Funny, isn't it, when someone goes to a pub and then suddenly it's "Oh, I haven't been there for a bit, let's go," which is why after Andrew came at the end of last week, I pitched up here about 2 hours after Blair. After being dropped off by the bus back from Herne to Canterbury, the New Inn wasn’t open yet, so I walked up to this pub. Linda was serving and I sat at the rather lovely wooden bar. Linda says that she is now a free house and so can order whatever beer she likes. Good mix of locals in.

Very quiet when we got here at around 4 in the afternoon. It was bitterly cold outside though. This pub is great on a cold day, the fire is a great touch. Really comfortable place to kick back and relax with a good pint.

It was a cold bright day and the streets were fairly clear of people. This of course has nothing to do with the pub but it's called setting the scene. The pub was busy with a large group of gents standing by the bar. Fortunately they’d already been served so I got served quite quickly. I was tempted to have the Dark Star hophead but there was a Nelson beer on and I felt like that.

After the rubbish day I'd had a beer was in order and the Phoenix is a first class place to have it.

Sitting in the Phoenix is weird for me because I used to be here all the time 5 years ago and it's changed inside. Gone are all the pump clips on the beams; gone is the big extracter fan on the ceiling; gone are the benches by the door that Alan used to sit at and drink Abbot with a Whiskey chaser; gone are the tables at the back and gone is Keith. Still a lovely pub though. The combination of black beams and soft white walls gives it a very relaxed feel. In fact, it's a great pub.

Missioned it here then relaxed in the sofas for a while. I really like this place.

Now serving 7 beers. Here with Andrew on pub number 2. Excellent pub, Linda is a great landlady. Good range of beers.

Fairly quiet with a couple of locals at the bar and the Olympics on the TV in the corner. Ian and I sat at the back on the comfy chairs and enjoyed our pints.

With Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" playing in my head Adrian and I headed off to the Phoenix. What a top pub. 7 beers on and one of them a Kent micro. We sat outside for the last time (as Adrian's got a new job in London working for the Tory party) and dodged the wasps.

After a really rather tiresome week at work it was time for a pint. Where’s close, serves a good pint and has outside seating? The Phoenix, that's where; so that’s where Adrian and I went. It was actually busier outside than usual but that was clearly due to the smoking ban. The pub was as friendly and relaxed as usual with a good beer line-up. I'd have probably had the Harveys SBB had it not been for the Palmers beer. I've a soft spot for Palmers.