please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Hi all, I too used the Gem through the 80/90 S until the dogs arrived!
I am shocked to hear a unique historic building could be lost (as so many have been) due to greedy landlords and uncaring/unknowledgable officiation.
Along with the petion to save it (please sign) I will try to oppose this potential loss for the nation and local ale drinkers, I own a small grade2 listed building (shop/flat) and know how hard it can be to fix up...but im doing it, bit by bit, so surely the owner can do the same then relaunch as a business with a Unique (very) selling point !
Regards
Andy
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November 2012 and nothing has changed at the Little Gem. Still closed with For Sale boards outside. What a great shame!
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I have to respond to a couple of very negative posts here. The Gem is [was] our local - we live almost opposite and it has always been the heart and soul of our village. The owners were Punch Taverns back in the day and they had wanted shot of it for some years before its final demise. During those years, there was some amazing landlords and landladies in there who most certainly knew their way round the beer cellar, cleaning out the pipes brilliantly et al and there was never ever a health & safety issue there. The pub is not built for food - the kitchen is tiny - and the really great landlords never attempted anything other than a snack, which was always great. The range of beers was good and the atmosphere in that place was always top notch. It was on the Morris Dancers circuit and throughout the summer it was just wonderful. I had my wedding reception there - yes really - and it was phenomenal.
However, in 2009, the choice of landlords started to decline and by 2010 a very poor choice was in there - the people spoken about here by some unfortunates who happened upon them . They brought with them 2 very large dogs who then went and had 5 puppies - yes ALL in the Gem. The place stank. THAT is why gavioli reports of such a poor service and yes, no-one in the village liked what had become of the place and everyone went to the chequers and the bush instead. The landlady was rude to the locals and the pub was avoided as a consequence.The place became empty, it lost its licence and eventually it was sold. So sad.
The present owner owns adjoining property and we all thought he would knock through and turn it in flats. But that was not the case and he put it back up for sale pretty quickly - within weeks. It has remained for sale ever since. It must be getting on for 2 years now. The oustide of the building is rotting, the roof is looking pretty bad, and all of us in the village are so saddened at the 'death' of what was once our best friend. This is a listed building, the oldest building in Aylesford and stucturally incredibly important. Its main joist is a king pin and the bar is made from an old local ship. None of us want to see it fall down. No-one knows what is going to happen with it, every now and then we see someone looking at it and hope they will buy it and rescue it. However so far, no good and it remains locked up.
Hope that sets the record straight - and it really WAS a Little Gem. Trust me on that one.
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Such a shame to read about the demise of this one true Little Gem. I first went here back in the early 80's and on several occasions since. Last time I visited would have been back around 2002.
Back then, there were a decent number of well-kept ales to choose from, and good food.
Very sad.
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Still closed when I was in the village this week.
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I tried to visit this pub at the end of October 2010, but it was shut and looking very sad; I talked to a local man in the High Street - he said it had been closed "for a few months". Such a shame as a few years back when I lived locally it was a really nice place for a drink or two in the evening
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This pub needs more than just a reputation for its size and its name, in order to survive. It needs 3 things:
a) A cellerman who knows his job,
b) A good steam clean (including the barman),
c) No animals in the food area.
The state of the beer would not be tolerated `up north` where I come from. I only had a pint because it was nowhere up to scratch - I didn`t want to risk gastric problems a few hours later, by having another !
The tables were sticky to the touch caused by many years of never being cleaned properly by anything hot or soapy.
The meal, when it eventually arrived a good 20 minutes after ordering, had been cooked by microwave and was not in the least succulemt. In the tiny bar area, my wife and I had to share the meal in the company of two dogs. One was under the bench seat where my wife was sitting and the other, a huge slobbering mutt, had free reign to roam the bar area dribbling all over the carpet. It was not the finest environment in which to eat food.
There is a much better and cleaner pub about 20 metres away. The Little Gem is no competition for them at all either with their beer or their food.
My wife and I visited the pub during the second week in July 2010 and unsurprisingly, were the only punters in the place.
The place is certainly little, but a gem ? No, not unless you are a dust mite or a bluebottle !
gavioli
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Got a touch of constipation? The Gem will sort out that problem. Contrary to what I said before, it hasn't closed although one cannot help but wonder just how much longer it will limp along. The stand-in landlord, dressed in grey t-shirt and grubby holed Addidas jogging trousers told us he had another pub in the Darenth Valley so was helping someone out by being there. The first pint of Doom Bar lived up to it's name and was off. Clearly the first sold that day as the 2nd and 3rd were fine. He apologised and said that the pipes were dirty or had been three days earlier when he arrived. The cheese & onion baguette was fine as was the re-placed pint. He came up an apologised again about the beer, but the little place seriously needs a landlord who cares what he serves his customers. The solitary toilet had black mould around the bottom of the walls, no much better than the squelchy carpet that used to be in there 25yrs ago. We hear that the pub has been on the market for a year or so but with no interest shown. No garden, no car park, and being so small, the signs aren't good.
