The Royal Naval Reserve, Whitstable

Came in here after a few pints in the Black Dog as they reckoned the food was great here. They weren't wrong! The cod and chips nearly beat me (and I'm no lightweight) but unfortunately we caught them with their beers down. This is a Shepherd Neame pub but their only ale up was Master Brew but a good range of lagers were available and the Oranjiboom saw us through. People in the bar were friendly, staff friendlier still and all in all a really good high Street pub. My rating only low because the beer was off but I hope to upgrade the review next time I'm in Whitstable

29 Sep 2016 16:58

The Black Dog, Whitstable

A mate organised a pub crawl in Whitstable last Saturday and I went along in the hope of visiting a few good boozers but ended up in this pub for the first 4 pints. The pictures are weird, the stuff around the bar is crazy and as for the picture of Slash (from Guns and Roses) pointing the way to the loo (which is dedicated to Jimmy Page) just great. There were 5 beers on, all local I think, all in good condition and all on gravity. The locals couldn't have been friendlier. As I live an hour away in Croydon I can't make this my local which is a crying shame. I guess I'll have to get another minibus arranged. Hooray for this micro-pub.

29 Sep 2016 16:47

The King and Queen, Caterham

Is TWG a brewery rep or sommat. I have never seen a cellarman in this place nor is this a standard Fullers "boozer" except for the rising prices and reduction of facilities (who has nicked all the stools at the bar). The beer is not the best of quality in comparison to say, the Blacksmiths (opposite) or the Golden Lion (5 minutes down the Road or even the Harrow (5 minutes drive) and personally I wouldn't use an over 55's days centre such as the Douglas Brunton as a point of reference in a review. By the way the garden is a concreted smoking area that leads to the car park (not opposite). PR from head office with no knowledge of the actual pub?

Generally agree with Lagerboy2 and Caterhamblokes comments and would add that Fullers are responsible for my main complaint which is the short pints now offered as standard. Fullers have instructed their staff here that all pints should be served with a 5% head. presumably to increase their 16.5% proffits.

Sadly the beer could be better but the regulars that have not jumped ship due to Fullers prices make this the best pub on the Hill to drink in but really not a hard given the competition.

16 Jun 2012 23:13