BITE user comments - Cyberbarman
Comments by Cyberbarman
Still a work in progress but I find it very friendly and welcoming with an excellent choice of well kept ales and cider. Definitely one not to be missed.
17 Dec 2015 17:42
I revisited this pub recently and it 's been gven a complete refurb which is in keeping with its age and character. A worthy and popular local venue with well kept Shep's beer
12 Dec 2011 15:19
It's a whole year since I last posted on this pub, unfortunately it hasn't met expectations and has two distinct types of clientele. The daytime and early evening can be quite busy, especially on pensioner's lunch day but later on, trade visibly drops off. There are too many customers from the previous regime still around in the evenings and their presence discourages others.
It's a shame really, but there aren't that many pubs left for them these days. The Swan is closed, the Hole in the Wall became the Vaults and the Swan and Harlequin has upped it's game.
19 Nov 2011 16:27
The Swan and Harlequin, Faversham
I hadn't been to this pub for quite a while, having stopped when it changed character for the worse under the previous landlord.
What a difference, the place has been tidied up, does food and sensibly caters for a mixed clientele. Two Courage ales are regularly on offer, Best & Directors. There is an occasional guest ale, all are well kept. I am told that more would be added if demand rises. On what I've seen so far it could well do that.
Would recomment the Sunday roast for �6.95, the wife and I haven't managed to find room for a dessert yet. Give it a try for a pleasant surprise.
19 Nov 2011 15:58
Occasionally indifferent beer quality and it can sometimes be a very long wait if a barrel runs out. This is made up in some part by the very friendly bar staff who are always pleasant, even when there is a rush at the bar. The decor is well maintained and the garden is improved so it's a shame about the beer.
This pub was removed from this year�s Good Beer Guide for the first time in many years and the restaurant is currently closed. Maybe they will work on maintaining their beer quality from now on but it's still worth a visit.
29 Sep 2011 16:37
A tired, slightly claustrophobic pub where they watched a TV set up in the back bar whilst serving customers....Currently closed with an uncertain future.
21 Sep 2011 13:54
It's interesting that short stay visitors seem far more impressed by this pub than many local contributors. I believe this is because regulars require more of a pub than polite, efficient staff and reasonable decor. It's a shame really, this pub has everthing going for it but still lacks that essential character that defines a popular local.
24 Apr 2011 14:12
Still a safe bet after the initial settling in period, a very good sign. The choice of ales is always good and the food is highly acceptable. One criticism though .... everything is just a tad pricey! Can't have everything I suppose, but it's still good enough to recommend a visit.
3 Nov 2010 17:40
The long neglected CB has been taken over by new management and is slowly improving. Food is now available and the daytimes seem to be quite busy. The evenings can be quieter, maybe it will take a bit more time before that trade returns. Definately one to watch, could be a promising venue.
3 Nov 2010 17:28
Phoenix now open and doing well, three excellent beers always available (but pricey) and an upmarket but not too fancy menu which looks enticing. It's a bit too early to comment on the long term prospects because it has been packed every time I've dropped in. Well worth a visit though, I hope it proves a success because there are too few non-Sheps pubs available locally.
9 Dec 2009 20:12
Don't like this pub for two reasons, firstly, it was the worst in the town and secondly , it's awful customers invaded the other pubs when it closed.
Soon to be a wine bar.
13 Oct 2009 10:26
The Old Wine Vaults, Faversham
This pub used to be called The Hole in the Wall. You really wouldn't recognise it now that the TV, jukebox, pool tables and sticky carpets have been removed .
It's now a family friendly pub with a restaurant and a huge garden. It does good pub grub and serves 3 good real ales. The last time I went it was Hopdaemon Incubus, Hopback Summer Lightning and Black Sheep. Good choice.
They are very welcoming and work hard to constantly improve the place. The pub changes for the better every time I visit (once a month). Well recommended for an evening out.
1 Oct 2009 16:28
Sadly the pub and any pretence of maintaining quality went downhill before it's ineviatable closure earlier this year. I have heard it's being revamped now and is due to reopen very soon. I am really looking forward to another non-Sheps house being available in Faversham They have set their standards too low lately and bit more healthy competition won't do anyone harm at all.
