07/05/2022 - The Good Beer Guide Pubs of Rochester

Good Beer Guide Pubs - #622-#664

A first visit to a Medway Town, arriving on foot/bus 6.5 hours after leaving Gravesend.

Will Rainham, Chatham and Gillingham be just as pretty?  We can only hope.

Saturday Night and there are four Good Beer Ticks to aim for - although I would be testing my walking partners patience, if I were to suggest the out of town. The Who'd Ha' Thought It awaits a repeat visit.

We'll concentrate on the accessible.

Man of Kent Ale House, 6-8 John Street, Goachers Gold Star Ale

A beautifully pubby exterior that leaves only a slight challenge in finding the accessible door.

Styles and Winch - a brewery from Maidstone

It's the little brown door on the right we need - which has a big blue Covid notice, saying that if it is locked - knock. I've failed to record if this offer is time-bound, or if you can just knock at anytime of day.

Thankfully, it is open and we are met by a mask wearing landlady who instantly asks "are you with Mick's Party?". Strangers in a strange town, we would if Mick would have us.

There's an interesting collection of those massive Germanic Bar Pumps from Paulaner. I could have been tempted with a dunkel but there have been delivery issues. Even a couple of Midlanders have heard of Operation Stack.

Paulaner Pumps Aplenty

After much deliberation of the Real Ale sections of the chalkboards, I settle for a previously unheard of brewery - Goachers. Excellent pint of Gold Star.

We enquire of the landlady where somewhere good would be to eat. She asks the regulars. Including the regulars that come in.  By the time our pints are gone, we have determined that the Thais have gone back to Thailand, there are two Cheese Rooms, Brettington's Steak and Lobster is pretentious and the burger place called Smoqe was good enough for Mick last night.

Armed with information we head off. The burgers were good.  Tattoo'ed goons on gak, less so.

Coopers Arms, St Margrets Street, Youngs Special

I've been enjoying some lively debate on Twitter about Britain's Oldest Pub.

Planning to investigate claims for the oldest pub in the British Isles. Looking for a few pointers. What I need is: 1) Name/location of pub, 2) Date claimed, 3) firm archaeological/archival evidence which positively backs the claim up. Latter is the most important. Can you help!? pic.twitter.com/pBsyOoom8D

— James Wright (@jpwarchaeology) May 5, 2022

I've added this to the list - with a building dated from 1189 and a pub since 1543.  James is an (Ancient) pub expert and having shattered my illusions on the Trip, the Fighting Cocks and the Porch House Inn, I am looking forward to this latest suggestion being debunked :-)

 

Doesn't look too old

Low ceilings, central bar and I only noticed the hand pulls - and not the full range detailed on the chalk board.  The Timothy Taylor Landlord would have won over the chosen Youngs Special.

Full of Dickens Nick Nacks, we were enjoying our visit until the child with the uncontrollable cough starting hacking up. A deathly silence fell over the pub, as all us boozers thought exactly the same thing. But what's etiquette these days?  Sod it, I'll say what we were all thinking here.

Kids shouldn't be in pubs after dark.

Low Ceilings make for poor ventilation

The Golden Lion, High Street, Otter Bright

Why just tick Good Beer Guide pubs, when you can stay in them?

An arrival photo.

Yes, this is my first experience of a JDW overnighter - and it was wonderful. Comfy beds, beautiful bathroom, two packets of biscuits and bottled water. On check-in, we asked if breakfast was included.  Our host stated that breakfasts are that cheap, we shouldn't even need to ask.

And he was right.

Our 10pm return saw a massive queue of about 40 kids at the door, held back by bouncers. The thrill of walking to the front, getting all the "Oi Mates" and saying "We are residents" is as close to VIP treatment as we will ever get.

Of course, the Youth all started up with "We are residents, too". But our Saint Peter in Satin was not going to fall for that.

Neither was he going to fall for the the Youth inside opening the side door to let in a gaggle of their mates.

For sheer drama, this was the best £2.10* I have ever spent. 

Code Two was shouted into walkie talkies.  More Buddha's with mace were summonsed.  But the group had long dispersed and there's plenty of places to hide in a JDW barn.

*PS:  (Room was extra).

*PPS: (Breakfast was also extra)