TOP 100 PUBS – THE ELEPHANT, FAVERSHAM

December 2024. Faversham.

I’d paid the £7.10 (equivalent to a pint of Sam Smiths in London these days) to park the campervan overnight in Faversham, and was going to Do It All. A couple of ancient Sheps inns, the two new GBG entries, a Crispy Beef…

My plans fell apart in the drizzle at the second hurdle, the crafty bar unexpectedly closed. And not for the first time, it seemed.

Now pubs can open when they like, but this place (work it out yourself) had NO actual opening times on the door, NO phone number, NO website or Facebook. Which is helpful.

I reckon this is King Faver Flav sticking a finger up to another Thanet micro opening hours fail.

I resigned myself to having to come back another day, assuming I could ever find a day it was open, and guessed what my Patronised readers would most like me to revisit.

Well, Shipwrights Arms up the creek in Hollowshore, I guess.

Well, sorry, to wimp out, Dave, but it was dark and wet, and not in a good way, and I thought “Hmm, I’ll leave the Shipwrights till next time“, and headed to the Elephant.

Well, it looked gorgeous in 2018, and even more so tonight, bar the slightly alarming “FREEHOLD FOR SALE” sign.

No signs of Christmas, or Chris Rea, here, but there’s music coming up shortly,

I suspect a skiffle version of “Brat”, though I never do find out.

Once Fremlins, which the Two Pauls will remember, but now it’s microbeer from Wimbledon,

but I pick something from Kent.

Hopfuzz haven’t impressed me at their Tap last week, and that pump clip is awful, so I was astonished to get an immaculate pint. Cool, rich and chewy (NBSS 4.5). Yes, another 4.5.

AND I got my own little snug.

Which quickly became eyed up as enviously as any booth at Belfast’s Crown as folk tipped up for the skiffle.

“You can have my seat in 10 minutes; I’m not staying for the music” I tell a hovering lady who immediately has my card marked as an axe murderer, or, even worse, a ticker.

In all honesty, I wish I had stayed put. Look at this view.

A wonderful pub, and as I’ve just read on their Facebook, definitely NOT closing…

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

16 thoughts on “TOP 100 PUBS – THE ELEPHANT, FAVERSHAM”

  2. Wise to leave Hollowshore for another occasion, as not a walk to be undertaken in the dark.

    Good to see that the Elephant is as good as ever, but didn’t see anything on the pub’s Facebook page denying or confirming any sale.
    Faversham is a little tricky for me to get to by rail, but I shall make the effort in the New Year. Would you say it was worthy of a Proper Day Out?

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  4. The Elephant is one of my all time favorites. We sat in that very same snug. During our 3 day visit in 2012 we visited at least once a day. We were so predictable that when we entered our beers were already being pulled!
    Dick

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