please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I am the 'miserable landlady' as quoted by littlebob and yes we sold the pub a couple of years ago to get away from annoying folks who critisise your hard work and effort and think they know about beer when all they are interested in is a cheap pint!
The pub is still a lovely little back street boozer serving a good selection of real ale's. There are not many of these little gems left now so if your ever in the area do give it a try. The locals are friendly and welcoming (well they were in our day but the clientele may have changed) and always exciting to find somewhere off the beaten track.
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It's been a long time since I visited here, first the good news, the miserable landlady has gone, the bad news is the clients have gone downhill and the beer is way too expensive for a back street boozer.
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Whoever made the comment about swinging baseball bats, obviously does not use
the pub very often. This is probably, if not the best pub in Maidstone and Cara and Adrian have done wonders to make the pub such a great place to drink. Anyone that says otherwise doesn't know about local pubs.
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Extremely traditional and very lovely for it. Genuine welcome on entering and leaving, peaceful but chatty atmosphere, good Harveys from a sensible beer range, a bit small !
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I've now been drinking here for about 5 years now and i still think it's the best traditional pub in Maidstone, just recently had a face lift which looks amazing, beer is still very good and ambiance is still very chilled and friendly. Well worth a pint or two if your in the area.
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Traditional back street local. Clean and well kept and the Harvey's was spot on.
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great cosy pub one of the best in Maidstone, always found it friendly
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popped in recently only to be greeted by a person swinging a baseball bat at someone else ! not what i expected, the beer was pricey at �3.30 for ale. i also heard that the pub is up for sale ?
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Fab landlords. It's a small traditional, cosy pub with lots of locals, a dart team, cricket team and probably more. No garden or food, just a lovely place to go and socialise.
Burns - 27 Jan 2011 16:42 |
I feel that I must update my review of this place. This is one of my favourite pubs - it doesn't have a massive selection of ales, but there is just something about it that I really like. Landlord, Adnams and Ringwood Best are the 3 regular ales now - pricing in this pub is fairly simple, pretty much everything is �3 which restricts the need for change. I don't mind paying a premium for traditional boozers, and this place is always top of my list of pubs to visit when I return to Maidstone. Ken's Barbers is still opposite for haircut seekers, while the Spar has encountered a bit of a refurb since my last review. One of Maidstone's only "must-visits".
Sharp - 25 Mar 2010 20:30 |
Excellent little pub. A nice selection of ales and lagers, friendly bar staff and a wide range of clientele. The choice of music is also favourable and the dart board is set in the corner to minimise disruption whilst the fire is a superb touch in the winter.
Leebs - 11 Jan 2010 00:05 |
popped in again recently whilst in the area, real ales in good condition as usual but was disturbed to hear racist remarks by an older member of the clientel, not really what you want to hear or expect from a pub of this calibre...is it a case of "if your black stay back..if your brown stickaround..if your white your alright".please ask this fool to drink elsewhere landlord.
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What acracking little pub,and I do mean little! Most unexpected in this area which is a desert for decent drinking establishments.Nice and clean,pleasant welcoming atmosphere and exc. beer as shown by a fairly recent Cask Marque award.Always on tap are T.T landlord,Adnams ordinary and Black Sheep- all in superb condition.This week Hopback Summer Lightning was the guest ale.. The Landlord,s policy is to have a guest beer once every 2 or 3 weeks.A testament to the pub is that a pub of this size can sustain 3 or 4 beers .Toilets nice and clean and regulars most friendly.Everything a small back street pub should be.All power to the landlord and landlady!!
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Well,the F&L's 1st. birthday,and what a year its been. Beer (T.Taylors,Black Sheep and Adnams) all on top form -all the time- as the recently awarded Casque Marque will testify.Great Live music occasionally a v. popular quiz every other Thursday and a lovely group of friendly regulars.All the ingredients of exactly what a back street boozer should be.The ladies also seem to enjoy the v. pleasant wine on offer served in v. nice wine glasses!!!May the next year be as good as the first.Its been a pleasure
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good place to die in as most of the punters will tell you. drains smell.
