The Lobster Pot, West Malling

Fabulous pub!

Well looked after ale with an outstanding choice, (Wildnight - I think you must have been unlucky with your 3 choices that night, all good beer comes to an end!), great locals, great service, a "modern" boozer. This is how pubs need to go if they have any chance of surviving. The only place within the WHOLE of the malling area with consistently good real ale.

I've been in quite a few times recently and each time they've had a very good selection of beer, with varying strengths, and always very good.
Although to be absolutely fair, they've not always had the full 6 real ale pumps; but to be honest, i would rather they had four or five ales that were really good than let below-standard beer go on the pumps, just fot the sake of making money.

Having spoken to him, the new landord is apparently working very hard to get food going in this pub again and from what he's said it will be based on local, quality produce. If that happens, it would make this pub a fantastic place to go for both drinks and food. Here's hoping!

I will be returning, without a doubt.

21 Feb 2010 02:09

The King and Queen, East Malling

Very pretentious establishment.

Staff are far too concerned about whether customers are going to spend lots of money on a la carte meals.. Which to be honest are not worth it. They're not bothered about ham. egg & chips. They're trying to do pub food with fancy names. S

We were basically ignored on Saturday night because we were just having a couple of pints, the staff couldn't be bothered. They seem to be far more concerned about whether you are going to eat, and what you are going to eat, and therefore make them money. Is this a pub or not?

Beer extremely mediocre, not maintained at all well. I wished I hadn't bothered. Again.

Disappointing to make the trip out here, only to find very unremarkable bitter.

Seems that this place is trying to emulate a restuarnt whilst still being a pub. Its a shame. Neither approaches come anywhere near to working.

Poor service, poor beer. I won't be returning.

21 Feb 2010 01:19