BITE user comments - MrCheeky
Comments by MrCheeky
Another fine example of what happens when some silly bugger (AKA the landlord) cocks a snoot at the smarta*ses who say that the country pub is finished. The BA is busy all the time its open (NB limited hours apply) and the camerarderie/banter/badinage amongst regalars/guests is huge fun.
The beer is faultless, the snacks er.... original and the local cheese? Do try!
As this pub is unique (Kent's only beerhouse) it's worth a visit just for that.
Do check that the BA will be open though
29 Apr 2009 21:49
Oh dear..... Roger B was not impressed was he?
Still, even good pubs (and the Gate Inn is indeed a classic) have their off days and maybe so does Roger B? Go back Mr B, go back!
At a time when even well advertised, brightly lit, glitzy "country" pubs (AKA gastro house wine outlets) are closing down by the dozen, the Gate Inn bucks the trend handsomely. Few frills, good honest tucker and Shep's beer known far wide for being a yardstick by which to judge Faverham's finest.
I go to the Gate about once a month and it's always busy! Who says you can't
make a country pub pay!
Good on the Gate Inn - Surely one the must visit pubs in Kent!
29 Apr 2009 21:43
True village pubs don't get much better than the Mermaid. First time visitors will be amazed a) by the welcome b) by the beer and c) to learn that the pub (previously run by the same tenants for >20 years) was throughly re-vamped only about 2 years ago! Yes, Shepherd Neame took it all apart, painted it, then put it all back much as they found it! Excellent bit of work they did too.
The 5th Earl of Wimbourne has stated that the Mermaid is worth a detour. In my humble capacity as a thirsty peasant, I would say that it's worth a special trip out to Bishopsbourne!
29 Apr 2009 21:32
I see my last posting got wiped. Odd, as it was (deservedly) quite complimentary!
Popped in the other day and saw that the 8B had had a redecoration. Thankfully, given what often happens when brewers run amok in traditional pubs, the 8B is still intact! Worth a visit, if only to sample one of Canterbury's last remaining, traditional, community locals. Nice sunny garden too.
BTW - Beer (Young's) was very good and I noticed that the 8B will soon be offering Holt's/Marston's.
22 Apr 2009 12:07
Well, if you like a nice traditional pub, then the Cricketers is fine at lunchtime/early evening. Nice menu (local produce) with at least one of Shepherd Neame's Real Ales on. My experience (1/2 visits a month) is pretty positive, except after about 8.30pm when the "can't have a drink without having a shot/gimme music at 150dB and oops, mind the vomit" brigade seem to gets let out of the zoo! Shame really but then, that's the way the Student Loan Company makes money!
With that caveat (ie go early/lunchtime) the Cricketers is a good pub.
Don't know about grumpy bar staff. Those that I saw working last time I was there were so off their face with whatever substance they'd been snorting, that they were positivley radiant/smiling and completely unable to work the till!
7 Apr 2009 14:02
The Old Coach and Horses, Harbledown
I pop into the OC&H about once a month and can definitely report a positive trend! New people (since 2007) have made a big effort, though it is still a restaurant, with a bar attached. Some extensive building work is planned, so maybe this will help separate the drinkers from the munchers?
Had lunch there recently - excellent, if a tad pricy. However, how many
Canterbury pubs can claim to be busy, in March, at 1pm?
Beer (Adnam's and the inevitable Greene Bleedin' King) was fine.
Going there again soon, so I may post another entry.
7 Apr 2009 13:47
Shame!
OK the Jackdaw was really given the 1980s "ye olde Brewer's Fayre" treatment (fine but this was only 10 years ago!) and never really recoverd but the last manager pulled it around and tried to support local breweries and make something of the place. Drove past it at the end of March and it don't look good.
Another rural pub/resourse bites the dust?
7 Apr 2009 13:41
Tonic Bar now re-named the Farm House.
Now worth a visit!
Farm House is quite a popular jazz/blues/live music venue
7 Apr 2009 13:38
Alas, the Pub Co running the 3 Tuns went bust and the pub is shuttered/closed.
The scaffholding (repairs were insisted upon by the Council - bit like that card you get in Monopoly) is still up and looking around the area, there's not much hope for the future of this historic (and in former times excellent) hostelry.
Within just a few hundred metres are 4 other pubs boarded up/up for sale.
And all of this in a city with 3 universities. Exactly what are we supposed to think that the 25,000 odd students do of an evening? Study? I should say not!
Can't be the recession, as the �10 to get in/�5 a drink bars are packed to the gunwhales. Pity the poor struggling traditional pub then.
7 Apr 2009 13:35
The King William IV, Canterbury
Well RIP the King Billy!
I would say no loss but given that it has (many moons ago) been a good local pub and is in a prime student catchment area, then it really ought not be boarded up/for sale.
7 Apr 2009 13:27
The Unicorn is a pretty good pub all round. Typical layout with some nice cosy corners and a pretty garden.
Excellent Real Ales including Shepherd Neame (at all times) plus usually Deuchars IPA and a small/local brewer's offering. It was Whitstable Brewery East India PA when I was there last and very good it was too.
Food is good/sensibly priced (esp between 6/7pm) and the sort of crowd who get in there are good, chatty people. Nice atmosphere.
Down sides? The toilets (well, the gents anyway) need a bit of a re-think, after all, if you're going to sell lots of nice fluid, it's got to go somewhere. Maybe this is why I had to ask for an Imperial Pint, as opposed to the American 16fl oz I was offered at first/subsequently. When will the Government get to grips with short measure?
Worth a visit. Sunday nights have a quiz - billed as the best in town!
7 Apr 2009 13:19
The Mill House is shut.
Quite frankly, that is an improvement on when it was open!
7 Apr 2009 13:10
The Black Prince, Woodstock
I was in this pub on the day this incident happened and walked in around 9pm having watched the Aunt Sally match. The beer was OK and the girls behind the bar were very helpful. The AS players I spoke to were looking forward to a pint and a good sing. All changed when landlord came down. He was/is a Grade 1 overbearing oaf! I think the barmaids were very embarrassed by his crass rudeness the musicians and it's not surprising that not only the costumed historical people all left but that they were followed by me, my friends and several other customers.
Idiots like this do more harm to British pubs than any number of Chancellors, Pub Cos etc. I mean, why travel/go out and spend good money, just to get insulted like this.
11 Jun 2013 18:10