Farriers Arms, Mershamback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A welcoming pub which now has a smart modern edge while still retaining a countryish, cosy feel to it once inside. Plainly, much investment has been ploughed in to the Farriers recently, and by and large one must agree that it has been worthwhile. Besides the bar and interior design, there is the small but surprisingly prolific Farriers micro-brewery. I'm happy to say I have a visit lined up for late January 2013, but havein the meantime at least enjoyed their Christmas Ale at 4.8% - a real charmer and rather more sessionable than most winter seasonal offerings.
Four cask ales were on and all those we sampled were nicely-kept and very Kentish. Food was not needed nor served, though the menu sounded appealing at a glance; I do hope the quality and value issues mentioned on here previously are being attended to as there's no point spoiling this ship for a ha'porth of tar.
Excellent work overall folks - should be back soon.
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The map on this page suggests the pub is in the middle of a field to the NORTH of the A20. It isn't as it's SOUTH of the A20. Check on Google Maps before you visit. Incidentally I drank Farriers Christmas Ale at the White Horse at Sandway yesterday. Heaven!
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Before today I was last there three years ago, and in the meantime the place has closed down and been ‎bought up by a consortium of locals. My first impressions on today's visit were good: the place has its own ‎brewery and I had a pint of their stout and a pint of their best bitter. Very nice.
But then I saw ‎the menu. This place seems to cater for people who like to ‎spend way over the going rate on their food. Don�t get me wrong � there are people who ‎enjoy spending far too much on their food, and if that�s what people want to do, then I respect ‎their choice.
I think I can sum the Farrier�s Arms up with one observation. In my entire life I have only ever ‎seen two people smoke a cigarette through a cigarette holder. One of them was in the ‎Farrier�s Arms garden this afternoon, and the other was Lady Penelope (out of Thunderbirds). ‎And bearing in mind that Lady Penelope was a puppet, I don�t think she counts.‎
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Good beer. Poor quality soup and bread rolls. The bread was stale.
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A first visit to the revitalised Farriers was made just before Christmas. I last went about five years ago when it showed massive potential but was looking (and feeling) rather tired. Thankfully I can now report that all is well. The community buy-out has breathed new life into the pub - and a lot of investment. Not only has the physical fabric of this wonderful building been renovated but so the has the decor, albeit in a very sensitive and sensible way. Perhaps of greatest interest to BITE readers will be the fact that a small microbrewery has been installed. The intention is, as I understand it, to brew only for the pub, making the Farriers Kent's second brewpub after the Swan at West Peckham. Their 1606, a pleasing malty best bitter, was excellent. Diners can eat in the bar - there is plenty of room for drinkers too, this must be the biggest bar in Kent - or in the restaurant. Food is very good value, if lacking a little quality compared to some other Kentish pubs aiming for the same market. All in, a massive improvement and now a must-visit pub in this part of East Kent.
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This place is right on the mark creating the perfect balance of local pub with a great restaurant and the locals who invested in this venture should be proud of what they have achieved. Three ales are soon to be joined by a fourth from it's own micro brewery which makes this place stand out from the crowd.
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Another pub revisited after many years off my favorites list - and what a change there has been !
We used to come here fairly regularly many years ago when it was run by Mick and Shirley. It never had a huge range of ales but what it did have was kept well . Also, the food was great and the staff were really welcoming to both regulars and occasional visitors.
And then Mick and Shirley retired and all the atmosphere and sense of welcome went with them. We came back a few times after but we were never really made to feel welcome. Maybe we just caught the new landlords on a bad day but it was no great surprise to me when the pub closed last year.
Now however, a phoenix has risen from the ashes.
Apparently, the locals weren't going to take the loss of their 400 year old pub lying down....so they clubbed together and bought it. Then they set about refurbishing it and you have to say they have done a magnificent job.
The interior has been changed beyond recognition and the service matches it's new surroundings in every way.
Three ales on, Timothy Taylor's Landlord, St Georges Ale and Wadworth Henry..the latter two befitting the time of year (St George's day). Nicely kept and the food was lovely as well.
They are still working on the restoration - the conservatory wasn't open and I understand they have plans for the garden as well. However, if the welcome we received is anything to go by, the 70 odd shareholders deserve to succeed. Great to see a pub that dates back to 1606 thriving again - we will be back.
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OK pub somewhat off the beaten track.
Only got a couple of ales on, but there's a friendly barman and pickled eggs too.
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