Bull, Barmingback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Doom bar, London pride and ghost ship on, pride and ship both past it but landlord insists they are in good condition
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All change please all change at the Bull at Barming, judging by the last review of over a year ago. The Bull appears to have undergone something of a serious maekover and is now not only serving a decent range of quality options on its extensive food menu, but also dishing up 5 cask ales for your delectation.
Taking the beer first, we enjoyed a spread of options; 2 being more ubiquitous and familiar brands (Sharp's Doom Bar and Wells Courage Director's) for the less-adventurous drinker, and 3 being a little more select and unusual (Ramsgate Gadd's No 7, Adnams Lighthouse and a third which escapes my memory just now). The No 7 and Lighthouse were sampled and hugely enjoyed by all. If this is the usual run of things then they've certainly committed to providing a competitive range of ale which I hope will help bring customers back in. There is a large board outside which says nothing of food but simply declares that "real ale is available here" - an encouraging sign.
As to food, we all ate here and found the food to be most acceptable. A vast menu sometimes can be a little overfacing, and can create concerns as to whether the kitchen specialises in quantity but not necessarily quality. Apparently there is a new chef here and he appears to be managing both. 2 of us took starters (whitebait and scotch egg - delicious), and all 4 had mains - mushroom and olive omelette, lamb shank, sausage egg and chips and liver and bacon. All agreed these were cooked well and certainly did justice to the concept of good old British pub grub. As a small criticism I'd say my lamb was ever so slightly lacking in flavour; a little more careful seasoning would really lift it. However, we all left feeling replete with meals and drinks.
The feature that struck us most was the successful balance they've achieved here between a drinkers' and eaters' hostelry. The bar area at the front and to the left was clearly dominated by regular drinkers, which is as a local pub should be, while the right-hand side and rear of the extensive building were devoted to tables and diners. The two blended quite nicely and although one would be forgiven from the exterior for assuming this is now foodies only, happily that appears not to be so.
Clientele was consequently varied - plainly there were one or two more 'hardened' liquor enthusiasts in there, but there was no unpleasantness during our lunchtime visit on Saturday. Certainly fellow boozers and victuallers were not perturbed. Service from the bar staff (both at the bar and from the kitchen) was also exemplary.
Perhaps not the most atmospheric of places, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend that people give this one a go if in the area, whether it be a pint and/or a pie you're after.
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I drive past the Bull frequently though I don't call in very often. I don't recall it being boarded up, but if it was, it certainly isn't now, and wasn't when I last dropped in not so long ago. It seemed very much as it was when I last reviewed it over 2 years ago, except that the only cask beer available was the inevitable Harvey's. That was OK, though more choice would have been welcome. I guess this is largely a lager drinkers' pub, though, and I'd rather have one ale in good nick than several tired offerings.
The pub's OK.
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I'm told the pub has now been boarded up. Well surprise suprise.
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Called in with my son on Father's Day for a pint and to watch the World Cup football. Very nice pint of beer but then just as we sat down, some ear splitting obscene 'disco' music started. Conversation was all but impossible. I asked the barmaid if the row was going to go on all afternoon and was told it was. An all but unintellible Scottish knuckledragger stopped his game of pool to tell us that they were just having fun, that he was the manager and that we didn't have to stay there if we didn't want to, something we'd worked out for ourselves. Another customer - there were only four or five customers in, I wonder why - wasn't happy either but seemed resigned to it. We finished our drinks and walked out both agreeing that is there any wonder that pubs are closing down at such a rate. The once respected position of Mine Host seems to have been taken over by retards. So off we walked to the nearby Redstart. What a contrast!
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A pleasant change in the sea of drabness and 'novelty' pubs and bars in Maidstone...
Sampled both the food(Lunchtime menu,usual 'pub' farye.Nicely presented,plentiful and fair priced.) and the ale- Four out of Five pumps on,not the best pint quality ever but 'REAL BEER' in a friendly establishment......
That's all I want!!!
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Friendly atmosphere with some amusing banter between the manager, bar staff and regular customers. Four real ales on including one each from the Kent-based Westerham and Nelson breweries. My pint of BB was rather cloudy (due, apparently to the barrel being disturbed during an earlier delivery), but the offer of a replacment was made without fuss although it tasted OK so I kept it anyway. From the posters around the place, there are obviously lots of events planned so it is good to see the effort being made here.
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Has changed greatly since the new owners took over in Feb 08. The place has been cleaned up and decorated. Now has great range of real ales and serves really good food. The managers Bill and Clair are friendly and so are the bar staff - there is usually something going on. The Wednesday quiz is a laugh The garden is lovely. Can only agree with early drink but if he thought the music was to loud he should have said because when we have been in the music was no more than background. Worth a visit
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Dropped in the other evening, and was very favourably impressed. A good range of cask beers on the go, at least three from small local breweries. The Nelson Pieces of Eight I tried was excellent.
The clientele were very mixed - always a good sign as far as I'm concerned - and the place has the feel of a pub, rather than a restaurant, as is all too often the case these days. Pool table and TV are well up at one end, and needn't obtrude unless you want them to. My only gripe is the music. Why does it have to be so loud? (Frankly, why does it have to be there at all?) It really does put me off the place, but I suppose some people must like it.
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