The major drawback of our campervan is finding a parking space. Luckily Faversham has a giant Food Hall with unlimited opportunity for old folk to prove they can’t park, and none of those irritating white lines you have to park between.
Macknade Fine Foods is one of those barns full of Hungarian olives, Welsh octopus and French horse meat that you normally see in the Cotswolds and the Downs. I stuck to the octopus, which was escaping out of the plastic tub as I coughed up £5.66 for 3 tentacles worth. The assistant’s impression of someone being strangled by an octopus was free. Mrs RM had the baby octopus. Wimp.
The walk into Faversham central is via a number of variations on Preston; Street, Avenue, Park. The tunnel over the train line is a bit scary, and lacks any abusive street art.
In contrast, the centre is a feast of art.
This really is a great small town, perhaps below neighbours like Hastings and Ramsgate but well above Tunbridge Wells.
The pedestrianised streets around the market are a joy, and actually sell real tat, rather than tourist tat. Cheery OAPs flooded the town, chaps with earrings and sideburns called Tink sold jewellery recovered from pirates at Hollowshore Creek.
And the Sheps pubs are uniformly gorgeous, whatever you think of the beer (less than me, I suspect).
Mrs C’s target was a coffee, mine was the new Guide entry at Furlongs. You need hardly be told it’s a micropub, or that the GBG opening hours were already wrong.
The unexpected extra hour gave us time for a bargain filter at MBs Food Hall, which was THE place for duck salami, and a walk past Sheps brewery to the creek. Never mind those, here’s a picture of Antique Shop Cat.
Furlongs was already open when we turned up at 2.55, and I can’t really criticize it for opening early (“I’d finished my jobs so I opened“) the lady told us.
She had Mrs RM sussed as CAMRA from the moment we walked in; never has a 10p discount felt so good. The Gadds Dogbolter was the only choice, though frankly everyone else was on the Dark Star, the national beer of micros.
It’s an immaculate pub, seemingly run by an old school landlady with a penchant for encouraging CAMRA membership. Oddly, Wetherspoons vouchers didn’t seem to be sufficient incentivisation for one chap to sign up.
Chapel style seating and fresh flowers, replaced by fresher ones by a smart lady under our noses. She came in, took the vases, put new ones down, and walked out. Most quaint.
A great range of pubby conversation covered varifocals, finding Epsom, and queueing in Spoons. I’m glad Simon wasn’t there for that last one.
retiredmartin 
Beautiful town. Liked the Elephant a lot. Based on our two visits water pressure seems to be an issue with the local showers.
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Lovely post that captures the feel of the town and the pub
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I agree with Dave, Faversham is a beautiful town, and it’s many a year since I last set foot in the place. That could change at Easter, as I will be participating in the annual Maidstone CAMRA, Good Friday Ramble – now possibly in its 40th year? The plan is to walk from Faversham station, to Oare, to the Shipwright’s Arms at Hollowshore, which is a pub everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.
There should be a chance for a wander around Faversham on the way back, and Dave’s mention of the Elephant acts as a pointer as to where to go. I say this, because Faversham is understandably awash with Shepherd Neame who, despite owning some fine pubs, brew beers which are not to my liking; and that’s an understatement!
It will be good though to renew my acquaintance with this lovely old north Kent town.
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Hope the weather is as good as it is now, if you do go Paul.
Agree on Hollowshore, and walk out to it from Fav in the mist is as Dickensian as it gets !
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The Shipwright’s is definitely worth a visit. We have actually been there twice. Very interesting experience with excellent food and ales. I agree with RM, looking out over the water is straight out of Great Expectations. The Elephant is one of my favorite pubs.
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Mmmmmm! Darkstar. It’s the new Bass mate!
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Off with your head. Your northern, sparked head.
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Faversham is always linked to Chiswick in my mind. It’s the soapy acrid smell of a large brewery that permeates the whole town. Kent in general makes me think of beer-battered skate wings and tangy bitter *drool*
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I’m genuinely curious. Are these positives or negatives?
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They’re both positives though wouldn’t want to smell the brewery all the time. Battered skate wings probably my favourite food. No chips. Just fruity bitter.
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Skate wings? I have something new to try. Interesting. I do love the brewery smell.
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