entrance to the Glades, while also providing office space for a range of businesses.

Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, said: "We encourage residents and local businesses to get involved and help shapes these emerging plans to further enhance our thriving town centre. We know Elmfield Road is an important hub for the local economy and want to ensure it is a welcoming space for employees and town centre visitors. So if you have suggestions or views, then please do get in touch as we move forward with the early stages of this project.

Following the session, feedback will be considered in developing proposals, which will then be shared with residents later this year. Residents unable to attend the session can also provide feedback online.

The engagement takes place in the context of the recent news that Planning approval has been granted to reconfigure the former Debenhams unit, which is expected to attract a range of new leisure activities for residents.

https://www.bromley.gov.uk/news/article/953/engagement-session-taking-place-on-options-for-elmfield-road-improvements

07/03/2026

🍺 The Royal Bell, Bromley High Street, back in the day circa 1990s. Now the Bell has re opened, but is looking very different after its makeover. If you have been in lately would love to know what you think. Photo Credit: Mary Gaunt.

07/03/2026

A sweet little advert (top photo) of the 1930s for Church House Gardens Church House Cafė. “When you’re tired and ill at ease Church House Cafė is sure to please. Rooms at Liberty for Receptions, Dances, Bridge Parties, ETC. all year round.”🌷

07/03/2026

🛒DOLLY’S TROLLY Bromley Market Square stood next to Tip Top Bakeries.

07/03/2026

🍺 BROMLEY UNITED SERVICES CLUB London Road, Bromley BR1, a community hub, that encourages new joins and walk-ins. Offers social events, live entertainment of varying genres held in one of the club's two function halls, each with its own stage and bar.

Has traditional pub facilities like a pool table, dart boards, also an on-site short mat bowls club (Wednesdays) running charity events throughout the year. Hosts karaoke, bingo, raffles and other events, particularly on Saturday nights. Online reviews praise the friendly staff, welcoming atmosphere, and good value for money drinks.

Does "club priced" deals, cocktails, bar snacks, and is a part of the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) discount scheme. Entry to the club is free for members. Non-members pay a small entry fee.

Function halls available for private hire for e.g. community events, birthdays, wedding receptions, parties, work gathering’s. Weekly Salsa and Bachata dance classes including monthly "Friday night special" and after-party.

HISTORY
In the early 1900s 33 London Road was a school. At the outbreak of war in 1914 the building was purchased by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and was used as a hospital for soldiers injured during WW1.

After the war ended in 1918 the hospital was no longer needed, so in 1920 they sold the buildings to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAFFI) who formed the United Services Club. It gave returning soldiers a safe place to meet and socialise. Today’s club is over 100 years old. One of the first members of the club was future King George VI, who visited the club in 1920.

Over the years the club has lost some square footage. The Victorian house that used to form part of the club was sold and demolished, now residential flats stand in its foot print. However, the venue remains spacious.

👻Long-time locals and former staff have shared stories about the building being haunted. In the 1980s, staff reported "unexplained poltergeist-type activities".

06/03/2026

🍺 THE SHORTLANDS TAVERN Bromley.

Station Road Shortlands has the feel of a country lane, and this pub is icing on the cake. A work of art outside and in. Credit where it’s due.

Popular community local, a short walk from Shortlands Railway Station, known for its traditional decor, cosy atmosphere, and expansive beer garden decorated with vintage finds and lush greenery. It has a varied calendar of events including live music, open mic, speed quizzes, bingo nights, and monthly book club. It has beautiful snug featuring board games. Major events are shown on the big screens and there are four dartboards available when the function room is not in use. The upstairs area is available for private hire, suitable for parties of up to 70 people.

The pub currently features a rotating food menu, combining the staple pizza menu and Latin-inspired tacos, burgers, wings, sides and a tasty seasonal Sunday toast. The bar serves a variety of continental lagers, an ever-changing selection of real ales (Cask Marque accredited), and a dedicated gin menu.

HISTORY The Shortlands Tavern was built in the 1860s following the arrival of the railway, namely Shortlands Railway Station in 1858, and the subsequent development of suburban Shortlands. The railway's arrival transformed the area from farmland into the villagey place it remains today.

The pub was constructed after the River Ravensbourne was channelled, a project that was necessary because the river was at that time prone to flooding. However, pub and surrounding area were still hit by major floods in 1875, 1895, and as late as 1968 before the River Ravensbourne was diverted into an underground culvert. Folklore and historical anecdotes suggest that regulars continued to enjoy a pint whilst floodwaters from the Ravensbourne breached the immediate area by over a metre. Similar stories of resilience were noted at other nearby Bromley pubs where patrons reportedly used rowing boats to reach the bar😁.

The tavern underwent significant renovation in 2012, which was done with aplomb and was warmly received by everyone.

06/03/2026

C.I.V. VILLAS FARWIG LANE 2026, empty for years. The sign states C.I.V. Villas 1900. Given the build date, in this case “C.I.V.” certainly stands for City Imperial Volunteers which was a famous volunteer corps of the British Army raised in late 1899 to fight in the Second Boer War.

They returned to London in October 1900 to an heroic response from the general public. Many builders at the time named new developments after the unit to celebrate C.I.V. excitement that had swept the nation.

06/03/2026

🌳 CRYSTAL PALACE PARK London Borough of Bromley, Renaissance Alternative Music Festival 26 May 2024.

06/03/2026

🌳 AREAS OF KENT PRE 1889. This West Kent map shows the boundaries of parishes that formed the historical Diocese of Rochester, Kent which extended North to the river Thames and West to the original (pre-1889) Kent/Surrey boundary. The map shows the areas of Kent that became incorporated into London: first by the County of London in 1889, then additional areas became part of Greater London in 1965. This comprised the current boroughs of Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley. The other areas shown on the map have remained part of Kent. The following is a list of areas that had for over a thousand years been part of Kent and then became Greater London.

Beckenham
Bexley
Bromley
Charlton
Chelsfield
Chislehurst
Crayford
Cudham
Deptford
Downe
East Wickham
Eltham
Erith
Farnborough
Foots Cray
Greenwich
Hayes
Keston
Kidbrooke
Lee
Lewisham
Mottingham
North Cray
Orpington
Plumstead
St Mary Cray
St Paul’s Cray
West Wickham
Woolwich.

🌳 Credit: North West Kent Family History Society.

🌳 Interesting fact: Originally London comprised little more than what is now the City of London / the Square Mile. e.g. Historically Westminster was not part of London, it was a part of the ceremonial county of Middlesex.

04/03/2026

THE PENGE EMPIRE THEATRE June 1914 and May 1915. Credit: The Bedford Lemere Collection, Historic England.