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The Butchers Arms (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale |  | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - War Horse | | 2 |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale | | 2 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout |  | 1 |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | | 1 |
| Adnams - Broadside | | 1 |
| Iron Pier - English Pale | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | | 8 |
| Kent - Session Pale | | 3 |
| Wiper and True - Bitter | | 1 |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew | | 3 |
| Hopdaemon - Incubus |  | 1 |
| Wrekin (formerly Ironbridge) - Pale Ale | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Thoroughly Modern Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iron Pier - Export India Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
04 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
My first visit and the fourth one in after a woman from North London, Albina, kindly organised with the guvnor, Martyn, to be open for 20+ of us from 12.45pm on this blustery Saturday. Its normal hours at the time of this visit are Wed-Fri from 6pm-8pm. 19 turned up for this and from various CAMRA branches in London and two from the Thanet branch. Two real ales on and both in tip-top condition, including one from the local Gadds' brewery. It is the first officially recognised micropub to open and back in 2005 following the 2003 Licensing Act changes making it easier to open a pub in a previously unlicensed premise without surrounding pubs' objections preventing this. The changes in the Act became effective in 2005, the year this former butcher's shop opened as a micropub following several years as an off-licence. Good banter between Martyn and all assembled and a round of applause to Albina and Martyn was given for making this visit possible. Pretty much all of us had hiked the mile and a half from Herne Bay station along many a footpath although there is a local bus service passing through Herne village.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | In top condition with a frothy head on top and much lacing all the way on this Session Pale from the Kent-based brewery in Birling, north of West Malling. A dry, slightly fruited hoppy first bite. A bitter hoppiness rising. A gentle fruitiness from its citrus and elderflower flavourings winning over with a bitter hoppiness paddling out. Very moreish and refreshing after our mile and a half walk from Herne Bay station so another most certainly followed. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | This too came with a healthy-looking frothy top and lacing lasting throughout its onward journey. This local Ramsgate ruby-coloured best bitter presented a toffee-infused bitter first bite. A good bitter hoppiness rising from this microbrewery set up in 2002 and using East Kent Golding hops. A malty note or two with hints of biscuity caramel and red berries rearing and lasting on its ferry journey downwards. |
16 Jan 2025 (Magnus Greel)
A pre arranged lunchtime opening for our group of 10 plus a couple of locals made for an enjoyable couple of hours of great beer, company and mayhem courtesy of Martyn the guv.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout | 6.20 | | |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | |
29 Nov 2024 (Magnus Greel)
An evening of mirth and mayhem with around half a dozen or so locals and the 'guv with topics ranging from growing up in the 70's Choppers, Chippers and white dog poo to the more depressing and unwanted 'woke' nonsense institutions and companies feel they have to inflict upon the proliteriat, sadly including CAMRA who've joined the box ticking bandwagon but will have to go some to knock the BBC off the top spot!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Faultless nectar.. |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | |
15 May 2024 (Jack William)
Early evening visit, first in shortly joined by a hop expert from Wye, Dr Alistair something. Excellent, wide ranging conversation the pick of which was Martyn’s anecdote about his interactions with Paul “services to baking” Hollywood at his recent investiture at Windsor Castle. The MBE was proudly displayed.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter | 5.60 | | So yummy |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | |
| Wrekin (formerly Ironbridge) - Pale Ale | 4.00 | |
23 Jan 2024 (Magnus Greel)
Martyn kindly opened just for our group of 9 of us for a superb lunchtime session. By the time we'd left a couple of hours or so later we'd enjoyed hearing all about and celebrating Martyn's recent accolade with good banter, great company and great beers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Pier - Perry St Pale | 3.70 | | Perfection for this dry peppery light and hoppy with hints of citrus session ale. Difficult to wean us off this and try something else. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Notes of toffee, red berry, and spicy blackcurrant. |
| Iron Pier - Cast Iron Stout | 4.70 | | Dark chocolate, Oxo and coffee are hugely prominent in this highly drinkable smooth stout brewed with 7 different malts. |
18 Jul 2023 (Magnus Greel)
Not long after 17.30 opening just one other chap in sooned joined by many others. Superb welcome as always and enjoyed beers and banter as expected from Martyn.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | |
| Iron Pier - English Pale | 3.90 | | |
| Wiper and True - Bitter | 4.70 | | A traditional nutty malty cooking bitter. |
| Iron Pier - Export India Porter | 5.90 | Not Tried |
10 Jan 2023 (Magnus Greel)
Pre arranged lunchtime opening for our group of 9 and a first visit for a couple of us who were very impressed and a most enjoyable couple of hours spent with great beer and banter under the auspices of Martyn the guv.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | | Dangerously perfect hence another had to be done. |
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale | 11.50 | | Just a few sips of a taster of this syrupy sweet medicine was all one could tolerate! |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew | 3.80 | | The best of OD's mainstream - earthy fruity and refreshing. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - War Horse | 4.00 | | Nutty malty brown ale |
20 Dec 2022 (Jack William)
Evening visit - my first for 3 years due to COVID and more restricted opening times. A warm welcome and the best part of two hours flew past with excellent conversations. Landlord Martyn said he had been at a wake yesterday, “Chris Excell’s?” I asked, but of course it was. Good beers and a sample of some well-aged J.W.Lees Harvest Ale. What a treat.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale | 11.50 | | Just a taster, in a brandy glass, warmed by the hand of the landlord! |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew | 3.80 | | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Thoroughly Modern Mild | 6.00 | Not Tried | I didn’t dare. But I maybe back xmas eve for some. |
17 Nov 2022 (Magnus Greel)
Fabulous evening spent with a few locals and Martyn as spot on host keeping everyone entertained yet ensuring an empty glass didn't stay that way for long. I started off at the low end of the ABV list, working my way back through in reverse. Each pint was faultless in all aspects, a joy to drink and easily justified my 5* rating.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | A complex toffee, red berry, and spicy blackcurrant treat. |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew | 3.80 | | Crisp light hoppy ale with a strong floral aroma, most unlike OD's usual sticky malty syrup offerings. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - War Horse | 4.00 | | A ruby bitter brewed with fuggles and golding hops. |
27 Apr 2022 (Blair)
First visit since before the pandemic. Great time had as ever. Pub no longer open on a Saturday, so Tuesday to Friday.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | | |
| Hopdaemon - Incubus | 4.00 | |
About The Butchers Arms
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 240 |
| 429 |
| 93 |
 | 14 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Herne, Kent, CT6 7HL.
In the middle of Herne village in Herne Street, once the Canterbury Beer Shop selling beer straight from the cask. It is now a pub (with the same owner as before) and still does off-sales which is fantastic! Voted CAMRA Kent Pub of the Year in 2008 and East Kent CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2009 (...and not surprisingly). Regarded universally as the first micropub, which has spawned many similar ventures in East Kent and throughout the UK. Real ales are kept on gravity dispense in a cold room to the right and you will view this when you walk through it to the unisex toilet at the rear. Displays a Micropub Association Certificate of Registration warranting, annually, that it adheres to the tenets and ethics of the Association's definition of a micropub. Since post-Covid re-opening in October 2021 now open 5-8 Tuesday to Friday only. The landlord and founder of the Micropub Association, Martyn Hillier, was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Years Honours list for services to Business and to Hospitality. Cash only accepted, no card payment facility.
We have visited this pub 381 times, seen 164 different beers and tried 135 of them.
Postcode: CT6 7HL