Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Tag: Canterbury

Canterbury – The Foundry

[I originally posted this in May 2018, but am reposting it to fix some broken image links]

Back in Canterbury, so back on my little walking trail whilst visiting some of the better rated pubs in the city….

The reasoning for the pub’s name becomes apparent given the industrial look of the buildings.

I like a bit of pub history. The foundry was started in 1835 as a small ironworks, and has made a wide range of items since, including street-lights, torpedoes, girders and engines.

These are some decent choices, and it’s pleasing to see so many stout options, including nitro stouts. Some of these are a little expensive, given the ABV, but the selection feels on-trend and relevant. And it reminds me a little of California….

I opted for the Street Light Porter which has a rich taste and notes of chocolate.

The beer names are inspired by the building’s past use. The service was efficient and friendly, with a laid-back and comfortable atmosphere. There is music on in the background, but pleasingly it’s quiet and not distracting.

The upstairs bar, which seems to be primarily used for restaurants. It’s quite a spacious location though, with a downstairs bar and external seating.

This was about as busy as it got during my visit….

March 11, 2025
Canterbury – Bottle Shop

[I originally posted this in May 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

The Bottle Shop is located in the Goods Shed next to Canterbury West railway station, in a former railway building.

The market is full of fresh produce and sellers of speciality products, in what is really a middle class environment that is a little alien to me. I’m used to Greggs and JD Wetherspoons, not locations which sell organic turnips. Anyway, it’s a nice environment and it feels like something a little different.

The exterior of the building, which I initially found a little confusing in its layout, but that’s mostly because I’m an idiot.

The Bottle Shop is a very well reviewed part of the Goods Shed, a location which sells a range of craft beers. They advertise a wide range of beers and I’m not sure that there is that much choice. Anyway, the deal is that this outlet sells a range of craft beer products for takeaway or to consume in the market hall.

The service – well, that’s impeccable. The staff member didn’t demur when I asked for a cheap dark beer, and he offered appropriate recommendations. I ignored some of the more expensive options, but only because I’d tried the ones he suggested from the Left Hand Brewery in Colorado. I know that brewery relatively well, and its beer are awesome and wonderfully rich in taste.

So, after much debate, I opted for this. This was £5.25, so way over what I’d usually pay and this is into the middle class territory occupied by Mr. Hensley of Norwich bar billiard fame. But, there’s an incredible richness and depth of flavour. I’m not a huge fan of peanut butter, but the smoothness is notable and it’s a clean taste. It’s from the Belching Beaver Brewery in Oceanside, California, and it’s part of the United States that I know well. It’s nearing perfection.

As a location, this is interesting. They offer table service in the evening and the friendliness of the staff member was excellent. For anyone waiting for a train at Canterbury West railway station, it’s worth a little meander down here.

March 11, 2025
Canterbury – Eight Bells

[I originally posted this in May 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

Located a little outside of the city centre, this is probably a pub which isn’t visited by many visitors to Canterbury. However, the exterior looks welcoming and it’s clean and well maintained. WhatPub notes that the pub is owned by Admiral Taverns, which doesn’t fill me with high expectations though.

I’m not over-whelmed by choices here, it’s Young’s Bitter or Young’s Special. I’m OK with both, although these aren’t fascinating choices for such a well reviewed pub. However, my choice of Young’s Special tasted fine, although I’d have preferred for the pint to have been allowed to settle before it was served.

A cluttered back bar, although I like the items randomly placed above the bar. The service missed some of the elements I like, such as being acknowledged whilst waiting and conversation beyond the minimum needed, but it was efficient and customers were served in turn. The music from the 1980s is at an acceptable volume to me, which is very quiet, but I don’t really see it as necessary.

There is though a lovely little garden area, and it’s rare to see a pub still with outside toilets. Although the pub didn’t burden themselves with providing soap or a hand dryer…

Clean and comfortable, this is a traditional pub which apparently offers some exceptional food (I say apparently only because I’m not here to try it). Does it offer anything which makes it worth the walk from the city centre? Probably not….

March 11, 2025
Canterbury – Unicorn

[I originally posted this in May 2018 but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

Working through the list of pubs in the Good Beer Guide (thanks Nathan) this is the first. And, to be honest, it’ll be hard to beat this. Listening to some of the regulars they were supplying quote after quote, some of which can’t really be repeated, a sign of a pub truly at ease with itself 🙂

The welcome was prompt and authentic, it’s nice to be met with a friendly smile and with a member of bar staff who seems personable. It’s clearly a pub which has some contented regulars, but not one which seems unfriendly or slightly scary.

The pub had four real ales on, although all a bit light for my liking. The staff member though recommended the Kernel Export India Porter in a bottle, and this was an excellent recommendation. The taste was rich, and there were notes of chocolate, vanilla and chicken bake (OK, no chicken bake, but it was that sort of quality).

The staff member poured the bottle carefully to avoid pouring in any sediment, a warning that was repeated on the bottle itself, but there wasn’t really anything at the base of the bottle.

The wooden beams and carpet added to the atmosphere in the whole venue, it feels cosy and atmospheric. There are some items nailed on the wall, including the bugle on the peg, and I didn’t much want to leave, which must be the ultimate aim of any pub. By that I mean they don’t want customers to leave, not me specifically, it would be a bit arrogant to assume that the aim of every pub was to not want me to leave.

I sometimes feel that customer service in pubs seems to be a complete mystery to some staff. But here, it was perfectly paced and I liked how the staff member made conversation when I took the bottle and glass back to the bar.

This is a smooth pub, focusing on being simply a traditional and welcoming location near to one of the city’s two railway stations. I happened to visit at a time in the afternoon when food was being served, but the options looked pretty decent. A perfectly pitched pub.

March 10, 2025
Canterbury – Watling Street (Britain’s First Main Road)

[I originally posted this in May 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

The sun is shining in Canterbury, which means one thing, it’s too hot… It does make for some rather interesting photos of the city parks though – well, interesting to me.

One little highlight is the former line of Watling Street, the former Roman and Saxon road. This is located in Westgate Parks, which is now on the former site of part of the Roman settlement.

There are no obvious traces of Watling Street in this location, so the marker on the pavement is particularly useful. There’s also no evidence of a crossing at the river either, although since the sign said that the area changed in 290AD, it’s not entirely surprising that things might now be a little different.

March 10, 2025
Ye Olde Beverlie in Canterbury

Ye Olde Beverlie

Address: 6 St Stephen’s Green, Canterbury

Local Council: Canterbury

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.

February 28, 2023
Ye Olde Sportsman in Canterbury

Ye Olde Sportsman

Address: Faversham Road, Whitstable

Local Council: Canterbury

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.

February 28, 2023
Ye Olde Yew Tree Inn in Canterbury

Ye Olde Yew Tree Inn

Address: 32 Westbere Lane, Westbere, Canterbury

Local Council: Canterbury

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.

February 28, 2023
Woody’s in Canterbury

Woody’s

Address: University Of Kent, Giles Lane, Canterbury, Kent

Local Council: Canterbury

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.

February 28, 2023
The Wine Bar in Canterbury

The Wine Bar

Address: 85 Mortimer Street, Herne Bay

Local Council: Canterbury

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.

February 28, 2023