Ye Arrow, Rochesterback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A bunch of us found up-to-expectations food and a fair pint of Guiness a while back: as I recall there was no hand pulled that day, and I'm pleased to read there generally is now.
There wasn't much atmosphere but it was a weekday lunchtime.
Couldn't be more handy for the cathedral.
Although nothing special, I think the ratings for it are unduly low. 5-6/10
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An unremarkable establishment, which is perhaps more impressive from the nice whitewashed exterior than it is once indoors, although don't get me wrong; it isn't grubby or offensive as I remember. Straightforward and basic are the adjectives that stay with me from my recent - and I confess only - visit to Ye Arrow at the end of April.
The bar was busy, although this was probably attributable to the festival that was in full swing that morning. Service was efficient enough and although only 1 cask ale featured (2 unused pumps noted), it was kept reasonably well - took a quick half and popped out back, where I found a huge gaggle of locals all enjoying the sun, silly dancing, music and 2 barbecues. Well why not I suppose when the weather allows.
The scene was a happy one and although a little too family-friendly and chaps-without-tops for my personal liking, I can't say it was a bad place all told. As is always the case with any pub, its worth is in the eye of each and every beholder, who has very different needs. Whilst this isn't somewhere I'd particularly rush back to, I imagine it fills a significant gap in the local market. Good luck to them.
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Pleased to read this has had a change of management, I will try it again now.
I'll comment on Dunmall's comment about complainers being sozzled though, as during my experience (see previous) I was driving & therefore sober. An unpleasant landlord is an unpleasant landlord, full stop.... I'd love to know which pub he's moved to, so I can avoid ever trying it.
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Have lived in Rochester for 6 years now and am happy to let you know that the miserable former landlord has departed and is now ruining another pub in Kent and annoying the locals.He used to sit at the end of the bar like 'Jabba the Hutt' from Star Wars and grunt at staff and customers alike. Hideous bloke. New management seem a lot better.
They quite often have a duo playing at weekends and I believe they have started a jam night.
A previous comment alludes to it being a bit of a 'grab a granny' venue at the weekend. I'd agree but would add if that's your thing then why not? takes two to tango (which is possibly the most recent dance a lot of these ladies have been up to!)
Worth a visit to see a fine selection of' oldest swingers in town with medalions featuring quite heavily.
To sum up, a decent pub for the over 40's to party on at the weekend!
Beer reasonable but not cheep.
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I was quite shocked reading some of the comments below, before noticing they're all quite old.
So a newer (unbiased, unlike some I feel) review.
When you sit in the beer garden you can see Rochester castle and cathedral...what more do you need? Well, beer and stuff, obviously...and they had a couple of nicely kept guest ales, served by a lovely woman.
I wasn't intimidated, robbed or anything...maybe things have changed since the previous reviews?
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I'm quite surprised by the comments on here.
I've been several times over the past few years and have always found Ye Arrow to have a great and lively atmosphere (especially when you compare it to the disaster that is The Kings Head next door). I've certainly not seen any trouble but the potential is there as people generally seem to be pretty sozzled so I wouldn't completely discount the posts here.
Not many people really know of it's existence despite it's prominence just off the high street and you feel that is just the way they like it when you step in the door. Not unfriendly but they clearly like who they like in there.
Overall, if you want a lively night, you could do a lot worse but there are better pubs within walking distance.
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I agree with all the comments stated here, they're far too aggressive in this place. Yes, they may get trouble, but no it's not fair to take it out on everyone. It creates a bad atmosphere, this place is best avoided. The only reason to go to this place is if you are in a safe group of many people, that way you won't get violently attacked or threatened.
Also during the weekend, it's home to a variety of single mothers looking to obtain a younger male. Scary.
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I agree about the intimidation - the Landlord is in my opinion a crook, and perhaps a potentially violent one at that.
I complained recently that we were allowed to purchase a round of drinks, then stopped from going back into the beer garden as it was 'shut after 11' (we'd been sat there for the previous hour & my companions were still sat outside). Having asked the Doorman where I could complain that the only warning sign about the curfew was on the BACK of a pinned-back door, I promptly 'interacted' with the most unpleasant man I have ever encountered - the landlord. Not only was he aggressive and rude (threatening to throw my drink 'complete with glass' at me), but he called the doorman to throw me out when I insisted on taking his name so I could formally complain.
