Fountain, Whitstableback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Stumbled on this pub really... attractive outside area pretty much on the street, with lots of flowers in tubs etc.. quite a gem really.. Eclectic mix of clientele, but all enjoying an evening pint... What made it for me was that whilst I could only see one real ale, Skinners Porthleven, it Was beautifully well kept.. As good a pint as I’ve had...
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Now keeping guest ales and they seem to be popular.
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So the pub survived.... one landlord bought his partner out. Sensible move as this is def not a two jags establishment. The decor has improved considerably and gives off a far less threatening aura. A woodburner now helps create a pleasant comfy feel during the winter. Beerwise.... not a lot on offer for the ale fan. In fact it has even let its bottled ale selection dwindle. Guinness has now gone from draught to one of those electronic canned dispenser gizmos..... No bad thing because their draught was undrinkable in the main.
This pub will survive, primarily because the owner is a frugal chap with, it appears, no real aspirations for the establishment to flourish beyond it's role of catering primarily for a friendly but small bunch of regulars. That said, it fulfills that brief extremely well and harks back to a time gone by in the sense that it is a true "local" pub with a fairly young at heart feel. Whitstable has lost a myriad of such local pubs over the years.... there used to be at least one on every terraced street's corner and The Fountain and it's neighbour The New Inn are quite literally the only survivors in the residential part of Whitstable's conservation area. These two pubs complement each other very well indeed, each catering for different markets amongst the locals.
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Up for sale now, with planning permission to redevelop.
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Markos,
I am happy to report that since your last visit the Fountain has become a very enlightened pub. On my visit earlier today they had no fewer that 56 real ales....on draught. These included Double Diamond, Long Life, Umbongo-Lite and Fray Bentos, which as far as I am aware is the only beer in the world made from corned beef.
I had a glass of tap water. It was ace.
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Been to the pub last weekend and the only real ale on offer was Masterbrew and Green king IPA in bottles...
There are no handpumps!
Friendly bar staff though.
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I love this place, a real traditional backstreet boozer.
On my last visit they had no fewer than eight real ales on tap. These included Hopdeamon's Saucy Jackdaw, Wantsum Brwery's excellent Old Futtock's Bumbender and, from Dundee's Fleshpot brewery, Marjorie Dawes - Drunken Whore IPA.
The customers are mostly older types, old boys in cardies with pipes. One old boy even had his slippers on.
There is definitely nothing here for young people. And there is definitely not the aroma of herbal cigarettes hanging in the air.
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The fountain Has a brilliant relaxed atmosphere with good beer and friendly bar staff.
Max - 20 Jan 2005 18:44 |
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