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Jolly Drayman (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Billericay (large volume beers brewed at Brentwood) - Rhythm Stick |  | 1 |
| Brains - Santa's Blotto | | 1 |
| Dark Star - Hophead (was 3.8%) brewed by Fuller's | | 2 |
| Froth Blowers - SPA Anthem | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Frost Fair | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Heritage: Porter (19th Century) |  | 1 |
| Kent - Prohibition | | 5 |
| Kent - Starry Night | | 1 |
| Marston's - Courage Best Bitter (was brewed at Banks's for a while) | | 1 |
| St Austell - Proper Job | | 1 |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Red Fox | Not Tried | 0 |
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Betty Stogs Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| St Austell - Tribute | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
07 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for mid-afternoon for this wet-pub only and many in following the rugby on the small tv screens dotted about. Four real ales on to choose from with a Kent ale to start with. Attentive friendly barmaid soon served me and a seat at a table soon to be found. Beware the low ceiling beams between the various open-plan rooms in the back part of the pub!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | This Kent pale ale from Birling, north of West Malling, came with great head and lacing and lasted. A very hoppy first hit. An explosion of UK hops on the palate led to a hoppy fruitiness rising up with the odd citrusy note or two being rolled out. A hop-infused dryness lingering. |
| Marston's - Courage Best Bitter (was brewed at Banks's for a while) | 4.00 | | Now brewed by Marston's Brewery based in Burton upon Trent, this best bitter came with very good head and lacing and lasted. A very hoppy maltiness in the first hit. A bitter malt or two rising up and a dry bitterness lingering in the aftertaste alongside a subtle fruitiness joining in. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead (was 3.8%) brewed by Fuller's | 3.40 | Not Tried |
15 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for my mid-afternoon visit. Usual friendly and attentive service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | Good head and lacing on this APA from Kent Brewery in Birling, north of West Malling. A hoppy and mildly fruity first hit. A dry hoppiness in the mouthfeel lingering. Very moreish! |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead (was 3.8%) brewed by Fuller's | 3.40 | Not Tried |
08 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for my mid-afternoon visit. Friendly, prompt service as always.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | Very good head and lacing on this American pale ale from Birling, north of West Malling in Kent. A very hoppy first. A hint of fruitiness in the mouthfeel with a hoppiness lingering. |
| Dark Star - Hophead (was 3.8%) brewed by Fuller's | 3.40 | | Good head and lacing on this golden ale from Dark Star and brewed by Fuller's in Chiswick, London. A very bitter first hit. A dry, hoppy mouthfeel with a slight hint of elderflower in the aftertaste. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | 4.50 | Not Tried |
11 Jan 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for my mid-afternoon visit and not a diner amongst them. According to CAMRA's WhatPub and their latest entry 11 months ago, the kitchen was closed for refurbishment works. Seems to be doing well as just a wet-led pub currently. Fast, attentive service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Frost Fair | 5.00 | | Good head and lacing on this ESB from Northfleet, just up the road, and a collaboration with Tap East in London's Stratford. A very spicy first hit. Superbly bitter and a fruity mouthfeel with honey notes and the odd blackberry not escaping the flavouring. Not in the least sweet with a pleasant dryness lingering. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead (was 3.8%) brewed by Fuller's | 3.40 | Not Tried |
04 Jan 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Very busy footfall for mid-afternoon. Very much a wet pub as not a diner in sight and increasingly unusual in this day and age. Managed to share a table with others and warm, friendly service for my two halves sampled.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Heritage: Porter (19th Century) | 5.10 | | Good head and lacing. A dry first hit. A malty and bitter mouthfeel which was very moreish. A lingering roasted maltiness in the aftertaste. It was new to me and according to Iron Pier is brewed based on a porter from the end of the 19th century with a recipe using brown malt, invert sugar (a natural form of sugar such as honey that is used to help keep candies and baked items sweet) and Goldings Hops. It was though not in the least sweet to my taste buds. |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | Very good head and lacing. A moreishly dry first hit followed by a refreshingly fruity mouthfeel and lingering hoppiness. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead (was 3.8%) brewed by Fuller's | 3.40 | Not Tried |
21 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Much busier than week before for mid-afternoon and with everyone drinking instead of dining. Warm, friendly service and very prompt given how busy. Sat on one of few available seats behind a woman sporting a reindeer's antlers on her head.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brains - Santa's Blotto | 4.00 | | Very good head and lacing on this Cardiff-based brewery's winter ale. A dry, bitter mouthfeel with a spicy and fruity lingering aftertaste. Very moreish. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead (was 3.8%) brewed by Fuller's | 3.40 | Not Tried |
14 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Only my second visit to this fine old Gravesend pub on the site of the former Walker's Wellington Brewery. Very low ceilings and so beware anyone slightly on the tall-side! Not overly busy footfall for early afternoon and caught up with the others on the crawl after a cooked breakfast in a local café. Prompt, friendly service for my half.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Starry Night | 4.20 | | Very good head and lacing on this Christmas beer from the Birling-based brewery near West Malling in Kent. The first hit was of a sweetish bitterness. There was a pleasantly fruity mouthfeel lingering of cinnamon from this seasonal light brown bitter. |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | Very good head and lacing with a lightly hoppy mouthfeel. A very moreish and citrusy aftertaste in this American pale ale. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead (was 3.8%) brewed by Fuller's | 3.40 | Not Tried |
02 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Been recommended to this one by a regular in the River Ale House in East Greenwich. Many a time walked past it on my visits to Gravesend but this marked my first visit to it. I was not disappointed. This marked my second visit of the day. Warm welcome and prompt service and a very spacious old pub with lots of snugs. A table was found despite a good few in also for the rugby.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead (was 3.8%) brewed by Fuller's | 3.40 | | Came with a good head and lacing. A lightly hoppy mouthfeel with a mildly bitter aftertaste. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Tribute | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried |
01 Dec 2018 (Magnus Greel)
Busy in fact heaving as expected for this fine pub on a Saturday evening, I found a table in the lobby area which thankfully was a lot cooler compared to the heat and humidity around the main bar area.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Austell - Proper Job | 4.50 | | I think this is the first time I've tried the non bottled version - spot on nick and expected flavours minus the bottling carbonation. |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Red Fox | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Betty Stogs Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried |
23 Jun 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit. Good, chatty, wise locals at the bar.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billericay (large volume beers brewed at Brentwood) - Rhythm Stick | 4.80 | | |
| Froth Blowers - SPA Anthem | 4.10 | | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Betty Stogs Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Proper Job | 4.50 | Not Tried |
About the Jolly Drayman
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 2 |
| 15 |
| 13 |
 | 1 |
 | 1 |
The pub is found in Gravesend, Kent, DA12 1JA.
This is a ex Charrington's pub and hotel that was once part of Walker's Gravesend Brewery which ceased brewing in 1928. The brewery office can be seen on the opposite side of the road in Wellington Street. At one time a regular CAMRA Good Beer Guide entry - certainly featured in the first 25 editions consecutively. Low ceilinged single bar with 5 handpumps.
We have visited this pub 19 times, seen 39 different beers and tried 23 of them.
Postcode: DA12 1JA