I am a 30-something Chanel-wearing woman, not some alcopop-fuelled teenager. His manner and actions were completely disgraceful and I genuinely feared for my safety. And the sadest thing is, this used to be a really nice local pub, I've been going for years.
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The new "improvements" have completley ruined this modern old style bar, once the kitchens of the next door Kings Head. The place has lost its cosy local atmosphere and is now more like a drinking barn.
anonymous - 3 Jul 2007 15:49 |
After the recent refurbishment, which installed a new kitchen, extension � and took ages, Ye Arrow has changed its character only a little. During warm weather the other afternoon, we popped in for a quick drink; the place was crowded but pleasant enough, as most people were after an outside table. Fair enough, as this gives you a nice view of the Castle and Cathedral, but the tables outside are really close to each other and the atmosphere correspondingly fraught. If they did a proper refurb job on all three pubs on the corner, something would be lost, I think, as they all manage to retain quite different characters. By the way, going into any High Street pub during one of the �festivals� means taking your life (and wallet) in your hands!
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A traditional single room l-shaped pub that is currently undergoing some needed refurbishment. Like its sister pub The Jolly Knight, the large range of standard cask ales can be served in reasonable as well as in poor condition. Weekends tend to be noisy with either live entertainment or loud music. Both are unwelcome in what can often be a pleasant environment during the midweek. There's a solid and comfortable feel about Ye Arrow, apart from during the rugby scrum of one of Rochester's event weekends. During events the pub spreads out into the patio beer garden with various food stalls - the most popular of which is the seafood stall. A pub of varying moods. I mostly like the place.
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Intimidating security means a visit to this pub has ruined what should have been a fun day out for me and my young daughters at Rochester's annual Sweeps Festival. After I bought several rounds of soft drinks (�3.75 for a small bottle of Coke and two glasses of lemonade from a cheap, unbranded 2 litre bottle) my 13 and 11 year old daughters went to use the loo. They were accosted by a security officer, who accused them of coming in off the street to use the loo. When they told me, I went to confirm that they were with me. Instead of the apology I expected, he gave me the third degree about where I'd been sitting and insisted on seeing the empty glasses. Finally I had to appeal to the publican, to whom I'd spoken about half an hour previously. With very bad grace, the security officer let us go and stand in the queue for the loo. However, about a minute later he was back, insisting that we leave. He refused to give any reason and was extremely intimidating - bear in mind he's dealing with a 5'2" mother, and a 13 year old and an 11 year old girl. Whilst he didn't actually touch any of us, he used his physical stature very aggressively. He refused to tell me which security firm he worked for, or any identifying information. Needless to say, both my daughters were in tears and have had several tearful incidents since. If he'd been dealing with a fit, young, drunk male I might understand his attitude but for us the whole incident has been frightening and upsetting. (Incidentally, I'd used the loo earlier - there was no lock on the door, no loo paper, nothing on which to dry your hands and the floor was swimming in......something. Who on earth would want to use it instead of one of the public conveniences in the High Street that are generally of a very high standard?.
anonymous - 30 Apr 2006 19:26 |
Ye Arrow be housed in an olde building situated in ye medieval part of City. Singularly roomed at grounde level with much civility entailed within surrounding walls. Splendid flagons of Ale are served by kindly wenches and include those from the Master Brewer of Shepherd Neame, The Directors and Best of Courage, a Bombardier and one from the distant County of Ruddles. Good Lords and Ladies shall be correctly attired for there be local byelaw passed by Ye Landlord that shall result in admonishment if the visitor is deemed sartorially insufficient. The wheels of passing pilgrim�s wagon have been plundered and made into ornamental lighting, ye tables appropriated with dining utensils and the battlements of the bar do overgrow of fake hops. Further imbibing may be undertaken in the outer bailey during clement weather. More raucous inns abound in surrounding district and Ye Arrow should be deemed a civilized and tranquil area of solitude and reflection.
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