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Post by porkystone on Oct 18, 2020 8:48:25 GMT
Latest CAMRA GBG ( 2021 ) has been released. Maidstone Pubs; Cellars, Flower Pot, Olde Thirsty Pig, Rifle Volunteer & Stag ( Middle Street ).
Surprised at no 'spoons + clearly the Stag has been upgraded. I'm reminded that a visit to ' The Stag ' in a previous incarnation for me ended witnessing a full on pub fight - clearly much improved & tidied up since then !
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2020 11:59:59 GMT
I do quite often go into the Stag and the improvement is in the management attitude, before it was run by people who just did not give a shit about customer relations. They also used to rip people off for grossly overpriced Vegan shit food that sometimes took over an hour to arrive at your table despite the pub being almost empty.The rocking Robin pub group who now own it are people who know what they are doing.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2020 19:36:30 GMT
That would require an element of altruism and respect for the community, when did you last see a big brewer demonstrate those qualities? When I visited a few years back I was sort of acting as an unofficial tour guide with some overseas guests. The welcome we received in the Clothworkers from the transplanted residents of Captain's Close ( if you know Sutton Valance ) was not warm - sort of like the piano stopped playing in your favourite Western, so a new tenant really would be starting from scratch. Many (many) years ago, I took a 'friend' from work for a drive one lunchtime, intending to show them Cooling Castle (I know how to give someone a good time). Unfortunately, we got lost in the endless, bleak wastelands of the Hoo peninsular, and ended up having to settle for a pint in the first (only) pub we came across. As we walked in, not only did the place fall silent, and everyone turned to look at us, but it stayed silent the whole time we were in there. The barman looked at us as if we were escaped criminals, and the atmosphere was so scary that we downed our drinks in less than 5 minutes and left. I was actually quite glad to have got out without someone pulling a gun on us, and half expected to see tumbleweed blowing past outside! The odd thing is, this wasn't an isolated event. It was the worst I've experience, but walking into a pub and feeling you were an outsider was quite a common experience back in the day. Or perhaps it was just me... |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2020 19:42:27 GMT
Latest CAMRA GBG ( 2021 ) has been released. Maidstone Pubs; Cellars, Flower Pot, Olde Thirsty Pig, Rifle Volunteer & Stag ( Middle Street ). Surprised at no 'spoons + clearly the Stag has been upgraded. I'm reminded that a visit to ' The Stag ' in a previous incarnation for me ended witnessing a full on pub fight - clearly much improved & tidied up since then ! Middle Row. young Pork. Although cheers for the street name - that pub seems to change its name so often, I wasn't sure which one you meant at first! Talking of Middle Row, what's happened to the pub/bar that was/is in the old Barclays Bank building at the end - is it still in business? When it first opened, it was advertised as 'female friendly' (although I don't remember many friendly females in there...), but it's changed names and 'themes' so many times, I've lost all track. I only went in there once in more recent times, and there was so much vomit on the floor in front of the gents that I couldn't actually get in to have a pee! |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2020 19:53:46 GMT
When I visited a few years back I was sort of acting as an unofficial tour guide with some overseas guests. The welcome we received in the Clothworkers from the transplanted residents of Captain's Close ( if you know Sutton Valance ) was not warm - sort of like the piano stopped playing in your favourite Western, so a new tenant really would be starting from scratch. Many (many) years ago, I took a 'friend' from work for a drive one lunchtime, intending to show them Cooling Castle (I know how to give someone a good time). Unfortunately, we got lost in the endless, bleak wastelands of the Hoo peninsular, and ended up having to settle for a pint in the first (only) pub we came across. As we walked in, not only did the place fall silent, and everyone turned to look at us, but it stayed silent the whole time we were in there. The barman looked at us as if we were escaped criminals, and the atmosphere was so scary that we downed our drinks in less than 5 minutes and left. I was actually quite glad to have got out without someone pulling a gun on us, and half expected to see tumbleweed blowing past outside! The odd thing is, this wasn't an isolated event. It was the worst I've experience, but walking into a pub and feeling you were an outsider was quite a common experience back in the day. Or perhaps it was just me... No it still happens. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2020 19:57:31 GMT
