please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Mid afternoon visit to Gravesend's Weatherspoon’s, this was pub number 3, beer number 3 and cheap lunch also.
Table found, food selected then to the bar to survey the hand pumps for refreshments. A good selection of ales with 3 seasonal offerings available.
The pair of us both selected a pint of Kelham Island’s Pale Rider @ 5.2% which was a great compliment to my steak and ale pie.
Busy inside this large pub that used to be a bed shop before ‘spoon’s got hold of it. Out of the 3 pubs visited including this one, it’s no surprise that this place is by far the busiest with the clientele being a mix of drinkers and OAP types having their lunch.
The upstairs toilets meant I got to see the stunning stain glass panels, which are worth a look.
A decent enough ‘spoons but the clientele did seem a bit rough and that’s from a mid afternoon visit on a weekday
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Interesting place; indeed unexpected. Not bad for a Wetherspoons, in comparison to many (cf. The Muggleton Inn, and Golden Lion in Maidstone and Rochester, respectively). Beer well kept and served on my visit. Agreeable staff served me up a fairly priced Adnams (tough to come by 'spoons beyond Suffolk). Usual industrial drinkers herein, standard for vertical serving areas per Wetherspoons' get 'em in and fill 'em up policy for the hardened demographic, but quiet and inoffensive nonetheless. Certainly didn't overhear any racist invective and profanity, which is a pleasant change for this town. Plenty food being served. Couple of professional types eating an early lunch. Seemed happy enough, although their Topman suits were taking the strain. One of Gravesend's better joints, possibly overlooked by the seasoned drinker owing to its ownership, but the best pint of Adnams in town - bar that served in The Rum Puncheon.
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First visit to the Robert Pocock via the Tilbury to Gravesend ferry and I sat outside opposite the Library enjoying the Summer weather watching the people of Gravesend go about their business.
On Monday a pint is reduced 20p so I paid 230p for a decent pint brewed at Southwold by Adnams.
Will go back again sometime.
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Sadly, it remains the pit of the most mortifying despair and a lasting monument to the expiration of humanity's hopes for any redemption.
Located opposite the library (presumably for the purposes of irony) neither the clientele nor the bar staff have any comprehension or interest in the alphabet. There are spirits behind the bar but those of the patrons are, of course long gone.
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The non-disabled toilets are upstairs, and the case is extremely steep. This is neither family nor alcholic friendly.
The crowd of aged alchys sit or slump near the bar, their red and obscenely bulbous noses a beacon of welcome: like Amsterdam without the carnal appeal. Many are incomprehensible morons, their remaining grey cells raging against the dying of the light through yet further consumption of the lager soma.
Many a character in here: and yes, by character I mean degenerate, xenophobic slaphead.
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Yes, it is a Wetherspoons and yes it is in Gravesend, but only a snob would be put off by either. Service can be a bit slow, but the prices and range of the ales are fine, the chicken burgers, traditional breakfasts and curries likewise and the toilets are clean and hygenic.
Fine for a quick pint, loo stop or Thurdsay curry, keep up the good work Mr Martin.
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Seems to me to be an above average 'Spoons' pub. Interesting interior, not a huge selection of ales, but at least they keep some local microbreweries' beer.
Floyd - 15 Aug 2011 20:59 |
admitedly was here for breakfast so had place almost to myself.nice staff,great service,breakfast excellent on HOT plate.
all the staff were English when i was in btw.
what's wrong with the caffs in Gravesend don't they open in the morning?!?!?!
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The beer in here is very variable ,though cheap ,it appears to draw the value for money, Sat morning crowd ,and has lost a lot of trade to the Pembroke, round the corner.
A shame to see this pub go progressively down hill.Slow service due to being perpetually understaffed ,and young girls behind the jump who know nothing about real ale.
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Can be very intimidating with gangs of hardened drinkers sitting out in the streets singing. Food is not bad, but avoid real ales here
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very nice lay out, the beer and service were exelent, lovely pint of Westerham bulldog, unfortunately the food was a bit rubbish,which was a disappointment as otherwise it seemed promising, maybe it was the chefs day off, 7/10 for the beer though
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A better-than-average Wetherspoons, with a pleasant lunchtime atmosphere and a wide range of customers. A good selection of real ales, as you would expect.
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It seems that a town ain�t a town these days unless it has a Wetherspoons and Gravesend�s Robert Pocock (a local historian, naturalist, antiquarian, and printer) is probably one of the above average members of JD�s family. The large interior is quite rambling with lots of alcoves and recesses to hide away in. Further seating can be found on an upstairs balcony creating a sort of atrium. The usual snippets of local history, characters and old town photos are dotted about and the usual discounted food and drink apply. 2 Guest beers seem the norm for Wetherspoons these days and there are 2 or 3 pubs nearby that can now match the �Spoons Ale selection, if not the price. 2 large plasma screens cater for the sporting occasions and they even had the commentary on during our visit when they were showing rugby. There was no sign of the usual doughnut brained pond life or saturated wino contingent but I dare say they do make an occasional appearance.
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This is an excellent Wetherspoons, mostly I think, because the manager and his wife seem always to be on site and are always working at whatever needs to be done. Clean and the beers are excellent.
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Every town it seems has a Wetherpoon�s and Gravesend is no exception. I paid a visit here today and whilst the nature of the chain tends to mean that all the pubs are fairly similar to an extent, its nice to come across those with a bit of personality. I found the Robert Pocock to be quite warm and cosy in a way and I enjoyed my hour or so in here. It�s certainly better than the Golden Lion in Rochester and The Paper Moon in Dartford. I�m sure it gets rammed between 5-7pm (as all �Spoons tend too) but it�s worth a visit nevertheless.
HTM69 - 24 Oct 2006 23:47 |
cheap R A s but lacking in atmosphere trade has been hit by the newly opened Pembroke
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Wetherspoon's pub. Darker and less characterful than the average 'Spoon. Client�le tend to be quiet and well behaved. The older, shabbier crowd gather in the main bar area. The upstairs balcony area is the best place to be.
A slightly below average 'Spoon.
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VERY quiet borin pub no music but cheap!
emma - 11 Nov 2004 18:23 |
