9/03/19 - Canterbury Ales - Ticking off the Good Beer Guide Pubs

Pubs - 4
Good Beer Guide Ticks #370 - 373

Two nights in Canterbury, a previously unvisited City.   Two nights to drag Mrs M from pillar to post to get as many of the 6 Good Beer Guide ticks available, before she files for divorce.

New Inn, Havelock Street, Ghost Ship

Friday, and the weather is grim.   It's a battle against the wind and rain to arrive at the this back street free house, outside the protection of the City Walls.

New Inn, Freehouse

One thing that Kent can export to other counties is the friendly greeting that we received in several of the pubs visited.   The land lady sits at the end of the bar and makes a real fuss of two wind swept strangers.   And this makes it all worth while.

Once we've got our bearings, we settle down in this traditional terrace boozer.   The pump clips are examined and I go for a fruity Adnams Ghost Ship.    One letter out from the viz profanisaurus entry that always made me laugh.  You can guess the letter that needs changing from the description.

.......of which there is no trace when one stands up and turns around to admire one's work.

A functional local's pub.

Ghost Ship Below the Hops

The Thomas Tallis Alehouse

Now, I've been to a few micropubs and converted hair salons in Bromsgrove don't really cut it with me for the whole pub experience.

Put one in a C15th Timber Framed black and white building and it very nearly works.

Looking authentic for a Micro

Whenever I am faced by the amazing or the confusing in pubs, I always google Retired Martin's blog to see if there is an experience to compare.  The last time, it was to see if there was a reason for the smell in Luton's Great Northern (the only pub I've been where the Gents smelt nicer than the bar).

Today's query, was to find the bar.

For this three room pub is unique in my pub experience in that it has none.   We entered, went through one room, found the delightful backroom snug and came back on ourselves to where we started.  After two circuits, the locals took pity on us and told us to find a seat and someone would come to take our order.

Which they duly did.

Now here's the problem.   The beers are all listed on a chalk board but there's no tasting notes or description to help with choice.   On one board, the Angels and Demons brewery beer that I eventually chose was labelled Folkestone Best Bitter.   Couldn't find it on Untapp'd but looking at the other board it was labelled Second Coming.

Which is what I think I had, although I will never know with certainty.

Can't add much that Martin hasn't covered but I did find Canterbury's only Gender Neutral toilet.

For Gender Neutral Customers Only

Worth it for the experience.

The Unicorn, St Dunstans Street, Harvey's Sussex Best

Night two.   We have slept well at Lenny Henry's favourite hotel.   We have walked the North Downs Way.   We have been entertained by War Horse at the Marlowe Theatre.

We emerge into the early evening sunshine to find out the Albion have nearly sacked their manager and to find a Skin Head convention at the Lady Luck Pub.   I wish I had had the nerve to have brought your photos.   I don't know if this a Kentish thing, or whether the Skin Heads have been migrating from cities to where the land runs out.   I haven't seen so many since the 70s.

We head on up to the West Gate and find another vintage pub, this one standing since 1604.

More Vintage Boozing

It's all pretty standard stuff inside.   A central island bar, with high stools blocking access to thirsty punters.  But if they're the only two free, we will take them.   It provides a high vantage point for the drama provided by youth challenged for ID.  They all passed.

The beer was bang average.  I'm a big fan of Harvey's Sussex but this wasn't a great example.

The Dolphin, St Radigun's Street, Timothy Taylor Landlord

Just when I think I've had nothing better than average, the best pint in Canterbury is located.

Mrs M is still with me but she makes it clear that this is the last walk she is prepared to take.   The Eight Bells and Foundry Brew Pub will sadly have to wait till our next visit.

Getting dark, anyway

Another friendly greeting from the bar staff, although slightly tempered by the "are we after food or drinks" questioning.   Space appears to be an issue, but although we could do with a snack, we have a table booked at a middle eastern restaurant in 90 minutes time.

So drinks it is and what a perfect example of Timothy Taylor it was.   Might not have been LocALE but when its this well kept, there's few beers finer.

Mrs M, negotiates the desire not to walk again by suggesting that we can have another provided I come back with crisps.

This was my plan until I saw the box of Tunnocks Tea Cakes.   Which apparently don't go as well with Stowford Press as I first thought.  Who knew?

The drinks and "chocolate covered cloud of puff" are enjoyed as the diner's begin to thin out and we can admire the Dolphin's quirkiness more.

Old Motorbike signs, and out of sight, a lot of Michelin Men