November 2024. Rye.
A few days in Rye Harbour with Mrs RM, starting with a rather unwise but welcome ESB and Bishop’s Finger to kick off the afternoon.
Mrs RM had also taken the £2 bus in from the caravan park, but was determined not to get ****** after last week, and she so nearly made it.
It would have been a crime not to be in Rye that Thursday lunchtime under glorious blue skies. Mrs RM said it had seemed a bit quiet, but I reckon that’s because there’s only so many steps, mostly uphill,
and the pashmina’d gentlefolk are all inside the (uniformly excellent) bistros and bars.
The Mint is the street for the minted, and next to Marino’s chippy stands the flagbearer for unfussy gastropub dining.
The Standard had a year or three in the Guide a decade ago, and if it isn’t quite the Mermaid (or the Ypres) it’s certainly impressive, in a Mr Thomas’s Chop House sort of way.
We’re the only ones not dining (sample dish Romney Marsh Rump of Lamb, Garlic Roasted Celeriac, Buttered Veg, Walnut & Mint Pesto. £25), but the young fella at the bar is unfazed.
“Great ! Don’t blame you ! Cheeky pint ?” etc etc. Young folk can’t talk to old codgers, you read. Yeah, they can.
Youth will save the world. At least until it melts/freezes over.
“Pint of Romney and half of the Skylarking, please”.
“No problemo, brother”. What ! You’d rather be called “Sir” ? Get off my blog.
I’d lie if I said they were great; both were cool and tasty (NBSS 3), though you can see why the micropub edged the Standard out of the Guide.
Amazingly, outside Gents.
No, I don’t know what “To the huts” means, either.
And don’t wish to find out.
retiredmartin 
I had the Romney Marsh lamb rump once in the Standard- very good. It was a few years ago however & we may consider the tariff a little excessive these days . Pauline
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In general how much have pub meals gone up in price? On our last visit I thought about 2 pounds per meal. In the US I think we are up at least four dollars per meals that involve beef.
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I would have said 2 pounds if you’d asked me, Dave. Quality of food and happiness has gone up, too.
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I think about half as much again as before the pandemic. They’re still a bargain in some pubs though.
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That’s about right too.
The lamb curries in Cafe Marhaba are up from £5 to £8 since 2017.
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