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The Handsome Sam (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Angels & Demons (now uses McCanns branding not its own) - Bombay Social |  | 1 |
| Chislet - Hoplands |  | 2 |
| Chislet - Island Road | | 1 |
| Constellation - Aquila |  | 1 |
| Cross Bay - The Blonde | | 1 |
| Hopdaemon - Incubus | | 1 |
| Kent - Porter | | 1 |
| Kent - Rogue 2 | | 1 |
| Larkins - Pale | | 1 |
| Mad Cat - Crispin Amber | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | | 1 |
| Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | | 1 |
| Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%) | | 1 |
| Wantsum - Hurricane | | 1 |
| Wantsum - More's Head (previously 3.4% & 3.5%) | | 1 |
| Wantsum - Ravening Wolf | | 1 |
| Westerham - Hop Rocket (superseded by 4.8% entry) | | 1 |
| Bexley - Anchor Bay IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bexley - Redhouse | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bexley - Spike Island | Not Tried | 0 |
| Chislet - Lakes View | Not Tried | 0 |
| Four Candles - Bramling | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - VE80 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Long Man - Old Man | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Slave to the Money | Not Tried | 0 |
| Romney Marsh - Golden Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Shivering Sands - Knock John Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Stag (Kent) - Rambling Roebuck | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Velvet Raven | Not Tried | 0 |
| Twisted Wheel - Evil Thieves | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
18 Sep 2025 (Andrew)
A swift visit.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larkins - Pale | 4.20 | | Golden brown colour. Rich syrupy beer with strong leafy hop bite. |
| Bexley - Spike Island | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Chislet - Lakes View | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Twisted Wheel - Evil Thieves | 5.10 | Not Tried |
08 May 2025 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon - just the one other customer in. Pleasant enough.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale | 5.00 | | Good bod, fine condition not quite the bitter hoppiness I expect from an APA, rather sweet. |
| Long Man - Old Man | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Romney Marsh - Golden Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - VE80 | 3.80 | Not Tried |
13 Feb 2025 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon. A few locals in. Very pleasant. .
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angels & Demons (now uses McCanns branding not its own) - Bombay Social | 3.80 | | Vey light but with a distinctive bitternes. (Marked up as Twisted Wheel brewery - not sure if this the correct entry - no doubt Mr P will advise) |
| Chislet - Island Road | 4.50 | | |
| Stag (Kent) - Rambling Roebuck | 3.80 | Not Tried |
04 Jan 2025 (Jack William)
Saturday lunchtime - stop 2 on a tour of Whitstable with my daughter. Just the one other customer in - but warm and friendly.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chislet - Hoplands | 3.80 | | Very nice pale ale in sparklingly clear condition. |
| Bexley - Redhouse | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Bexley - Anchor Bay IPA | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Apparition Stout | 4.40 | Not Tried |
07 Sep 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Having devoured a plate of freshly prepared fish and chips in a cafe/take-away in the high street which seems just as good as I remember it from 8 years earlier, it was time for my first visit and early evening to this busy little micropub. A warm welcome and prompt service greeted me.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider | 4.30 | | In very fine condition was this Seasider Pale with some maltiness and moreish, hoppy flavours. |
| Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%) | 4.60 | | A fine head on this best bitter with a sweetish mouthfeel and bitter aftertaste. |
| Westerham - Hop Rocket (superseded by 4.8% entry) | 4.30 | | On board described as 4.3%. Fine conditioning and lacing with a very hoppy mouthfeel and aftertaste. |
| Mad Cat - Crispin Amber | 4.00 | | Fine head and very bitter mouthfeel. |
02 Aug 2024 (Magnus Greel)
Late afternoon to early evening, right hand table occupied with a large group luckily the left side had just been vacated hence we swooped and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wantsum - More's Head (previously 3.4% & 3.5%) | 3.70 | | A chestnut coloured bitter providing malt and roasted grains balanced by fruit and floral hop bitterness with a hint of citrus. Now @ 3.7% |
| Chislet - Hoplands | 3.80 | | A session pale ale with a traditional British malt bill and the addition of some New Zealand hops to bring out some gentle grapefruit notes. |
| Chislet - Island Road | 4.50 | Not Tried |
23 Nov 2022 (Jack William)
Afternoon visit to meet an old friend. Busy - partly because the pub now has a couple of tv screens showing World Cup football (albeit with the sound muted). What would the micropub purists make of this I thought. Mr P. P. ?
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopdaemon - Incubus | 4.00 | | Probably the finest pint of this ale I’ve had. Full bodied and top condition. H |
| Kent - Rogue 2 | 6.00 | | Actually Rogue 3, same strength. A poky little number. |
| Tonbridge - Easy Street Pale | 3.90 | | Pleasant enough and in excellent condition. |
16 Aug 2022 (Jack William)
Early afternoon, a few regulars in. I hadn’t fully appreciated the artwork here before nor the old beams, some of which have been incorporated into the murals.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Bay - The Blonde | 4.20 | | |
| Constellation - Aquila | 4.60 | | Found this rather ordinary. |
| Shivering Sands - Knock John Bitter | 3.50 | Not Tried |
17 Feb 2022 (Dosser)
A walk from Tankerton. 4 ales on. All beers £4.20 apart from one.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Porter | 5.50 | | This beer was reduced to £3,50 as it was on the way out. This was still a good pint. |
21 Jan 2022 (Jack William)
Stop 5. Late afternoon- very cosy in here.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wantsum - Ravening Wolf | 5.90 | | Excellent beer to finish on. |
| Wantsum - Hurricane | 4.50 | | |
| Pig & Porter - Slave to the Money | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Velvet Raven | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Four Candles - Bramling | 4.40 | Not Tried |
About The Handsome Sam
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 1 |
| 26 |
| 26 |
| 5 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Whitstable, Kent, CT5 4HJ.
Edge of town centre Micropub which opened on Tuesday 4th November 2014 in a former antiques shop. Located in Canterbury Road just by the railway overbridge. Named after the owner's cat which died exactly 4 years before the pub opened. High ceilinged room which retains some original wooden beams with a temperature controlled cellar room at the back from which real ales and ciders are sold on gravity dispense from a 2 level stillage - this is called the Beer Tent. High tables and bench seats and stools provide the seating. Hops adorn the 2 front bay windows. Unisex toilet at the right rear. Closed Mondays.
We have visited this pub 32 times, seen 92 different beers and tried 49 of them.
Postcode: CT5 4HJ