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A friend in the village tells me the pub has closed.
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visited this charming little pub other day 3 well kept ales harveys, doom bar, i cant think of the other, friendly locals too. Hope it stays around for next 300 years too.
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The Little Gem has been living on its reputation for a while now. Some excellent and friendly staff are really not helped by absentee owners, and stock running out. �2 for a pint of Fosters is not going to save this pub, but I keep going because I do not want to look at that lovely building in a few years and see another private house.
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When we moved into the village 35yrs ago, the 'Gem' sold thirteen real ales - often some were in poor condition. Sunday nights would find this former Smallest pub in Kent' heaving with students with the air rining to the sounds from 78s being played on an old wind-up gramaphone. Those days seem to be long gone with a variety of owners/landlords/bar staff over the years. A couple of us visited there one evening whilst the motorcycle rally was taking place up the road at the Friars. Of the seven or so handpumps, only one had a pump clip (Sheps) so we left. It's a great shame as this is a delightful little building and it deserves to do well.
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Gone downhill drastically, and currently up for sale from Punch. Only two of the six handpumps on, including a so-so pint of Harveys. Very disappointing at the moment - let's just hope that a new tennant can be found to restore this 'little gem' to its former glory.
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Lovely little boozer right in the middle of Aylesford. On my last visit I sampled Fullers London Pride, Adnams Broadside, Wells Bombardier and the guest cider that was on draught. All were in excellent condition.
Sharp - 11 Jul 2007 21:33 |
Now this is what I call a pub. My favourite, traditional, plenty of horse brasses and in this case very low ceiling and beams. Tiny little pub with the claim of the smallest pub in Kent (but that may not now be the case after reading other posts here).Of course I hit my head on one of the beams while coming out of the toilets, but count that as a "getting to know you" baptism. They had three of the six hand pumps going with Black Sheep, Youngs special and Adnams Broadside. This part of Aylesford is stunningly picturesque with choc-box style houses and a wonderful stone bridge over the river. Well worth the visit and hope to go back again soon.
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SilkTork & Roger B - I think you'll find that the mantle of "smallest pub in Kent" has been taken over by The Butcher's Arms at Herne.
Notwithstanding, The Little Gem still rates highly in my book.
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Small. Charming. Wood. Up to 6 casks in excellent condition. Smallest pub in Kent. Utterly charming. Perfect atmosphere. Great beer. Small. Charming. Great beer. Say it over and over again. This is a perfect pub.
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Excellent Pub with bar staff and owners doing their level best
Give it a try
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Apart from the somewhat twee pub name, this place is a, er, little gem! Situated in a picturesque and interesting village, the Little Gem claims to be the smallest pub in Kent (probably true). It is certainly one of the oldest buildings that currently houses a pub, supposedly dating from 1106. It was originally either a monk�s shelter or a market house depending on where you get your information. From the outside, the pub looks decidedly unsteady on its foundations and likely to collapse at the slightest gust of wind. The door is so small and wonky that only a dwarf contortionist would even think about entering. For those who do get inside without bruising themselves, the first impressions are almost jaw-dropping. The pub is basically one room although given the position of the windows etc I get the impression that there were originally 2 floors and has been shelled at some time. The walls are wattle and daub and there is not a straight wall, door or window in the whole place. There are fascinating pictures of the village as it was in medieval days (hasn�t changed much � many of the surrounding buildings are still intact today). The bar is squeezed in at the back and whilst small, manages to supply a good range of beers. There is a small low staircase (mind your head) that leads to a small minstrel�s gallery that barely has room for half a dozen people. The main pub area is comfortable if somewhat obviously cramped and you will probably spend the first pint just gazing in awe at the surroundings. I have not been here when it is busy and I guess it could get uncomfortable and smoky if too crowded. This is definitely one of those pubs that once visited, never forgotten, but wear a crash helmet if you are over 5ft 6!
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just what it says on the sign...a "little gem".a quiet place to relax.....the balconey is just the place to realx.....mid week......
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Ditto previous comments.
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This is a fantastic pub filled with charm and great beer, the only downside is the lack of space but thats what you get whe you drink in the smallest pub in kent
anonymous - 12 Oct 2004 17:52 |
Claims to be the smallest pub.. Belive it! The single bar is not more than 20 x 20, feet that is. There is a kind of minstrels balcony for extra drinking space, be careful on the stairs. Usually has a choice of 3 real ales. Remember to duck when you 'go outside'. A joy to visit
allan - 2 May 2004 18:26 |
