November 2025. Rye Harbour.
One of the BIG questions, along with “Why ?” and “Would you like some wine Mrs RM ?“, is “Can you get a good Shepherd Neame beer anywhere ?“.
Well, I’ve not found it in a generation, and the Sheps managed houses (including the nice looking one near the in-laws) seem to have given up on cask.
For research purposes, let’s pop in our nearest pub in Rye Harbour, at the end of a run of pretty cottages.
You could do worse than the William the Conqueror,
particularly out on the benches on a warm day with that view of the plastic pellets to enjoy.
Unfussy, modest tourist trade from the twitchers, no “greeter” at the door.
On the odd occasion we’ve popped in Mrs RM has rather over-enjoyed the strong bottle-conditioned 1698 with the Greek food, but I’m here for Master Brew.
At the bar I add “And can I have it in a normal glass please“, looking to avoid the thin Sheps vase that knocks the condition out of your slow-selling cask.
There then follows the sort of interaction you really don’t want with a helpful young barmaid, as I use hand gestures to indicate what shaped glass I’d like or not (see also : the international sign of the hand pump).
Which turned out to be a pointless exchange as Sheps stock beer comes in a “Proper” glass, anyway.
And that drinking vessel seemed to add a 0.5 to the beer, even in a pub with no other cask approaching post-lunch closing on Sunday afternoon (NBSS 3).
Foamy and cool, enough, although unrecognisable from the lone Master Brew I did have recently had that proved it’s not the fault of Faversham it’s often so anaemic.
Girls Aloud sing “I Stand By You”, a visiting group of Hungarians (not Honved FC) discuss the political history in Transylvania, a topic on which I’m now an expert, but I don’t linger for a second pint.
retiredmartin 
If you can find Spitfire or Bishop finger they are decent
Available in London at Mabels Tavern in Euston or at the recently opened Old Ivy House in Goswell Rd Clerkenwell.
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Thanks.
Yes, I was thinking on last walk past Judd Street I ought to pop in Mabel’s for old time sake. Last year I did have a pint in the Bishop’s Finger in Smithfield, nothing special. The stronger beers should be more convincing, but in that thin vase Spitfire seemed a bit lifeless last time.
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Yes indeed Anonymous, I’ve enjoyed ten pints at Mabels Tavern over the past three years. Maybe Sheps beer improves beyond Kent, contrary to newer brewers whose beers don’t travel well.
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It’s rare to find a proper drinking pub run by Sheps, most seemed geared for dining. The Imperial in Southborough looked like a boozer but trade was almost entirely premium lager.
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“almost entirely premium lager” but Sheps lead the way with lager brewing Hurliman from, I think, the very late 1950s – the same decade as Sheffield’s Hope and Anchor Brewery started brewing Carling Black Label.
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I have to admit that from a long distance that is a mighty fine looking pint.
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From where I’m sitting it looks like it’s been poured using a swan neck and a tight sparkler, which would not suit a Kentish ale.
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I’ve no idea where you’re sitting, Will, (probably the Bath Hotel) but Dave is sitting further way and likes the look of it.
But I agree on your point; the good Sheps of memory was served virtually flat.
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That comment needs an explanatory footnote Will.
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Apologies if it looked like I was denigrating Dave’s ability to appreciate a decent pint. That wasn’t the point I was making at all.
From the vantage point of Yorkshire, the top photo on this blog looks very familiar, as it is seen all the time here when a beer is poured with a tight sparkler. It has that cloudy look of the tiny bubbles caused by the sparkler, which eventually clear. The sparkler has the effect of driving some of the hop particles into the head, and can cause the first swig of your pint to taste very hoppy, and subsequent tastes much blander.
Kentish beers are traditionally poured from an open tap, with no sparkler. This produces a different sort of taste profile. Yorkshire beers and Kentish beers are brewed with the different pours in mind, but swan necks with tight sparklers have spread to all parts of the country in the last 40 years or so, which explains the slight grumpiness that might be evident in my original comment above.
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I don’t think we thought you were denigrating Dave’s razor sharp eyesight, Will.
I think a pint can look really good without tasting its best, which I’ll admit is a feature of Bass these days !
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I did not feel disparaged. When reading this blog I do expect the level of detail provided by Will’s second post. We pay for that with the high subscription prices.
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I feel that’s a bit unfair, Dave. The subscription for Patronised readers hasn’t changed since 2015. Obviously, if you find something cheaper in Tokyo bring it on home (is that a Dylan song?).
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I think that was Sam Cooke.
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Song by Sam. Nearly an album title by Bob.
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You’ve had a week drinking pints of sake and Asahi !
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True. I did like sake more than I thought I did.
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“Well, I’ve not found it in a generation, and the Sheps managed houses (including the nice looking one near the in-laws) seem to have given up on cask.”
(sigh)
“You could do worse than the William the Conqueror,”
Ghengis Khan? Vlad the Impaler? William’s grandson Stephen?
(the list is endless! – especially if you include recent governments, not necessarily monarchs and such)
“particularly out on the benches on a warm day with that view of the plastic pellets to enjoy.”
See this is why people stare at their phones a lot.
“particularly out on the benches on a warm day with that view of the plastic pellets to enjoy.”
(looks at pic below)
From the condition of the floor it looks very, rustic.
“as I use hand gestures to indicate what shaped glass I’d like or not (see also : the international sign of the hand pump).”
I’m not even going to look; and I’m usually the raunchy one!
“Which turned out to be a pointless exchange as Sheps stock beer comes in a “Proper” glass, anyway.”
Phew! It’s own glass, name and everything.
“Foamy and cool, enough, although unrecognisable from the lone Master Brew I did have recently”
(checks link)
Wait, 30 months ago is recently?
“a visiting group of Hungarians (not Honved FC) discuss the political history in Transylvania”
Vlad the Impaler!** See! I knew it would come around to that.
** – or close enough for our purposes
Cheers
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Decent pub. Let’s hope it stays open. There used to be two pubs in the village. Use it or lose it.
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The other one (the Inkerman Arms) seemed to be the village favourite for its fish and chips, Morten, but no sign of reopening or attempt at change of use.
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That was indeed a vase! Looks to be a beautiful place to be all round.
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