Red Lion at Snargate - Friday 12th April

Another pub with no keg beer, the regular CAMRA GBG entrant, the Red Lion at Snargate in Kent.  I had heard from a few people about this freehouse, aka "Doris's", named after the landlady, Doris, of course, and so, had to visit, which I did last Friday with the Pubmeister, my mate, Mark.

No bus stop or train station in this small village, though a later Norman church, St Dunstan's, sits opposite the pub. If not driving here, you can walk a couple of miles from Appledore train station to the north, or a little over a mile from the number 11 bus stop in Brenzett to the south. We had caught the bus from Lydd Church, so the shorter walk for us, and well worth the visit, indeed!

First, the beers, which they serve up 4 of, from smaller breweries, today 3 from nearby Goachers of Maidstone, and one from Privateer of Manchester, and a 7.4% real cider from Marlpit Farm called Double Vision at £3.30 a pint.  The Privateer Roebuck was a 3.8% pale-ish session ale, very easy to drink, and the Goachers' ales were the 3.4% Real Mild, with a hint of chocolate, the 4.5% Imperial Stout, with much more chocolate in the flavour, and the excellent 5.1% Gold Star, a well balanced pale bitter; the ales were £3 a pint, except the Gold Star, which was £3.10 a pint. All were served straight from their casks, 'gravity fed', from behind/under the bar, except the cider, which was sitting on the bar. By the way, the beer handpumps haven't been used for many years...

This is the back room, and, as you'll see from this photograph, and the others, this pub is a virtual museum, containing many interesting details and curios from the 20th century...  Indeed, this 16th century building has been a pub occupied by the same family for over 100 years; the centenary celebration held in 2010, and is now run by Doris and her daughter Kate.

This is the reserve bar, sort of, being used as an overspill from the main bar area, and the small bar counter, the hatch reminding me of a wee pub I used to visit on the edge of Dartmoor, when I lived in Devon, will be used for their beer festival, held this year on the weekend starting the evening of 21st June through to the Sunday; all day opening at the weekend.

 

A great pub, a must visit, and we shall return... More of that day's visit to Rye in my next blog, cheers!