Latest CAMRA GBG ( 2021 ) has been released. Maidstone Pubs; Cellars, Flower Pot, Olde Thirsty Pig, Rifle Volunteer & Stag ( Middle Street ). Surprised at no 'spoons + clearly the Stag has been upgraded. I'm reminded that a visit to ' The Stag ' in a previous incarnation for me ended witnessing a full on pub fight - clearly much improved & tidied up since then ! Middle Row. young Pork. Although cheers for the street name - that pub seems to change its name so often, I wasn't sure which one you meant at first! Talking of Middle Row, what's happened to the pub/bar that was/is in the old Barclays Bank building at the end - is it still in business? When it first opened, it was advertised as 'female friendly' (although I don't remember many friendly females in there...), but it's changed names and 'themes' so many times, I've lost all track. I only went in there once in more recent times, and there was so much vomit on the floor in front of the gents that I couldn't actually get in to have a pee! That would be the V bar or Bar 6 as it is now called and it truly is a cesspit. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2020 12:21:14 GMT
Middle Row. young Pork. Although cheers for the street name - that pub seems to change its name so often, I wasn't sure which one you meant at first! Talking of Middle Row, what's happened to the pub/bar that was/is in the old Barclays Bank building at the end - is it still in business? When it first opened, it was advertised as 'female friendly' (although I don't remember many friendly females in there...), but it's changed names and 'themes' so many times, I've lost all track. I only went in there once in more recent times, and there was so much vomit on the floor in front of the gents that I couldn't actually get in to have a pee! That would be the V bar or Bar 6 as it is now called and it truly is a cesspit. It started out as BAR COAST in 1996 |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2020 7:41:44 GMT
Many (many) years ago, I took a 'friend' from work for a drive one lunchtime, intending to show them Cooling Castle (I know how to give someone a good time). Unfortunately, we got lost in the endless, bleak wastelands of the Hoo peninsular, and ended up having to settle for a pint in the first (only) pub we came across. As we walked in, not only did the place fall silent, and everyone turned to look at us, but it stayed silent the whole time we were in there. The barman looked at us as if we were escaped criminals, and the atmosphere was so scary that we downed our drinks in less than 5 minutes and left. I was actually quite glad to have got out without someone pulling a gun on us, and half expected to see tumbleweed blowing past outside! The odd thing is, this wasn't an isolated event. It was the worst I've experience, but walking into a pub and feeling you were an outsider was quite a common experience back in the day. Or perhaps it was just me... No it still happens. Indeed. It was a while ago now, but we stopped by The Chequers in Smarden one afternoon for a drink, so our Australian friends could recover from my driving. Silence fell, so we also drank up quickly and left. But this was SMARDEN, not Medway! I blame Paul Hollywood (who has an interest - female - in the pub; unless he's moved on again). |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2020 16:57:36 GMT
I lay good Odds it'll be a coffee house quite soon. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2020 23:50:16 GMT
Sad news about the Fisherman's Arms, one of my favourite pubs. Although I've often wondered how it has surived this long.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2020 5:39:31 GMT
For those worrying about the Fish, fret not (at least fret not yet)! The freehold is for sale, but the leaseholders have another few years before that falls due (am unsure of the correct terminology), so I have it on good authority that they have no plans to go anywhere.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2020 10:35:46 GMT
For those worrying about the Fish, fret not (at least fret not yet)! The freehold is for sale, but the leaseholders have another few years before that falls due (am unsure of the correct terminology), so I have it on good authority that they have no plans to go anywhere. Good news. In the FA's case, it's more than just saving a pub. I read somewhere that they are one of the oldest surviving pubs, possibly the oldest, so it's Maidstone's history we're talking about here, not just another pub under threat. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2020 17:20:21 GMT
The Little Gem have put out a Facebook statement saying they are ready to reopen as soon as they are are allowed to. Excellent news! Hard to believe, to be honest - when they closed I really thought that was that. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2020 13:48:56 GMT
That'll be because there aren't any real working men anymore...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2021 22:15:36 GMT
Bugger! I knew this yesterday and forgot to post it! Went past it on the bus on the way to my vaccination - not a good start to the morning.
Let's just hope it gets brought back as a pub, although I suppose the signs aren't good. But what else would you do with the building(s) - it's hardly a shopping Mecca, that part of the street, and I'm not sure people would want a flat there either, with all that traffic thundering past.
If the Pilot goes, that's pretty much it for the town, that was the only really decent 'proper' old pub left.
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