12/05/22 - The Good Beer Guide Pubs of Margate

Pubs - 4

Good Beer Guide Ticks - #674 and 675

A final, undiscovered Kentish town - Margate.  A place I have been keen to explore since reading that it was "up and coming". Seaside, close to London, close to the Continent. It has potential as a future Mappiman home.

If they do something with that block of flats that you see on exiting the station.

The rest of the views are lovely. We think we have been here before but it's simply faux memories from watching Only Fools and Horses repeats.

The Harbour - A good place for a pub or two.

An afternoon to kill before our scheduled 4:30pm epic train journey back to the Midlands.

Harbour Arms, Stone Pier, Darkstar Hophead

Two micro pubs at the end of the pier - an idyllic spot to sit and drink. Opening times advertised at midday but for 20 minutes past the hour, we are looking at a gap in a sliding door, hoping it opens further.  Eventually, we give in, pop our head through and are told that the bar staff haven't turned up yet but we can have a pint if we want.  

Of course we want.  Even if we are unsure who is serving us.  Even if it is a gravity pour.

Early doors at the Micropub..... The kent pub scene in a photo

A bit of aimless wandering around waiting for the Good Beer Guide places to open at 3pm leads us to Sheldons.  A pub where karaoke is taking place at 1pm.  At least we think it was karaoke.  You want to see the pubs we turned down before we got here. A dreadful pint of London Pride is probably not the best preparation for a 5 hour train journey.

Tastebuds are revived at Little Swift - a charming half deli, half micro pub. I thought the 2/3rds of Verdant Bloom and Deya Steady Rolling Man, with a £4 olive side were expensive. Then my walking partner went and spent £50 on wine, cheese and general charcuterie. At least he is returning home with gifts.

What does £4 of olives look like?  50p each.

Fez, High Street, Unremembered Cider

A former chemist

This is the future of drinking. Sat in an antique barber's chair, drinking cider because you cannot take any more gravity fed beer and being schooled on English pre-medieval kings by a 76 year old.

It was my fault. I shouldn't have mentioned King Canute.

View from a Barber's Chair.. Cider.

The bible describes it as eclectically furnished. They are not wrong.

Two Halves, Marine Drive, Bedlam Brewery Amagansett

That's all folks...  A final Micro

An hour before train departure and a final micro is a fitting end to our Kent odyssey.

Sea views through the open front.... it felt like we really were on holiday.  

Just as we are leaving.