Top Pubs in Medway

Trev_GFC

Trev_GFC

Vital 1st Team Regular
I popped into the King George V in Brompton after a Gills game at the end of the season just gone, as they had a Kent Brewery beer festival. I can’t remember going in there in recent memory but what a great pub. It got me thinking if there are any other top pubs I’ve missed out on. Name your favourite Medway pubs based on whatever - choice/condition of beer, friendliness, character, events, standard of barmaid, etc.

King George V - good choice of beers (draught and ales), good community feel. The only thing is it’s a fair walk from Gillingham or Chatham I’m guessing.

Man of Kent - Rochester. I love Belgian/German beers. I always remembered it being a bit alternative which isn’t bad, nothing wrong with a girl with tattoos. It’s also a break from other pubs in Rochester have a bellend factor some evenings.

10:50 from Victoria - Strood. My favourite Medway micropub because of the character. A gravity-poured ale in a railway-themed pub under a railway arch, then sitting outside in what feels like someone’s garden while watching steam vehicles parking up?!
 
Also, The Kings Arms, Upnor, The Who'd Ha' Thought It and Good Intent both in Rochester and a couple of micro pubs in Rochester and Gillingham plus the Will Adams. If you're that way inclined, CAMRA always used to recommend the upperGillingham Conservative Club for real ales
 
Wayne.Kerr said:
Also, The Kings Arms, Upnor, The Who'd Ha' Thought It and Good Intent both in Rochester and a couple of micro pubs in Rochester and Gillingham plus the Will Adams. If you're that way inclined, CAMRA always used to recommend the upperGillingham Conservative Club for real ales
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Ah, the Upper Gillingham Conservative Club, I remember it well from when I was just a young lad. My grandmother would often look after me on a Saturday evening and on several occasions I would accompany her and my aunts to the Bingo in the early evening.

My parents also made sure, for a few years at least, that I was there for the children's Christmas Party. Father Christmas was always there and would hand out presents to the children - they were always quality presents!

At the time I knew little to nothing about politics. However, although I couldn't properly explain why, I always felt rather uncomfortable in there. For a start, I was always made to dress in, 'smart' clothes'; jeans were NEVER acceptable! And, there was a room that I wasn't allowed to go in. Worse than that, my grandmother couldn't go in there either. She explained that it was a 'men only room', and children and women could not enter. I remember thinking this to be very strange. I could kind of understand why us kids were not allowed, but adult women too?! This seemed strange and very unfair.

But worse than any of that was the fact that there on the wall was a framed picture of the fucking West Ham United team. This used to annoy me each and every time I saw it. I often complained to my grandmother and aunties about this but they always just told me to, 'Sssshhhh!!

As I grew older I began to understand a little more why I had always felt so uncomfortable - I had been surrounded by fucking Tories!!!

A few years ago I had reason to go in there again. The West Ham picture had been updated and the 'men only' still remained. FFS, is that still even legal?
 
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Buddha said:
Ah, the Upper Gillingham Conservative Club, I remember it well from when I was just a young lad. My grandmother would often look after me on a Saturday evening and on several occasions I would accompany her and my aunts to the Bingo in the early evening.

My parents also made sure, for a few years at least, that I was present for the children's Christmas Party. Father Christmas was always there and would hand out presents to the children - they were always quality presents!

At the time I knew little to nothing about politics. However, although I couldn't properly explain why, I always felt rather uncomfortable in there. For a start, I was always made to dress in, 'smart' clothes; jeans were NEVER acceptable. And, there was a room that I wasn't allowed to go in. Worse than that, my grandmother couldn't go in there either. She explained that it was a 'men only room', and children and women could not enter. I remember thinking this to be very strange. I could kind of understand why us kids were not allowed, but adult women too?! This seemed strange and very unfair.

But worse than any of that was the fact that there on the wall was a framed picture of the fucking West Ham United team. This used to annoy me each and every time I saw it. I often complained to my grandmother and aunties about this but they always just told me to, 'Sssshhhh!!

As I grew older I began to understand a little more why I had always felt so uncomfortable - I had been surrounded by fucking Tories!!!

A few years ago I had reason to go in there again. The West Ham picture had been updated and the 'men only' still remained. FFS, is that still even legal?
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I bet they've got a picture of Mrs T in there
 
Oh yes!

I often used to go in to the Whitstable Labour Club with my Dad. It was a lot better in there,it felt much more like a normal pub. One thing I really liked about that place was that they had pictures of all the Labour leaders except Tony Blair. I thought that was a great touch!
 
