Charlton v Portsmouth: how to get there, where to park, the best pubs to visit – what Blues fans need to know for game at The Valley

Please note that kick off at The Valley (Floyd Road, Charlton, London SE7 8BL) is now at 5.30 pm.

The Addicks’ ground has a capacity of just over 27,000 and Blues fans will be in the Jimmy Seed (South) Stand at one end of the ground.

There is a cash point located on the side of the Valley Superstore, just inside the main gates. There is also a cash point outside Charlton train station.

Getting to The Valley – by road

Leave the M25 at Junction 2 and follow the A2 towards London.

After around 12 miles the road splits, with the A2 going off to the left and the right-hand lanes becoming the A102.

Continue on the A102 towards the Blackwall Tunnel.

Leave the A102 at the next slip road (signposted Woolwich & Ferry A206).

At the bottom of the slip road turn right at the traffic lights towards Woolwich/Charlton.

Continue along the A206, passing the site of the former Antigallican pub on your right.

The ground and away entrance are diagonally behind this pub.

Parking

Parking at the ground is for permit holders only and many of the roads around The Valley and near Charlton Station have residents-only parking restrictions.

As you come off the A102 onto the A206, there is some street parking available on the right before you reach the Rose of Denmark pub.

There is also parking in some of the local industrial estates in the Westmoor Street, Eastmoor Street area.

By Train

Charlton station is the nearest train station to The Valley and is about three minutes walk from the ground.

Trains run half-hourly from Waterloo East to Charlton and the journey takes about 25 minutes.

Waterloo East can be accessed by going up the stairs at London Waterloo.

Trains also run regularly from London Bridge to Charlton and that journey will take about 20 minutes.

To get to the ground, come out of Charlton Station into Charlton Church Lane, (all exits lead onto this road), turn right and cross over to the other side.

Take the next left into Floyd Road and then right into Valley Grove for the away section entrance.

At the time of writing there were no engineering works or industrial action scheduled.

Train details can be checked on nationalrail.co.uk.

For up to date travel information on the day, link to @PompeyfcCop on twitter.

Where to eat and drink

There are no pubs near The Valley.

The Antigallican pub in Woolwich Road, that used to welcome away fans, has now closed.

The Angerstein Hotel (108 Woolwich Road, SE10 0LE) is around 15 minutes walk from the ground.

It has televised sport but does not serve food.

If you are travelling by train from Waterloo East to Charlton then you could get off at Blackheath and use the pubs there.

Near Blackheath station, the Railway pub (Blackheath Village, SE3 9LE) serves food.

A few minutes walk away are The Crown (49 Tranquil Vale, SE3 0BS) – a Shepherd Neame pub serving food – and O’Neill’s (52 Tranquil Vale, SE3 0BH) – an Irish Sports bar serving real ale and food.

For real ale fans there is the Zerodegrees Microbrewery (Montpelier Vale, Blackheath, SE3 0TJ).

An alternate idea, especially if you are travelling by train, is to get the Jubilee Line tube heading east from London Waterloo to London Bridge.

In the London Bridge/Borough Market area there are plenty of pubs and places to eat,  including The Market Porter (9 Stoney Street, SE1 9AA), which serves real ale and pub food.

Also in Stoney Street is The Wheatsheaf (SE1 9AA) –  a Youngs pub serving food

Close to London Bridge is the Bunch of Grapes (2 St Thomas Street, SE1 9RS) –  a traditional Youngs pub serving real ale and food.

Inside the ground, the usual range of pies, hot dogs and hot drinks will be on sale.

Alcohol is usually on sale in the ground.

- PAM WILKINS