January 2024. Southborough. Royal Tunbridge Wells.
We spent a couple of nights round Mrs RM’s Mum and Dad’s, seeing how my father-in-law is getting on after a lengthy period of hospitalisation and rehabilitation.
He just wanted a Chinese takeaway and a trip to the pub, bless him.
Only 8 minutes to the Imperial; you remember the Imperial ?
Lovely looking pub, up and down food “offer”, unconvincing Shepherd Neame beer range.
At risk of excommunication from CAMRA (hardly matters does it ?) I’d swerve the cask, despite the certificate saying “Most Improved Cask Outlet 2019” or similar.
That’s all irrelevant. What matters is that the Imperial is lively but welcoming, and no-one notices or comments on an 85 year old gent with some obvious signs of recent surgery. That’s why pubs matter.
Michael has a half of Spitfire lager, Mrs RM a Beavertown, I try the Sheps N0ughty Bear, a “not bad” no alcohol IPA, if that’s not a contradiction in terms.
And we get to watch Manchester City thrash the Terriers on a big screen. We’re all happy.
As we get up to leave someone recognises us and we stop for a chat, a first little dose of normality in many months. It’s what older folk go to pubs for.
And then I pop and fetch the meal for 3 from Meows, and it feeds 5 of us.
Southborough has few charms, but it’s not without its wonders.
retiredmartin 
Glad to read that your father-in-law is on the mend, Martin. Wanting a Chinese takeaway, plus a visit to the pub, is definitely a good sign, and as you say the Imperial is a pretty good bet, despite the rather lacklustre, Shepherd Neame beer range.
For the record, our company General Manager, lives in a turning off Pennington Road, although I’m fairly certain he doesn’t drink in the Imperial. The map was useful though, as I now know where to find Meow’s Chinese Takeaway.
LikeLike
Highly recommended, Paul.
LikeLiked by 1 person