I like a proper pub which concentrates on selling good beer and allows, even encouages tomfoolery. The Angel on Lower Rainham Road fits the bill. The Frog & Toad is good too.
 
The Tudor Rose, Upnor is a great pub, either just for a few beers, or for a meal with the family.
Does the Man of Kent still do Double and Triple Vision? I remember getting in there at 22:30 after a Tuesday home game back in the 90's, having three pints if Triple Vision and staggering out at 23:00 for the last bus. I realised then what a light-weight I really was. I doubt I could drink a pint of it now!
 
The Barge near Gillingham Green was my local and fav pub in Medway for around 20 years until it's sad demise a couple of years ago. Now, apart from the two in Upnor which I quite like, there aren't any really stand out pubs for me. None that have the same cosy feel The Barge used to have anyhow.
I recently had a recommendation for the King George V in Brompton which I still am yet to visit, so i'll give that a go soon. Sounds decent from what i've heard, and does a nice Sunday Roast apparently?
 
Spoonster912 said:
The Barge near Gillingham Green was my local and fav pub in Medway for around 20 years until it's sad demise a couple of years ago. Now, apart from the two in Upnor which I quite like, there aren't any really stand out pubs for me. None that have the same cosy feel The Barge used to have anyhow.
I recently had a recommendation for the King George V in Brompton which I still am yet to visit, so i'll give that a go soon. Sounds decent from what i've heard, and does a nice Sunday Roast apparently?
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The factory, the piano bar and the legends lounge.
 
I'm particularly fond of a good darts pub, which are becoming harder to find nowadays.

Other key signs for me of a good pub are hooks for your coat under the bar, bar towels, funny beer mats, and a a handful of real ale cask beers available along with others on keg.

It's Bromley based, but I do like the Bricklayers arms, and the Anglesey arms up in Bromley North.

Medway based, I do really like ye arrow in the summer, if nothing else for that lovely view which is hard to beat.
 
I popped in the Britannia on Rochester High Street (Chatham end) on Saturday afternoon and had a couple of excellent pints of Goachers in the pleasant courtyard garden.
 
I've a lot of time for The Good Intent in Rochester and Past & Present micropub in Gillingham.

I used to quite like the dinge of The Barge on Layfield Road, but I believe that's now closed. Nice views of the Medway in the beer garden on a sunny day too.
 
The Queens Head. Great if you want to know what's happening at the Gills.
(actually haven't been in there for 40 years tbh).
 
Yep, sadly The Barge is no more. The owners took over The Ship, but I’ve not been there for any events since, only the odd visit during the day. Even the view from the beer garden at The Barge was nice.

I don’t think I’ve ever strayed far enough down to the Good Intent and Who’d a Thought It, always been meaning to go there. While we’re talking about decent Rochester pubs - The Coopers Arms behind the cathedral. Another pub with good real ales and decent strong continental beers on tap too.

The thing I enjoy about the micropubs is the atmosphere. The Flippin’ Frog particularly is the most welcoming I’ve found, though I like them all. Pub landlords by contrast tend to have this natural scorn to them.

I’ve always wanted to do Upnor too.
 
Over in scintillating Strood a few reasonable boozers remain - Steam Packet ok, Prince of Wales - live music on a Saturday, The Sportsman is a decent back street pub despite the disinterested licensee, and the Weston Arms was a great little community pub a few years ago and is now a crack den - not my cup of tea but fine if you need a fix of some kind. As previously mentioned the tiny micro pub is great in the summer but shuts early, presumably to keep out the idiots.
 
GRSGimmer said:
Over in scintillating Strood a few reasonable boozers remain - Steam Packet ok, Prince of Wales - live music on a Saturday, The Sportsman is a decent back street pub despite the disinterested licensee, and the Weston Arms was a great little community pub a few years ago and is now a crack den - not my cup of tea but fine if you need a fix of some kind. As previously mentioned the tiny micro pub is great in the summer but shuts early, presumably to keep out the idiots.
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Have you tried the 10:50 yet? I’ve heard people say good things about the Prince of Wales. Nearly opposite Shozna too (y)
 
Trev_GFC said:
I’ve always wanted to do Upnor too.
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There are four pubs in Upnor but the Kings Arms beats them all hands down for booze and food. The Ship has changed hands and it isn't what it used to be. The Pier is basically microwave food or boil in a bag place with some real ale and the Tudor Rose should be the best but it's Shepherd Neame and very average food. The Stone Horse on the Cliffe Road is very good as is the Red Dog at High Halstow plus the one in Cooling but I forget the name.
 
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