MEAT RAFFLE, 10 PINTS OF FOSTERS, BABIES AND OLD BOYS, A STONE ROSES OBSESSION. LYDD’S FIRST GBG ENTRY WANTS TO BE ADORED

November 2025. Lydd. Kent.

What’s that bit of land a few miles east of Romney Marsh ? “Boulogne” something something ? A small Channel Island presumably. Probably sells Butcombe, must investigate*.

Just as I got to investigate Lydd (pop. 6,567) on Saturday, as it (remarkably) makes the Beer Guide for the first ever, and now has more entries than Southwold.

The approach takes you past a caravan park with the motto “Are you after the quiet life ?”.

Well, no, but Lydd offers quiet in abundance, and I’m quick to declare it Chatteris of the South Coast,

there’s even a house called The Fens. Some pleasing houses for a tiny town (Trip Advisor – “city”, reality – “village”),

with a social media based on adjusting the teapots in your window,

and a pub converted to a newsagent/tobacconist.

Some of the properties have “potential”.

“But what about the town council finances ?“. Glad you asked.

Our pub, the reason tickers will be heading down to the Marsh this winter, is yet another unfussy village boozer, the sort of place we’re told doesn’t make the Guide in an era of brewery taps and micros and Spoons.

OK, six pumps is rather ambitious for an un-touristy town of 6,000 Fosters drinkers, most of whom are seated round the bar,

but the Old Boys keep the Harvey’s pump flowing, and despite those tiny bubbles it’s a chewy 3.5, at a push.

It’s my, and certainly BRAPA’s, sort of pub. Meat raffles, mums and babies, conversations about Bournville chocolate, Stone Roses lyrics on the wall and “I Am The Resurrection” on the stereo. I decide, after the sort of consideration only a sad bloke that’s visited 15,000 pubs can be fussed by, this is a companion pub to the Live and Let Live in Downham Market.

It’s a gem, and the only problem is that the landlord that’s got it in the GBG are leaving at the end of January. Visit NOW.

*If the Camber Sands plastic pellets spill continues I may be able to walk across the Channel.

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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.

7 thoughts on “MEAT RAFFLE, 10 PINTS OF FOSTERS, BABIES AND OLD BOYS, A STONE ROSES OBSESSION. LYDD’S FIRST GBG ENTRY WANTS TO BE ADORED”

  1. “What’s that bit of land a few miles east of Romney Marsh ? “Boulogne” something something ? A small Channel Island presumably.”
    I believe that would be ‘Italy’s boot’ or some such. And Boulogne is most likely Italian for baloney (or bologna if you want to get all sophisticated and the like).
    “as it (remarkably) makes the Beer Guide for the first ever, and now has more entries than Southwold.”
    Burn?
    “with the motto “Are you after the quiet life ?”.”
    Heh. My wife and I went to Huatulco in Mexico, on the Pacific side, back in 2006. Their brochure stated ‘if you want exciting night life, don’t come here). Being in our 40’s at the time (with me a month shy of 50) we were quite happy with that arrangement.
    “and I’m quick to declare it Chatteris of the South Coast,”
    (looks at map below)
    Hey, I see Dungeness! That’s the crabs we have over here in the Pacific. Small world.
    “Some pleasing houses for a tiny town (Trip Advisor – “city”, reality – “village”),”
    Yep. Campbell River is still a ‘town’. You need at least 50K folk here to be a city (we’re hovering just over 40K).
    “with a social media based on adjusting the teapots in your window,”
    (looks down)
    And how closely you follow the Japanese tea ceremony?
    “and a pub converted to a newsagent/tobacconist.”
    With a lot of teapots!
    “Some of the properties have “potential”.”
    That’s another ‘reality/realty’ word, innit?
    ““But what about the town council finances ?“. Glad you asked.”
    My word. You definitely know how to impress your readers.
    “is yet another unfussy village boozer, the sort of place we’re told doesn’t make the Guide in an era of brewery taps and micros and Spoons.”
    (looks down)
    And apparently live sports and darts. Hopefully not at the same time, in the same area.
    “but the Old Boys keep the Harvey’s pump flowing, and despite those tiny bubbles it’s a chewy 3.5, at a push.”
    Nice. 👍
    “after the sort of consideration only a sad bloke that’s visited 15,000 pubs can be fussed by,”
    Ok, that’s a fairly big number (doffs hat).
    “*If the Camber Sands plastic pellets spill continues I may be able to walk across the Channel.”
    I think you missed the little star thingy (*) way up top after ‘investigate’.
    Cheers

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  2. There’s a Craft Union pub not far from me with not only a meat raffle but also a beer raffle and – yes, one beer is plenty – either Bass at £2.85 or Old Speckled Hen at £2.45 but I never see anyone else from the branch in there.

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    1. Yes, I was a bit disappointed in Stafford’s Beer Guide entries, perhaps more the number than the selection itself.

      I’d never criticise a branch GBG entry though. I visit once, they (in theory) visit the whole year.

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  3. I lived in Kent for a time in the early 70’s whilst working at the power station at Dungeness. I played Sunday football for the Dolphin Dribblers and had a few pints of Courage Best after the game. It was a fine pub then, glad to see it still thriving.
    The pitch was on the green facing the pub.
    Most pubs in that area were Courage then.
    John from Bramhall (failed to log in!)

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