retiredmartin

January 2026. Tenterden.

I remembered it’s 2026 this time, after labelling the last one December ’25. Good job we don’t write cheques anymore.

Mrs RM is busy “refining” her blog, but I did get her out from Rye (we’re attending to in-laws again) to explore posh Tenterden, half an hour north and 50 years into the past.

That’s not fair, Tenterden isn’t that old-fashioned,

they’ve even got one of those chain Lounge places, quite impressive for a town of 8,186 souls.

Prosperous looking rather than pretty (more Epping than Saffron Walden), it’s as busy a small town as I’ve seen in a while, swarming with gentlefolk on a Tuesday lunchtime, despite the threat of snow.

The pubs and cafes look busy, almost as if folk haven’t read the memo about no-one going to pubs anymore, though I note the last GBG entry I visited here has reverted to a Thai restaurant.

Taunting us, Tamarind Thai still has the GBG25 sticker up that This Ancient Boro left. Mind you, that pub replaced a Chinese restaurant and there’s a sense that Weald folk value restaurants over pubs.

No idea how busy St Mildred’s is.

I’m disappointed that Mr Taylor’s Drink Emporium is shut,

though I’m guessing there’s not a hidden Bass pump.

The Woolpack seems to have changed colour dramatically since it was in the Guide a decade ago;

you can be the judge whether that’s an improvement or not.

While we’re here, I may as well pop back to the Old Dairy, tucked behind the steam trains,

in an attractive old Nissen hut.

Assuming you like Nissen huts.

In 2022 I arrived at 10am to find the first hour of service was devoted to line cleaning, and was forced to have a bottle beer (ugh), so nice to get a proper tick.

The Old Dairy is a classy place,

with a big board of what looks like all the Kent micros, including a 0.5% Lakedown for Mrs RM to resume her forensic testing of no/lo beers.

That, and a half of Blue Top (NBSS 3.5), were impressive, but the black coffee is the star.

I refuse to entertain any questions about the origin of those Old Dairy beers.