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nice pub landlord is ok but his wife is a bit of a pain in the neck, its hard work getting served as she is always nipping out for a cigarette. talking of which there is nowhere for smokers to go except for the very narrow pavement outside, a accident waiting to happen with the traffic. Nice decor,nice bitter not too much trouble, only a couple of fights that I know of.
shame about the landlady! but she wont last.
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What a gem of a pub, friendly service, great atmos, love the regualrlys, top notch beer, what more could you want!
and always have something on to keep you coming back.
Plus the landladys daughter is a hotty!
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popped in again whilst in the area, still a good atmosphere and beer good although a bit pricey, only set back was a very drunk "local" who im informed drinks in there almost every night by the name of jerry or terry, had to almost fight him to get through the door as he was leaning at a drunk angle whilst smoking outside, very offputting and was told by other regulars that this is the norm and that they may look elswhere to drink if he continues to frequent the pub, shame, c'mon landlord and lady get rid of this drunken fool for the sake of your regulars.
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What a little treasure this pub is! Nice welcoming atmosphere, friendly people and 1st class TT landlord, Black Sheep and Adnams bitter all v. well kept. The old faces are returning and it is becoming,what it was again- an excellent back street pub again.The addition of some nice flower baskets outside does make it look a lot better from the outside.Have been drinking in here for about 23 years now and have seen its ups and downs (the downs have been awful!!) but I'm delighted tosay it has now reached a v. high level of what a small community pub should be like.All power to Adrian and Cara for their hard work which is shining through.
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Such a fantastic, friendly pub! Now have began to use this as my local since the refit and such a great job they've done. Not a real ale drinker myself, but have only heard good things about the beer which is obviously looked after. Regarding the comment below about the music, this is not a regular occurance since the new owners have taken over - infact have only heard loud music in there once and that was on the really good fun karaoke night! This was maybe when the landlord/lady wasn't in as I know they didn't want the pub to be a loud music pub just a proper old boozer!!
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Inspired by the comments below, I dropped in for the first time in years. The refurb is indeed impressive - they've smartened the place up but managed to keep the feel of a real traditional boozer, which is basically what this place is.
The TT Landlord was good but not cheap; the atmosphere was relaxed and in keeping. I just wish that like so many places they didn't feel the need to play the music so loud (or to play it at all, in fact).
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Funny opening hours though. Doesn't open on a weekday lunchtime?
Sharp - 26 Mar 2007 23:14 |
Also an ex-resident,I'm also pleased to say the pub has returned to it's former glory with a good selection of very drinkable, well kept beers.On my recent visit I was impressed with the re-furb and liked the stripped and polished floor. Looking forward to the next time.
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Good news, will be sure to make a visit soon, especially for the new dart board. Will they still be carrying 2 guests?
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Pub re-opened on Friday 2nd February 2007 after refurbishment. Some tables have gone, which makes it look spacious. Lots of old faces have re-appeared after defecting to the Anchor & Hope whilst the 'Effin 'ell was closed. Quiz nights will definitely be returning, and there's a brand new dartboard. Toilets have been cleaned up, and Adrian & Family have done a marvellous job between them. CAMRA should look forward to returning.
anonymous - 5 Feb 2007 13:47 |
Just a quick note. This pub was closed for a while due to a change in ownership. It said it was going to reopen in November, last time I walked past in December it was still shut with the same sign on the door. I'm not sure if its reopened yet.
Sharp - 25 Jan 2007 20:05 |
A small, friendly pub located in the rough area of Fant in Maidstone. Only about 4 tables, last time I went in there were about 6 old men sitting there watching Countdown. Reasonable selection of ales - Adnams and Harveys Sussex Best have been sampled on recent visits. Youngs beers also available. As pointed out, beer quality varies greatly. Harveys was in reasonable nick but the Adnams was shit.
Theres a Spar nearby if you want some snap. Also Kens Barbers opposite if you can fancy a haircut.
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Friendly local but beer quality varies from good to shit on both ales and lagers depending on landloards mood.
andy lilley - 8 Jun 2006 16:37 |
