The Tradesmans Arms, Scoriton

Scorriton is a ten cottage, one farm and one pub town. Until recently, you could scratch the pub. But now some locals, fed up of missing their watering hole, have reopened it (in 2009), refurbished it and are opening up a B&B above it. It's warm, cosy and modern on the inside, with a proper fire and dartboard. The food is amazingly hearty - proper homecooked stuff - traditional and filling, and very good value. Drinks are local where possible, with a good range of soft drinks for drivers including some fantastic local ginger beer. This pub would make an excellent stop-off point for walkers on the Two Moors Way. The landlords welcome you - literally - with open arms and you feel like you've made new friends. Not what you expect in a tiny local village. It's definitely not a local pub for local people. Well, it is, but they make everyone feel incredibly welcome and at home. Superb pub!

30 Mar 2009 12:50

The Bull Inn, West Malling

Looks really pretty and welcoming from outside. It's clean, and has a cutesy hopbine hanging over the bar, and a dartboard. All pluses.

However, the staff would clearly rather be at home than serving. We ordered a lacklustre half and an Irish Coffee which turned out to be a hugely expensive tiny cup of scalding coffee with a massive shot of whisky in it. Just that. A bowl of white sugar and pasteurised potted milk was given under duress. When told it was neither Irish Coffee nor drinkable, the barman just shrugged and said he didn't drink coffee so wouldn't know. The pub serves food, so should know how to make basic pub food and drink. It's not a spit and sawdust pub. Now, I have no beef with pubs who refuse to serve poncey drinks like this on the basis that they don't know how to make them. But don't pretend you do, serve up something expensive which isn't the same, then run away so that your punters can't even talk to you about it mumbling that you don't drink the stuff. It's like saying you don't drink beer and giving a punter a couple of hops in some fizzy water. Not acceptable. You can feel the dustballs rolling round the five customers in there. No surprise given the attitude of the staff. Not really a 'people' pub.

30 Mar 2009 12:30