retiredmartin

December 2025.Hollowshore. Faversham.

You’ll be wanting to know what Christmas traditions we’ve upheld today, so here’s a photo of our traditional 25th December lunch,

houmous, Sensations crisps, mango chutney, baguette and some stew Mrs RM knocked up in the slow cooker this morning. Eaten off childrens party plates with wooden cutlery “borrowed” from Waitrose.

Mrs RM had feasted in similarly simple style a week ago on her own birthday; home made vegetable soup washed down with a pint of Kent’s “Quiet American” (NBSS 4) in the Shipwright’s Arms.

Not that I’ve ever met a Quiet American, mind, but those I have met rated the Shipwright’s highly,

as does Will Hawkes, who’s put it in his Top 500.

Unusually, Will’s Top 500 seems to actually feature 500 pubs, an unusual concept for me. It’s a remote, enduring, classic, best experienced in person in winter or through Will’s superior photos.

I made a fuss on entry about Mrs RM getting the seat by the fire,

only to realise that it wasn’t the best fire, and making her move to the bar next to this one;

As long as she’s got the pint and I’m on the Rombouts she’s not complaining.

Ignore the building for a moment,

and admire the warmth of the welcome, the simplicity of three cool beers from the barrel,

and a warren of rooms to waste the afternoon in.

Such a shame I couldn’t persuade Mrs RM to walk back to Faversham along the creek in the dark.