The Ship, Borough

I go here quite often. It was refurbished in late 2012. The refurb didn't come a moment too soon becase the men's toilets were foul, there was no lock on the door, the water came out so hot in the basin it was a real health and safety issue. On one occasion I found the toilet seat on the window sill. They're now much improved.
The food is patchy. It depends on the chef. I had to send the fish and chips back once. There was virtually no fish. It was dreadful. The food is definitely expensive for the quality. It's as though they've seen what other pubs can charge but forget that if you ask for a premium you do need to deliver something good. The food here is never better than average and it's plain pub fare - nothing gastro. There's almost no healthy option either.
The biggest problem is the lack of a decent manager. The guy who runs this place really doesn't seem to care. Some of the bar staff give the impression they really don't care either - although some can be quite friendly.
Weekends the crowd here comes to watch sport on the various screens.
It's a shame really. This pub coould be good. It doesn't seem to know quite what it wants to be. If it wants to be a decent local then it needs to work on the decent. If it wants to be a destination pub it needs to offer people a reason to go out of their way. If it wants customers it has to care about its customers.
If you put a really goood manager in here, one who'd listen and think for a while and then give his or her customers what they want it could be a little gem.

6 Jan 2013 11:10

The Salehurst Halt, Robertsbridge

My favourite pub. The bar staff can take a while to warm to you but if you persist you'll break the ice.
There's something about standing outside in the pitch black in a corner of England so quiet you could be back two hundred years in time that is almost impossible to find in the Weald these days.
The beer is excellent. They're dedicated followers of the Dark Star Brewery and have most of the monthly ales at some point - though they do sell out.
Haven't eaten here but I tend to go for the beer and the feeling that you're in a proper pub, run by people who care about running a proper pub.
The Salehurst Halt is one of those places that makes me happy just knowing it's there.

6 Jan 2013 11:00