retiredmartin

December 2024. Faversham.

Time to leave Mum for a couple of nights and pop down to see Mrs RM. Even Cat A prisoners at HMP Belmarsh (tickers who ask for tasters) get better spousal visitation rights.

In gale force winds I made it as far as Faversham before parking up for the night.

You remember Faversham ?

I wasn’t sure I could.

Six years since my last visit, and now two new entries (apparently). But could I find the Quay on the GBG App ?

Apparently, that’s because it was a hotel bar only so you needed to untick a filter or summat.

But now anyone can pop in,

as long as you have a plummy laugh, a Christmas jumper and are able to stand at the bar aimlessly wondering how exactly pubs work.

Actually, that’s a bit unfair; everyone apart from me was loitering while a table was found, joyfully reading out the hilarious pump clips.

Rocking Rudolph was first brewed in 1856 and is mentioned in “A Christmas Carol“, so you’d think it would no longer be novel, but you’d be wrong.

Anyway, nice pint of Gadds HPA by the fire, and the massive disappointment of it not being Sheps eased as a cool, rich beer (NBSS 3.5) emerged.

This may be controversial but turnover drives beer quality, and a pub full of gentlefolk is a guarantee of a decent pint, as well as your favourite festive tunes.

Oddly, that was followed by “Buffalo Soldier“.

The Gadds only got better, and I thought of staying for a pint of the Rudolph (“Rocking Rudolph, geddit ? Ha Ha Ha”), but the banter seemed to be mainly Old Folk moaning about Woke Wicked, so a trip to the Gents,

and then back out into the cold.

But not before bringing you this gem…