More from That Kent, and an unexpected tick on the edge of Romney Marsh, though Paul Bailey will no doubt claim it for nearby Ashford given that town’s apparent beery renaissance. People who read this blog, and I don’t even think I count myself in that number, may remember my failed attempt in Autumn to… Continue reading APPLEDORE WEDDING REMINISCENCES
Tag: Kent
Turning over the “Masters of the Galaxy” Soundtrack in Smeeth
Next stop, Smeeth. Never heard of of it ? Me neither. It’s a village of 924 souls about whom Wiki can tell me NOTHING. No left backs for Ashford Town in the ’60s, no Retired Colonels, no 18th century eccentrics barred from Ashford. And our new Beer Guide tick is on a small modern business… Continue reading Turning over the “Masters of the Galaxy” Soundtrack in Smeeth
TENTATIVE 10 A.M. TICKING IN TENTERDEN TAPS
3 days down in Kent. 3 ticks. That’s a 100% record ! Some gorgeous countryside in the Weald of Kent, though I regretted the 56 minute journey back to Tenterden, which I’m sure I only did 2 years ago. Ah, it was 2 years ago. Right before the Lockdown. A pretty place overrun by gentlefolk… Continue reading TENTATIVE 10 A.M. TICKING IN TENTERDEN TAPS
WESTERHAM – CARROTS, CHURCHILL AND CRACKLING
I’ve spent the last three (3) days in Kent. No, no, I don’t expect medals. Or sympathy. It was what you might call a minor family emergency involving Erith, e-mails and emergency calls. Sadly, you don’t get a post on Erith this time (has there ever been a GBG pub there ?), but here’s a… Continue reading WESTERHAM – CARROTS, CHURCHILL AND CRACKLING
A STAG DAY IN MAIDSTONE
A disappointing long weekend in Kent in some ways, with little open on the Monday, but it ended on a high in Maidstone. As all things must. Maidstone lost the battle to NOT be the administrative centre for Kent, and the centre carries the scare of the worst excesses of 1960s town planning (see also… Continue reading A STAG DAY IN MAIDSTONE
A SIGN OF THE TIMES – OPENING HOURS DRAMA IN APPLEDORE
One of my favourite parts of the country next, the Romney Marshes made famous in Great Expectation discovers a new Beer Guide pub selling Doom Bar (secretly, via the back door). 20 minutes south of Ashford, Appledore Station offers you the twin pleasures of Snargate’s Red Lion (R.I.P. Doris) and Appledore (pop. 749), making a… Continue reading A SIGN OF THE TIMES – OPENING HOURS DRAMA IN APPLEDORE
BREAKFAST IN ASHFORD
Time for a culinary special. I lived it up on Sunday night in the Ashford Travelodge. £24. Same price as the new one in Sandwich, but who would choose Sandwich over Ashford. ? Well, anyone wanting to avoid spending a night in non-GBG pubs. I spent half an hour on What Pub looking for a… Continue reading BREAKFAST IN ASHFORD
PUTTING THE FOLK IN FOLKESTONE
Closing in on the last few stragglers in Kent now, starting in feisty Folkestone. If you want to see what modern Folkestone looks like, look at Duncan’s post here and my visit just before Lockdown. The Bouverie Tap, which sounds worryingly French, is in the more traditional west side of town. I know it says… Continue reading PUTTING THE FOLK IN FOLKESTONE
A TALE OF TWO MICROS – (ii) SITTINGBOURNE
If “A Tale Of Two Cities” is about Rochester and Sittingbourne (SPOILER : It isn’t), then Sittingbourne ISN’T Paris. Few folk in rural Kent have ever looked at a map and thought “Oooh, lets head to Sheerness, stopping for cress sandwiches in Gillingham and a micropub in Sittingbourne“. That’s their loss. It’s long High Street… Continue reading A TALE OF TWO MICROS – (ii) SITTINGBOURNE
A TALE OF TWO MICROS – (i) ROCHESTER
Yes, I’m in Kent aka Microland for a weekend, hoping the GBG entries will honour their Facebook opening times but knowing (spoiler) that they won’t. I always enjoy the Medway towns, the land of Dickens and the lesser known Digger, 2 of the greatest Britons. Sadly Dickens World was rubbish and was closed with a… Continue reading A TALE OF TWO MICROS – (i) ROCHESTER
