please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Used to be a busy "Spit and Sawdust" and used to be very clean. The owners have changed. and it seems the Pub has dropped its standards. The Wat Tyler used to have regular guest Ales now its more like a Shepherd Neame Pub on the Pumps with Master Brew (Dartford has several Shepard Neame Pubs already selling that stuff) . Lines are not as clean as they used to be, and I cant tell which side of the Bar more Alcohol is drunk on.
I don't go Dartford much these days but only went for The Wat Tylers OP which is not great any more. The Pint Glass seems to have seen better days sadly.
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Narrow 1 bar pub located at the start / end of the High St opposite the 'spoons.
2 entrances both bring you in facing the bar.
4 beers on draught, Courage Best, Theakston's Old Peculiar and 2x guest ales. I had a pint from Westerham Brewery, Puddledock Porter (not bad, but not very dark) and a pint of Theakston's Old Peculiar..which was very good.
Complaint about the glasses, both of the ones I had were smeary and felt tacky on the outside...maybe a dishwasher problem!
Friendly pub, with a bit of charm, a few friendly regulars in making this feel like a community pub which is nice but not one of my recent favorites.
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Lovely Pub soon to be taken over by present Manager Running it, unlike other Pub's in Dartford it really is a Lovely Pub, as it has kept its Traditional Character. As a former Publican I can vouch that when I have been in there the Glass's are crystal clean. The Ale is always in great form.. For a Traditional Locals Pub its very welcoming and the Place is kept very Clean.
If you don't like Sports Bars, Chav filled dumps or Budget Chain Pubs its worth spending your Money Here. It's not expensive but does not attract the rubbish the rest of the Pubs in The High Street Do... And another great twist to this Pub is its History as a Coaching House and has also been known to be Haunted.
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what a dive has been run down over the years and the thing behind the bar seems to be running the place aviod at all cost
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The first time I entered the Wat Tyler a few years ago, I felt a little insecure as it appeared very much a locals pub with loud banter reverberating around the pub.
The more time I spent there, I realised that it was all quite friendly and felt welcoming. The people there were loud but good natured and I began to feel like I fitted in.
They have a great range of beers which are all reasonably priced. The pub has a lot of history and this feels evident inside with little nooks and crannies everywhere.
Some people avoid "locals" pubs but this is one where you wouldn't feel out of place and a nice antidote to the soulless Tollgate and Wetherspoons lurking closely nearby.
Overall, a pretty good and deceptively friendly pub It doesn't hide the fact that it's a traditional pub and you wouldn't want it too. Well worth a couple of pints.
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27-12-2008
5 real ales on , tried 3 - all in v.good condition including a Dark Star Stout , excellent and well priced beers too. This pub has a lot of history attached to it and is well worth a visit . Attentive bar staff and somewhere to go and have a chin wag as opposed to other nearby establishments that are loud and rauchous - gh
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A cosy and friendly pub. Nice place to meet friends for a chat. Great selection of beers at very reasonable prices.
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Paid a visit last night beer great and sat outside in the alleyway with dog.
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Much of Dartford�s medieval High Street is now hidden behind Victorian Facades but one small corner by the Norman church still retains its 14th Century appearance. Part of this is the Wat Tyler, formerly the Crown & Anchor and fast becoming my local favourite, certainly for beer selection. It now almost a Sunday evening ritual to pop in for an hour before heading off to the Ivy League quiz. They now offer 5 Real Ales, John Smiths and Courage Best plus 3 ever changing and quite interesting guest beers. Some make regular appearances (Rev James pops up now and again and the Black Sheep Riggwelter made a welcome return last night) and they also do their bit for the local Millis Brewery (Thieves & Fakirs is regularly stocked). A small display of pump clips can be found by the front door. The beer quality is always excellent and the prices are generally below average for town. Whilst the interior has clearly been much altered over the years it probably hasn�t changed much since the 60�s albeit in places things are getting a bit tatty and worn. The old pew seats and exposed brickwork add to its basic approach and there are a few intimate nooks and crannies to the rear of the pub. The walls contain some interesting turn of the century photos of the town centre and some old antique firearms, presumably not loaded. There is also a dart board that I have strangely never noticed until recently. The alley outside (Bullace Lane) used to be a major route into town but now is merely a passage to Waitrose car park although the pub makes use of it for some outside seating. The pub does attract a few interesting characters but is generally friendly for a town centre pub and I have never encountered any hassle. It rarely gets uncomfortably packed despite its prime position. There is a basic TV (no Sky) and unobtrusive piped radio on occasions. Other than that it is just conversation on offer. Despite the claims, there is no evidence that Wat Tyler actually lived here but I am sure he would have approved of the current set up.
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The Watt Tyler, not a pub I had ventured in for quite some time (two or so years) and certainly not a place I�ve given a lot of thought to, yet last Friday (7th March) I found myself in here ordering a pint� and what a pint. The �Freedom ale� (one of several real ales on offer) was absolutely glorious. I intended to stop for one and ended up staying for four. The actual pub was a reminder that the tradition busy local is still in operation in these parts. It was late afternoon and the place was packed � great stuff. The staff are friendly and the regulars seemingly have plenty of community spirit. Pay a visit. Places like this are too much of a rarity these days.
HTM69 - 12 Mar 2008 18:17 |
Very old and historic pub worth paying a visit now the landlady who was there for the previous couple of year has gone since she was sitting at the bar usually drunk and abusive.Good real ales some I have never heard of before.The toilets which are down the end of a narrow corridor could do with a refit.Present staff are friendly and its got a great atmosphere now the dragon has gone.One of the best pubs in the High street.
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Historic pub in central Dartford, which is improving after years of neglect. Excellent real ales, and all the drinkers are over the age of 16, which in Dartford makes a change! No food, but it does accomodation, although as a local I've never tried it. A grown up pub for grown up people!
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One of Dartford's better pubs and I can concur with the comments made by HTM69, Kutiepie6662003 and RogerB. Never my local when i lived in Dartford, but popped in once or twice during my four year stay.
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I visited this pub a couple of times after I first moved to Dartford and found it to be okay. Yes, it's dark and a little dirty, but found the atmosphere to be both friendly and welcoming. With so many sterile chain pubs here and in the surrounding areas, it�s nice to come across little locals like this with a bit of personality.
HTM69 - 29 May 2006 23:15 |
Go over to Spoons over the road first, then come to this place to enjoy the tranquility. Interesting characters abound, Guinness poured properly, seats which make your bum hurt, but make it an incentive to jump up and go to the bar again. Nice historic watering hole. In the town of my birth, so occasionaaly I bump into someone I knew 15 years ago. Very little chav activity, which for Dartford, is nigh on miraculous.
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Housed in a wonderful medeival building near a Norman church, this is supposed to have originally been the home of Wat Tyler (leader of the Peasant's Revolt in 1381) although this is largely disputed. The building certainly is old and the pub is one of the few in Dartford town centre where you get away from the chavs and gobby idiots who appear to be taking over the other local pubs. The interior is long and narrow with old town prints on the walls. There is a secluded raised area at the back for those who prefer an intimate pint. Pew style seating. Basic food but excellent guest beers. Along with the Malt Shovel and Royal Oak, one of the best pubs in Dartford for those who like a more peaceful drink.
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Rough and ready old mans pub. An old style local in which the hand-written sign behind the bar proclaiming that filled rolls are available on request doesn't inspire confidence. The place is long, narrow, cramped and has as much character as a builder's damp crack. But, fair play, four cask ales, two of which are guests, and the condition is very good.
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