Not only did I get east and west mixed up again in the last post (thanks Mudgie), I also forgot that the too new Guide pubs in New Romney are in Kent. So there’s still one to go to finish Micro County (SPOILER – JUST DONE IT).
Clearly it’s Kent. Romney Marsh is Great Expectations country, which is Kent to the core. And the Snargate Red Lion is just up the road, possibly closer than the toy train station, which feels more than the mile away Google promises.
Loads of photos, two pubs, two posts. Starting with the inevitable micro,
Actually, lets start with hairdressers, as New Romney seems to be full of them. This one is for Dan, and proves that micros don’t have all the best puns.
But the Smugglers certainly has a viable name and the thing you always look for outside any pub.
Flouting the Herne laws yet further, it is also open most of the day, almost as if it exists for the benefit of customers or something.
Otherwise, it ticks the micro boxes.
At 2.15pm I’m the 3rd customer.
“Afternoon !” I say, in my best jolly voice.
Silence. Oh well, they were probably meditating. The landlady is cheery enough.
A man with a beret seems to be on cognac and coke (is that possible ?), but I stick with something called Good Knight from 3 beers I’ve never heard of.
The overwhelming taste is of diacetyl, which I’ve now learn to spell. It’s not unpleasant to be fair, and neither is the pub. A second mobility scooter joins us and the pub suddenly fills up.
Banter. Not a word. A good place to read a book, as they say.
Fans of micro pubs (dramatic pause) will love the loo, which has details of all your favourites.
retiredmartin 
“From the Blues Brothers, says Dan”
A quick Google search seems to indicate there’s one in every state, province or bloody county. 🙂
“and the thing you always look for outside any pub.”
An ‘open’ sign? 😉
“seems to be on cognac and coke (is that possible ?),”
A quick Google search says… yes (just like ye olde magic eight ball).
“A second mobility scooter joins us and the pub suddenly fills up.”
(golf clap)
“which has details of all your favourites.”
At least they don’t mind advertising for the competition as it were (unless of course, by advertising in the loo they are suggesting the offerings from other micros are pure p*ss). 🙂
Cheers
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Interesting point that last one Russ. You won’t find Wetherspoons advertising Greene King pubs !
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Ha! Love it!
(Would have been perfect had a mobility scooter been in front 😄)
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I’ll go back there tomorrow and move the mobility scooter in front of the hairdresser, just for you.
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Do you recall who it was who first made the comment about “mobility scooters are always a good sign”? It certainly has become one of the sacred tenets of pub enthusiasts!
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I won’t claim credit, as all the best stuff is nicked off BRAPA, but I do remember blogging about it in Shoreham a year or so ago. Probably trace it back to Victorian times !
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No fan of micros myself, but a agreat fan of the area. I can’t wait to go back to Dungeness/Romney area again. If you hadn’t been obligated to go to the GPGB pubs (I have no idea what merits an entry there), you’d have had a good few traditional boozers to choose from in the area. Most with real people in them.
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Exactly right, some real people in those Romney Marsh pubs.
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The Red Lion at Snargate really is a proper pub.
Purple, a mourning colour, is used for the “Dye” hairdressers I see.
And pickled eggs, as much as closed on Mondays, are becoming a sign of a micropub.
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Have you ever actually seen someone eating a pickled egg. Saw one being forced on a child in Dover. Did I tell you about it ?
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Er, no, was the little brat told they are to be swallowed whole ?
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Apropos ( pardon my bastard French ) mobility scooters.
As a little sideline to provide a few extra drinking vouchers I have a couple of holiday rentals including one which is a penthouse apartment reached by a lift and then climbing a flight of 10 stairs – all details of which are in the advert for it.
I received an inquiry last week from an American family saying how they loved the look of the place and wanted to rent it but could I suggest somewhere local to hire a motorised mobility scooter – and oxygen tank.
Which got me thinking are micros popular with the mobility scooter crowd because as they’re often in former shops there are unlikely to be stairs and doors and lots of furniture to navigate round ?
Plus the bogs will always be on one level.
I dunno because I’ve never been in one and living abroad I seem to have missed their arrival.Although I am off to Brighton today so I’m going to look out for one.
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See here; https://retiredmartin.com/2017/06/01/boozin-in-brighton-hopping-thru-hove/
In Hove (Brighton too expensive for a micro) but Watchmakers a proper micro (is that good ?). Near cricket ground. Worthing is practically all micro,
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Why do you live in Ireland ?
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Sorry Prof, there was no easy way to ask that question.
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The hairdressers looked more exciting than the micro. Perhaps they’ll get in the GBG if they have a few bottles. And generally they have longer opening hours. As you’re now running a holiday rental advice clinic…..what can I say to folks who ask, “when you say no dogs, what size of dog do you allow?”
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Bottles in micros ? It worked for Gallagher’s in Birkenhead didn’t it ?
My advice on holidays is to take your own hotel around with you wherever you go (possibly not Kazakhstan).
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