The Phoenix used to be a firm favourite of mine many years back...... Here's to it rising once again from the ashes. Cheers and all the best to the new owner,
1 Oct 2009 14:34
I do agree on the poor opening hours - they close Sunday at 7pm, don�t do Mondays at all and it�s 3pm before they open Tues through to Fri. Indeed the managers can be rude, there is a risk of receiving a mixed reception on rare occasions - I have found this is very much dependent on how their day�s events have gone. Mr and Mrs Hyde welcome you.... or is it the Jekyll�s turn tonight?
The range of excellently kept (but pricey @ �3.00+) ales can be sometimes stunning but occasionally it can be daunting. Unfortunately popular brands tend to disappear really fast, sometimes leaving behind a slighly lack lustre collection of 'speciality' beers .............not a normal quaffing beer in sight!
This should never occur in a real ale pub and although it is not very often I find it hugely disappointing when end up drinking lager (also pricy @ �3.50+).
Top notch real ale choices mentioned in previous posts (Hopdaemon, Goachers etc) do not appear too often for this reason, but when they do, they will all arrive together so that they don�t overshadow the rest.
Having said this, I still like the pub and am a fairly regular customer because it is well worthy of a visit in spite of it�s flaws. There are much worse choices around, believe me, and their beer quality is surpassed by none. CAMRA members also get a discount on production of a current membership card so it's no wonder they chose it as their pub of the year.
1 Oct 2009 13:49
This pub belies it's appearance and is much rougher in nature than the image and location would initially suggest. It�s a staunch locals' pub too - we were kept waiting for ages deliberately whilst the barmaid made a point of establishing that nobody else in the whole pub needed serving before she was prepared to attend to us. This all changed when the landlord came down a few minutes later, we saw a visible and welcome change in the whole atmosphere so maybe it's worth a visit again?
30 Sep 2009 17:43
A typical Victorian railway pub, very large with sombre fittings and an indefinable character - just like the landlord in fact!
30 Sep 2009 17:15
A proper traditional old pub. Good landlord, the beer is aways well kept and it does very good but simple pub grub during the daytime. My only criticism is that it could do with some sympathetic renovation beyond repainting now -. Shepherd Neame are renowned for being tight so there's not much chance of that. In spite of this it's well worth a visit and is good enough to be a local because of it's friendly atmosphere.
30 Sep 2009 16:23
What a shame, the Chimney Boy has gradually become 'The Swan 2' - check out the ratings for that one! I suppose the Swan customers had to find somewhere new when it shut - the CB landlord is never there so they gradually took over.
The music, customers and TVs all compete to make it generally unpleasant. Definitely not the pub for a quiet drink and a chat . Don't ask for food either, they don't do any!
30 Sep 2009 15:45
A real gem in the old country tradition, the landlord is very genial and the locals were surprisingly friendly. Not fine dining, but the food looked very good and the menu is extensive enough to please everyone. Very well kept beer, if Shepherd Neame qualifies in your book? It's a shame I have to drive to get there otherwise it would be a regular venue for me.
30 Sep 2009 15:28
The Elephant, Faversham
A decent pub with a former navy man at the helm. Fortunately the pub still seems to maintaining course even though the landlord regularly crashes on the rocks!
His constant online outbursts are becoming tedious and customers who also drink in a certain micro pub are rebuked for being disloyal. He created Faversham's first independent real ale pub and rightfully gained awards and praise. Maybe that went to his head? Unfortunately it is now becoming clear that he clearly doesn't accept or understand the spirit of competition.
I would like to politely suggest that he stops throwing his toys out of the pram and raging at the world. Surely the way forward is to improve the experience of visiting the Elephant? This is certainly not achieved by constantly slagging off the competition and their customers!
Maintaining a good selection of beers, and most importantly, creating a friendly atmosphere are vital for the future and may avert that man overboard moment that our seadog landlord is navigating towards.
9 Apr 2016 17:47