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The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Hopdaemon - LeviathanExceptional1
Tonbridge - Ebony MoonExceptional2
Hopdaemon - DominatorExceptional1
Goacher's - 1066 Old AleExcellent1
Royal Tunbridge Wells - DipperExcellent1
Tonbridge - RusticExcellent1
Kent - EnigmaExcellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster StoutExcellent2
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - SeasiderExcellent1
Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%)Excellent1
Wantsum - Miller's MirthExcellent1
Goacher's - Crown Imperial StoutExcellent1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold TopExcellent1
Royal Tunbridge Wells - HellesExcellent1
Kent - Session PaleGood1
Wantsum - Yellow TailGood1
Goacher's - Real Mild AleGood1
Hop Fuzz - The EnglishGood1
Dartford Wobbler (re-named from Millis) - Kentish GoldGood1
Abigale - SamphireGood1
Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original)Acceptable1
Ripple Steam - Winter AleAcceptable1
Westerham - William Wilberforce Freedom AleNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Red TopNot Tried0
Meantime - London Pale AleNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Thoroughly Modern MildNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopNot Tried0
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Prince's AleNot Tried0
Nelson - Midshipman MildNot Tried0
Hopdaemon - IncubusNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3Not Tried0
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's AleNot Tried0
Hopdaemon - Golden BraidNot Tried0
Wantsum - ImperiumNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7Not Tried0
Canterbury Brewers - ScrumpkinNot Tried0
Hopdaemon - Green DaemonNot Tried0
Westerham - Audit AleNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Voyager Brown AleNot Tried0
Canterbury Brewers - Foundry BlackNot Tried0
Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPANot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark PorterNot Tried0
Goacher's - Fine Light AleNot Tried0
Royal Tunbridge Wells - Golden TicketNot Tried0
Larkins - ChiddingstoneNot Tried0
Abigale - RidgewayNot Tried0
Larkins - Best BitterNot Tried0
Kent - CobnutNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House, Margate, Kent

