PubsandBeer
Red Lion (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) |  | 3 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | | 3 |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale |  | 2 |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout |  | 2 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Merchant's Ale | | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's Ale (superseded by 3.8% version) | | 1 |
| Wantsum - Ravening Wolf | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - XGA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Galvanise | Not Tried | 0 |
| Pig & Porter - Scarecrow | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Blue Suede Booze | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Blues | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Brew 3700 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rother Valley - Ignite | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Black Prince | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Hurricane | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
28 May 2026 (Magnus Greel)
Busy early evening even before we turned up, attracting much interest from customers and many passers by stopping off to take photos of the bus parked up on the gravel outside the pub!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Merchant's Ale | 4.00 | | A smooth, mild black stout with gentle roast malts and soft fruity hop notes and a clean fruity finish. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's Ale (superseded by 3.8% version) | 4.10 | | A light pale ale with honey notes giving way to spicy, orange & citrus hops |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - XGA | 5.20 | Not Tried |
15 Mar 2026 (Wittenden)
I’d walked cross country from Appledore with our dog, thinking if we met a Spaceman we’d bring him here as an example of an English pub.Of course it isn’t, more’s the pity. Humming with contentment on a windy Sunday lunchtime.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | | A classic bitter, Christmas oranges. Selling well, not surprisingly. |
| Pig & Porter - Galvanise | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Scarecrow | 4.00 | Not Tried |
10 Jan 2026 (Andrew)
Pub number two on the minibus tour. As we pulled up we found the carpark completely full! Turns out Nigel Farage was inside, along with his security. Still, that didn't stop us enjoying the place. Excellent pub this.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | | Unbelievably good. As Ian said, probably the best beer we'll have all year. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Best | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried |
04 Jan 2025 (Andrew)
Third stop on the minibus tour. Busy - which is good to see. Warm, friendly, and just brilliant. I stood by the fire and watched eccentric locals at play.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | | |
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | | |
| Wantsum - Hurricane | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Funky Claude Porter | 5.00 | Not Tried |
29 Feb 2024 (Andrew)
The ChrisE bus tour on what would have been his birthday. I'd not been here for 15+ years, and then I come twice in 30 days! Met for the first time, Dosser and Angie, and Pedro. Great pub.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | A nice pint. |
| Rother Valley - Blues | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Black Prince | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | Not Tried | Ian had this and it was in cracking form. I wish I'd have had it. |
29 Feb 2024 (Dosser)
Chris Excels 19th birthday memorial bus trip with 39 chums on a single decker London bus. First stop is at Doris' 5 beers available.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | Crisp, light ale. |
06 Jan 2024 (Andrew)
First stop of the Ashford, Folkestone and Romney Marsh CAMRA mini bus tour. And a cracking tour it turned out to be. Doris' was quite busy given it's remote location. Lovely pub.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | | Lovely and creamy. Goachers at its best |
| Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%) | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Black Prince | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | Not Tried |
01 Dec 2022 (Magnus Greel)
We arrived 4 minutes past 18.00 opening and already a half dozen or so enjoying their beers. Friendly welcome as always but bringing the sad news of ChrisE's funeral arrangements added a rather sombre note to the evening.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | In superb condition 4.5 stars if this was an option. |
| Wantsum - Ravening Wolf | 5.90 | | Light and subtle prune and figs earthy broth, delicious and dangerous given its unassuming ABV. |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried |
14 Aug 2022 (Wittenden)
Early evening on a humid Sunday.My first visit for too long.A pleasant hum of conversation from an inner room.I sat in the old shop area.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | Refreshing on a hot day.Roasty with a pleasant astringency. |
| Rother Valley - Blue Suede Booze | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Pardoner's Ale | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Rother Valley - Brew 3700 | 3.70 | Not Tried |
12 Jan 2022 (ChrisE)
Evening visit with good banter all round.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | | |
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | | |
| Rother Valley - Ignite | 4.60 | Not Tried |
About the Red Lion
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 28 |
| 141 |
| 101 |
 | 48 |
 | 5 |
The pub is found in Snargate, Kent, TN29 9UQ.
One of the best pubs in England. It's in CAMRA's national pub inventory because it hasn't really changed much in the last 100 years. In fact in 2011 the Jemison family celebrated 100 years of running the pub. All beers are on gravity and Goacher's is a regular. It's locally known as Doris's after the last landlady. Before that it was Alf's. A 20 minute (no more no less) brisk walk from / to Appledore railway station. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2015. The handpumps atop the pewter bar counter were used once upon a time but not now. Extensive garden for fair-weather use. Regrettably Doris died in April 2016. The pub closed for some weeks as a result of the bereavement. Re-opened, hopefully forever, on Saturday 11th June 2016. Presume it will soon become known as Kate's! Card payments now accepted here.
We have visited this pub 142 times, seen 215 different beers and tried 129 of them.
Postcode: TN29 9UQ