BACK IN RYE, STRAIGHT TO THE YPRES CASTLE

November 2025. Rye.

First time at our caravan down in Rye Harbour for a year; it’s been on let almost continuously in an attempt to recoup the site fees.

It all feels worth it as you take the A2070 from Ashford past Snargate and Romney Marsh, and the bus into Rye from the nature reserve brings you to the magical centre in 10 minutes.

“You go. I’m not drinking” says Mrs RM, who’s hard at work blogging

Her loss. Rye is heaving with tourists, local and foreign, at the golden hour,

and this must be one of the most famous descents to a pub in the UK.

You want notes ? I didn’t take any, beyond scoring that Kent beer a 4.5. I don’t even miss Harvey’s.

Jeff greets me at the bar, where I sit and watch the magic of a great pub unfold over the next hour.

Louie (sp. ?) is the star today, another of Jeff’s great staff team, but all the customers seem lovely too. Not serving food helps.

Children bring their empty glasses back to the bar and say “Thank you“. Their proud parents say “Well done“. I say “Well done“, too, perhaps a little enthusiastically.

I’m not normally comfortable sitting at the bar, but watching a great pub like the Ypres in full flow on a Saturday evening is a thing of wonder.

And that Floc Double Whisper. Blimey.

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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.

6 thoughts on “BACK IN RYE, STRAIGHT TO THE YPRES CASTLE”

  1. Hiya Martin, hope your enjoying your travels, you gave us a lovely mention when at the Red Lion in Swaffham Prior but now we are at The Sun Inn, Hill Bottom, Whitchurch Hill, Reading. RG8 7PU. plenty of overnight parking (Britstops) and we would love to meet you. John & Lana 07867 528281.

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  2. ““You go. I’m not drinking” says Mrs RM, who’s hard at work blogging”

    Blimey. Did you check her temperature?

    “and this must be one of the most famous descents to a pub in the UK.”

    (looks down)

    Yup. Much better than being a descent FROM the pub afterwards.

    “I don’t even miss Harvey’s.”

    Brave man for saying that.

    “where I sit and watch the magic of a great pub unfold over the next hour.:

    Magic indeed.

    “Not serving food helps.”

    So it CAN be done!

    “And that Floc Double Whisper. Blimey.”

    (hits up Google)
    Yup; 8% will do that. 😎
    (those are great ‘end of day’ beers)

    Cheers

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    1. Jeff who runs the Ypres Castle first came to our attention in the 2010s when he ran the Gunmakers in the City of London and served the finest pint of Harvey’s ever.

      It was a brave decision to not sell Harvey’s in his Sussex pub, but I’d say the beer from Kent Brewery is even better.

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      1. Kent Brewery beers are pretty fantastic. I remember them being on at the Devonshire Cat in Sheffield a few years ago, after which the pub closed down. Coincidence? Yes, definitely.

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