Visits Details

24 May 2012 (Blair)
Had intended to go to the butchers but the trains were a nightmare and we ended up stranded in Margate, so on to plan B! There was a great celtic folk band playing and the pub was pretty busy.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Royal Tunbridge Wells - Dipper3.70ExcellentReally liked this. Brown bitter with a sweet caramel flavour to it. Exceptionally quaffable.
Kent - Enigma5.50ExcellentFantastic beer. A black IPA apparently, and jolly tasty it was too.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Thoroughly Modern Mild6.00Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top4.30Not TriedHad a sip of my friends and it was far too sweet for me.
03 May 2012 (Blair)
Cycled over to Margate as myself and my dad fancied some really good beer. Acoustic act was playing some good tunes and chatted to Julian about the troubles he's having with his new pub in Broadstairs.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout4.50ExcellentGorgeous heavily roasted stout.
Royal Tunbridge Wells - Helles5.00ExcellentReally enjoyed this, malty and fruity lager style beer.
Kent - Session Pale3.70GoodReally good session pale ale, not quite a hophead but it's not far off.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider4.30Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Red Top3.80Not Tried
02 Apr 2012 (Blair)
Out on a coastal bike ride and stopped for refreshment in here. It looked closed from the outside and there was nobody in, half a dozen people filtered in and out while we were there though.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hop Fuzz - The English4.00GoodUnusual taste to this one. Very lively with a malty/fruity pleasant taste to it.
Ripple Steam - Winter Ale5.00AcceptableFlat, a little out of condition. Spicy and tasty enough.
22 Mar 2012 (Blair)
Friends were playing in here so gave me an excuse to come for a few beers. Absolutely rammed and we had to stand at the back by the toilets for the first half hour. Still a fantastic pub and best pub in Thanet regardless of what Thanet Camra think.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hopdaemon - Dominator5.10ExceptionalAwesome, haven't had a pint of Dominator this good in years.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout6.20ExcellentBeautiful. Rich and smoky stout. Had a few of these, left me a little wobbly.
Wantsum - Yellow Tail4.50GoodGood grassy, earthy pale ale.
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not Tried
Kent - Cobnut4.10Not TriedWent off as I ordered a pint.
15 Feb 2012 (thebrewingman)
Wednesday lunchtime after a visit to the Turner exhibition. Quiet to start with and chatted about beers and the pub layout but gradually more and more people came in. Very impressive beer and cider list.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider4.30Excellent
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top4.30Excellent
Tonbridge - Ebony Moon4.20Excellent
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter5.60Not Tried
Royal Tunbridge Wells - Golden Ticket5.00Not Tried
Abigale - Ridgeway3.80Not Tried
12 Nov 2011 (Ian)
Just after lunchtime. I haven't been here since the spring and only really met Julian once at The Butchers Arms when he was asking Martyn about setting this place up, but he still remembered me, which was extremely impressive and made me welcome. There was a large wedding party in the rear room so I sat at the bar chatting with the staff, the customers and basically having a good time.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - Rustic4.00ExcellentLovely proper brown best bitter. Excellent. Lovely hop flavours from hedgerow fruits and a healthy dollop of English earthiness. Top drawer English bitter. Just adorable
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not Tried
Westerham - Audit Ale6.20Not Tried
Canterbury Brewers - Foundry Black4.00Not Tried
27 Oct 2011 (Blair)
Very quiet tonight, seems odd for a thursday. You would have thought a town of 50,000 people would contain more hardened ale drinkers. Cracking line-up tonight, Julian really is doing well.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hopdaemon - Leviathan6.00ExceptionalAwesome!
Tonbridge - Ebony Moon4.20ExceptionalRidiculously drinkable for a porter. Fruity with a smooth roasted malt thing going on, one of the best dark beers I've had in ages!
Larkins - Chiddingstone4.00Not Tried
Wantsum - Imperium4.00Not Tried
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale4.10Not Tried
Canterbury Brewers - Scrumpkin4.60Not TriedHad a sip of my mates and it was great. Strong flavour of cloves.
16 Jun 2011 (Blair)
Haven't been here in the best part of a year (mainly because it's in Margate). I really like this pub and will make a conscious effort to return more frequently.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%)4.10ExcellentTop notch beer from one of my favourite breweries. I could drink this all night.
Goacher's - Real Mild Ale3.40GoodVery good mild but we decided it needs a little more ooomph.
Dartford Wobbler (re-named from Millis) - Kentish Gold4.10GoodFruity and a little hoppy. A good golden ale.
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 35.00Not Tried
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Reeve's Ale4.10Not Tried
22 Apr 2011 (Andrew)
First time here. Great pub. Friendly staff and plenty of customers in, including Chris! Sat and chatted to a couple from Broadstairs about beer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70ExcellentTop stuff
Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original)4.10AcceptableAn excellent beer in mediocre form
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not Tried
Larkins - Chiddingstone4.00Not Tried
Larkins - Best Bitter4.40Not Tried
Hopdaemon - Dominator5.10Not Tried
Westerham - William Wilberforce Freedom Ale4.00Not Tried
Meantime - London Pale Ale4.30Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Prince's Ale4.00Not Tried
Nelson - Midshipman Mild4.00Not Tried
Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA4.50Not Tried
22 Jan 2011 (Pedro)
Afternoon
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout6.20Excellent
Wantsum - Miller's Mirth4.20Excellent
Abigale - Samphire4.10Good
Hopdaemon - Golden Braid3.70Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 73.80Not Tried
Hopdaemon - Green Daemon5.00Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Voyager Brown Ale4.80Not Tried
Hopdaemon - Skrimshander IPA4.50Not Tried

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About The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House

The pub sign. The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House, Margate, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional5
Excellent29
Good23
Acceptable6
Poor2

The pub is found in Margate, Kent, CT9 1ER.

In Market Street, a small pub, former wine bar, opened in May 2010 specialising in real ale and cider. When it opened this was a contrast to the seafront pubs, there is no pool table, juke box, or gaming machines, and the cash register worked in pounds, shillings, and pence. Initially and for some years cask ales and real ciders were served on gravity dispense from casks stacked on stillage in the middle of the room. In 2016 a corner bar counter, with 6 handpumps and 10 massive imposing black keg fonts, was installed instead which also somewhat opened up the floor space. Boxed ciders / perries remain stacked at the end of the bar. A large wooden table and a large trestle table provide the focus for the seated areas.

We have visited this pub 44 times, seen 95 different beers and tried 54 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT9 1ER