Blackfen Community Library in Bexley

Visit many times.The coffee shop is brilliant prices very good.Plenty of events for oldies and the young little ones.look foe special events christmas ,easter,summer.

I think that sums up the visit to the library this weekend. Went to the library because of the Christmas festivities and being able to see Santa’s Grotto. The place was heaving with people. A hot mess of people in close proximity ripe for catching and spreading COVID. My other half enquired about the Grotto and was told a booking was required. This in the brochure I picked up didn’t mention this at all. Got into a back and forth with someone there and all sorts of excuses were given. For example, the brochures were only printed last week, the event was available for booking 3 months ago (yeah right), the event was advertised on Facebook. Why wasn’t “booking required” in the brochure? Why bother printing the brochure? What if you aren’t on Facebook? I included a picture of the brochure. No mention of booking or cost. Anyway, fine, let’s instead do some arts and crafts. Have to pay, ok fine. I can do that. Not enough seething areas. Again a mess. Oh and by the way your child is only allowed to do one craft, only one. So either do colouring in, make a decoration. Why not just charge more and allow the little ones to do multiple things? Our eldest was given two things to do, while the youngest was told no, pick just one. Very odd and very Scrooge like. I get this is community run but you can do better. Allowing certain number of people would have been the responsible thing to do. Stop the spread of COVID and allow the people to enjoy the activities without feeling suffocated. Perhaps corner off the kids area so random people don’t just come and sit down for a chinwag. Don’t make assumptions that people are on Facebook or just became aware of paid, or booking requirements through word of mouth. Like I said. Chaotic and just plain irresponsible. 👎🏼

this is a fantastic community social Hub Always thing on for the kids lovely fresh cakes and drinks meet and chat with family and friends oh maybe rent a book or two highly recommended please go regards tony

This now a community library run by volunteers and seems to be thriving. Apart from the library aspects it runs lots of events, courses, and get together. Inside it is Rooked a coffee house. I use it for breakfast which is excellent value but others just pop in for a coffee