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The Firkin Alehouse (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Abbeydale - Serenity |  | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Launch Approval | | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Line Up |  | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Pure Shores | | 1 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Satisfaction | | 1 |
| Kent - Ēostre |  | 1 |
| Kent - Future Hop | | 1 |
| Kent - KGB or Kent Golding Bitter | | 1 |
| Kent - Kohatu | | 1 |
| Kent - Old Skool | | 1 |
| Kent - Prohibition | | 1 |
| Kent - Swing Low | | 1 |
| Kent - Tropic Ale | | 2 |
| Oakham - Junkyard | | 1 |
| Oakham - Sunset | | 1 |
| Oakham - White Dwarf | | 1 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Venn | | 1 |
| Verdant - ESB | | 1 |
| Arbor Ales - Rocketman | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Expresso Martini | Not Tried | 0 |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Prohibition X | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - The Quiet American | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marble - Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Vocation - Chop & Change (hop not noted) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wiper and True - Kaleidoscope | Not Tried | 0 |
Michael Croxford. Photos are of the original site, not the later one or one after the second move.
Visits Details
12 Mar 2026 (Jack William)
Group of 10 “bus passers”. Made very welcome by the guvnor. The locals didn’t seem too bothered about being invaded. We had an excellent session.
My 2,500 visit on P&B - a good pub to reach this milestone.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | | Superb - even towards the end of the cask. We saw this one off. |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Launch Approval | 4.20 | | Fresh on, flowery notes. Just a bit on the sweet side. |
| Oakham - Junkyard | 4.00 | | Easy drinking, citrus pale. |
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | Not Tried |
18 Feb 2026 (Jack William)
Wet early evening. Handful of regulars in. Friendly. They have signed up to 12 different ales from Thornbridge, 1 a month for the year. Look out for “Ena” in December, a milk stout no doubt commemorating Ena Sharples.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Venn | 4.20 | | A lively, fruity blonde. |
| Kent - Kohatu | 4.50 | | Bit disappointed in this - rather lifeless. |
| Marble - Mild | 4.10 | Not Tried |
07 Feb 2026 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon- I was ordered to this man crèche while my wife and granddaughter shopped. Just a couple of others in - the landlord regaled us with a proposed London A-Z pub crawl. 26 pubs from the Anchor to the Zetland Arms in three days walking. I wished him well.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Beer Factory - Line Up | 5.00 | | Juicy, punchy IPA in very good condition. |
| Kent - Swing Low | 4.00 | | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Expresso Martini | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Vocation - Chop & Change (hop not noted) | 4.50 | Not Tried |
19 Nov 2025 (Jack William)
Evening. Bumped into a couple of drinking chums from Dover (who I first met in the Mogul!) Nearly had the Kent Prohibition not noticing that it was the 10th anniversary edition ‘X’ at 6.8% (nothing to do with Elon Musk). Driving later so had to decline and go for the Old Skool. One other ale on, not noted.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | Spot on |
| Kent - Prohibition X | 6.80 | Not Tried | Limited edition for Kent’s 10th anniversary. One to look out for. |
11 Sep 2025 (Jack William)
Lunctime. Bus pass outing. 8 of us made for a lively session. Well looked after by the guv. A couple of our group tried the cheeseboard - good selection of cheese and biscuits and excellent value.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - KGB or Kent Golding Bitter | 4.10 | | Very good body, solid flavours. Just a little less than bright. |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Pure Shores | 4.00 | | Clean and crisp, a little lacking in body. All Bristol beers are now gluten free apparently. |
| Bristol Beer Factory - Satisfaction | 5.00 | |
27 Aug 2025 (Jack William)
Evening, nicely busy - surprised to be told that last orders here are 7pm. Friendly.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | | Fruity, big bodied. |
| Saltaire - Triple Choc (was Triple Chocoholic) | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
12 Aug 2025 (Jack William)
Early evening visit to catch up with a couple of old friends. Nicely busy with plenty of comings and goings during our stay.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Tropic Ale | 4.90 | | Superb, top condition. |
| Abbeydale - Serenity | 3.60 | | Unfined IPA - nice and fruity. |
| Verdant - ESB | 5.50 | | A collaboration with Adnams apparently. Full bodied and malty. |
28 May 2025 (Jack William)
Evening. Jolly banter about the size of giraffes’ tongues (18 inches) and the weight of blue whales (up to 180 tons).
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Sunset | 5.30 | | |
| Kent - Future Hop | 4.30 | | |
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | Not Tried |
14 May 2025 (Jack William)
Early evening - nicely busy.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - White Dwarf | 4.30 | | A rare appearance of this old classic. Not sure if it was as good as it used to be at the Mogul, Dover when it was the subject of “kill the dwarf” sessions to see how quick the cask could be finished! |
| Kent - Prohibition | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - The Quiet American | 4.20 | Not Tried |
14 Apr 2025 (Jack William)
Early evening. Just a handful in, quiet.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Ēostre | 4.20 | | Found this rather lacking in body. Bright enough but little aftertaste. |
| Arbor Ales - Rocketman | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wiper and True - Kaleidoscope | 4.20 | Not Tried |
About The Firkin Alehouse
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 26 |
| 86 |
| 77 |
| 43 |
 | 2 |
The pub is found in Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2AY.
Micropub close to Folkestone bus station which opened in November 2012, no music or slot machines and the use of mobile phones is banned with a fine imposed for disturbing the peace. Same level gravity stillage for real ales and ciders from a separate temperature controlled cellar room. Usually at seat service. In its original location had an impressive pumpclip display of beers sold to date in the unisex toilet all laid out by brewery! Ashford, Folkestone & Romney Marsh CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year 2014. Moved overnight 24/25 September 2017 from 18 to 20 Cheriton Place into new premises and now with a bar counter to obtain service. Moved a second time to No 21 other side of street in December 2022 now with high stools and tables at front and lower sofas and seating in a snug area towards the rear.
We have visited this pub 124 times, seen 262 different beers and tried 176 of them.
Postcode: CT20 2AY