FOOD + DRINK
KENT ' S BEST BEER STOPS CONT .
Swan and Dog , Great Chart ( www . swananddog . co . uk )
Take a trip to the Swan and Dog pub where you can whet your appetite with their famous burgers and steaks , cooked to order , and vegetarian dishes made with the best local produce the Garden of England has to offer . Set in the charming village of Great Chart , enjoy a cool glass of refreshing beer , brewed here in Kent from the charming sun-soaked beer garden .
The Minnis Bay Bar and Brasserie ( www . theminnis . co . uk )
Overlooking the golden sands and blue sea of Thanet , The Minnis Bay Bar and Brasserie is a relaxed and stylish pub offering outstanding views , great food and an extensive drinks list . Enjoy a glass of cool and refreshing Kentish beer on the terrace while watching the sun sink into the sea . Get those taste buds tingling with your favourite pub dishes or indulge in some traditional seaside fun with an ice cream from their kiosk .
Pier Five , Chatham ( www . pierfive . co . uk )
Enjoy a pint in historical surrounds at Chatham Maritime where you ’ ll find Pier Five , a contemporary waterside bar and kitchen with an international outlook . As well as revelling in crafted ales , spirits and cocktails you can also sip on the freshest artisan coffees in town while looking out onto the River Medway . The kitchen also packs a punch with their acclaimed oven-baked hand-stretched pizzas , flame-grilled chicken and superfood salads .
KENT ’ S BEST MICROPUBS
The Freed Man , Walmer near Deal ( www . thefreed-man . co . uk )
Previously a post office and now a nautically themed micropub run by Ian Goodban , The Freed Man pays tribute to the owner ’ s background in the Navy and his family ’ s fishing heritage through decoration and lots of beachcombed artefacts including a whale ’ s jawbone . Ian says he believes micropubs can be an important part of any local community .
The Paper Mill , Sittingbourne ( www . thepapermillmicropub . co . uk )
Run by mother-and-son team Marianne and Harvey Melia , this micropub is located in the vicinity of the former Sittingbourne paper mill . Serving a mix of high-quality cask conditioned ales
and exciting , modern craft kegs from around the world along with high quality real ciders , The Paper Mill prides itself on its ‘ ale house ’ style . “ You won ' t find any fruit machines , jukeboxes , TVs or pool tables here . You will find congenial hosts , a relaxed friendly atmosphere and good old conversation , plus an all weather pub garden !” says Marianne . The Paper Mill also run regular quiz nights , board game evenings and offer free cheese toasties to guests of the pub on Sundays .
The Compass Alehouse , Gravesend ( www . thecompassalehouse . co . uk )
Gravesend ’ s first micropub , The Compass Alehouse , which opened in 2014 , is now multi-award-winning . Offering at least four gravity drawn real ales , every ale is kept to the highest standard and chosen from select Kent and UK breweries that constantly change throughout the year .
THE COMPASS ALEHOUSE
PIER FIVE
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