We spent last weekend in the picturesque towns and villages
of Sussex and Kent, and bore that I am I sourced beer recommendations in advance. We started the weekend in Rye.
My immediate concern was to find somewhere to
watch the Scottish Cup Final, but as I didn’t fancy my chances I resolved to find a
pub with WiFi and watch it on the iPlayer. So it was that I found myself in The Old Bell Inn, a beautiful historical pub brimming with character. As I settled down with a pint of Harvey’s Best I was utterly content as I watched Celtic lift the cup, thereby securing the 'Treble Treble'.
We then wandered to the nearby Mermaid Inn, a huge, rambling and supposedly haunted pub before making for the Ypres Castle Inn, and dinner. This is a pub I would assume needs no introduction to anyone reading this (hi mum). The beer was good and the food was better - it's a fine pub in a wonderful location, sitting as it does in the shadow of the castle for which it's named.
The following day we made for Folkestone, but not before visiting the curious and beguiling Dungeness. An inhabited nature reserve formed mainly of a shingle beach, it's well know for the juxtaposition between the wild beauty of its coastal location and the eponymous nuclear power station. Indeed, you can even have a beer from Romney Marshes Brewery's Ales by the Rail, situated at the Dungeness terminus of the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Light Railway. It's possibly the most unusual place I've enjoyed a beer, but an experience well worthy of seeking out.
On Sunday we drove east, and having checked-in at our hotel in Sandgate had an 'exhilarating' wander through Folkestone town centre, encountering several unnerving, Mad Maxian characters as we searched for the creative quarter. We coincidentally arrived at Home, the smart taproom of The Brewery of Angels and Demons. I ordered the more than acceptable A.D.H-ME™ (me neither) American Pale Ale, as we eavesdropped on two women discussing the life and works of one Pete Brown.
We didn't tarry as we wanted to make Folkestone Harbour Arm, the beautifully restored rail terminus now home various purveyors of food and drink. After much deliberation we went for the inexpensive but delectable Indian street food from Baba Ji, washed down with a Mumbai Bad Boy, which is brewed in, em, Suffolk. In fairness, the intense burst of citrus did pair well with the spicy, coriander-festooned dishes, and Suffolk Bad Boy doesn't have the same ring to it anyway.
The harbour also has an Antony Gormley exhibit, a lone man looking forlornly out to sea. It really brought to mind the way I sometimes look at my monitor at work when a garbage fire is raging on beer Twitter, feeling at once intoxicated while at the same time ashamed and vacant inside, an empty vessel bereft of spiritual sustenance.
All in all it's a great place, but the austere anti-taps aff dictat would simply not fly in Glasgow.
We then wandered to the nearby Mermaid Inn, a huge, rambling and supposedly haunted pub before making for the Ypres Castle Inn, and dinner. This is a pub I would assume needs no introduction to anyone reading this (hi mum). The beer was good and the food was better - it's a fine pub in a wonderful location, sitting as it does in the shadow of the castle for which it's named.
The following day we made for Folkestone, but not before visiting the curious and beguiling Dungeness. An inhabited nature reserve formed mainly of a shingle beach, it's well know for the juxtaposition between the wild beauty of its coastal location and the eponymous nuclear power station. Indeed, you can even have a beer from Romney Marshes Brewery's Ales by the Rail, situated at the Dungeness terminus of the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Light Railway. It's possibly the most unusual place I've enjoyed a beer, but an experience well worthy of seeking out.
On Sunday we drove east, and having checked-in at our hotel in Sandgate had an 'exhilarating' wander through Folkestone town centre, encountering several unnerving, Mad Maxian characters as we searched for the creative quarter. We coincidentally arrived at Home, the smart taproom of The Brewery of Angels and Demons. I ordered the more than acceptable A.D.H-ME™ (me neither) American Pale Ale, as we eavesdropped on two women discussing the life and works of one Pete Brown.
We didn't tarry as we wanted to make Folkestone Harbour Arm, the beautifully restored rail terminus now home various purveyors of food and drink. After much deliberation we went for the inexpensive but delectable Indian street food from Baba Ji, washed down with a Mumbai Bad Boy, which is brewed in, em, Suffolk. In fairness, the intense burst of citrus did pair well with the spicy, coriander-festooned dishes, and Suffolk Bad Boy doesn't have the same ring to it anyway.
The harbour also has an Antony Gormley exhibit, a lone man looking forlornly out to sea. It really brought to mind the way I sometimes look at my monitor at work when a garbage fire is raging on beer Twitter, feeling at once intoxicated while at the same time ashamed and vacant inside, an empty vessel bereft of spiritual sustenance.
All in all it's a great place, but the austere anti-taps aff dictat would simply not fly in Glasgow.
Oh is that Derek Jarman's cottage?
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed. One guy was just wandering around it saying 'wow' to himself.
ReplyDelete