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The Butchers Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Marble - Lagonda IPAExceptional1
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - KiplingExceptional2
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest AleExceptional3
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - JaipurExceptional1
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Lord MarplesExcellent1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopExcellent3
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver TopExcellent4
Abigale - SamphireExcellent1
Adnams - BroadsideExcellent3
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSBExcellent1
Dark Star - Over The MoonExcellent3
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESBExcellent1
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent5
Dark Star - TripelGood1
Dark Star - Critical MassNot Tried0
Adnams - Old AleNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Not Tried0
Picture 1. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent
Picture 2. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Visits Details

25 Feb 2011 (Ken)
Have you seen all the recent international acclaim about this award winning pub? I understand it's no longer just a great pub but apparently it's now a 'destination' pub. Which is good in a way because when you get there you know you were meant to be there. But that's enough philosophy for one day. The company was good, the beer was great and the banter was up to its usual standard. All that was missing was the presence of the world famous number one google search,'a fat local called simon'.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Adnams - Broadside4.70Exceptional
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Excellent
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top4.50ExcellentA dark malty beer full of warming flavours.
25 Feb 2011 (Andrew)
Is there any point in making a comment about the Butchers Arms given the national press coverage recently? Well probably not but I'm going to anyway. Not having much time tonight I banged them back kind of sharpish which is actually the best way. Met Ian as planned and sat drinking a varying assortment of top quality beers. Got the bus home with Glyn-the-Roof and talked about hockey, beer, and why Martyn's boozer's probably the best there is. All in all a top quality night out.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExcellentI once stayed in a hotel in East Anglia that had a stable bar that served Broadside. I got cained. Have very fond memories of Broadside and this half brought it all back. I am now going to watch some Lovejoy on Youtube to get back in that grove, man.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentGood stuff. Very fragrant, lots of grapefruit, very nice.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10ExcellentA brown bitter. Excellent, fruity, malty bitter.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top4.50ExcellentMilky with a slightly tart/sour edge to it and some roasted malt.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling5.20Not Tried
24 Feb 2011 (Mick)
Typical Butchers evening, a dozen or so locals in and all joining in the chatter, splendid atmosphere and it seems a regular customer has a new nickname....
BeerABVScoreNotes
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExcellentPerhaps Adnams finest beer rich with good malt and depth of flavour, nice long finish.
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling5.20Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
23 Feb 2011 (Blair)
Nearly a year since my last visit I think, felt like weeks once I was here. Whatever you do, do not try the pepper sauce named after Satan it is not a pleasant experience.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80ExcellentYup as good as ever.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling5.20ExcellentFantastic fruity and hoppy strong bitter.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10ExcellentFantastic beer, I feel bad for not giving it a 5. Very dark brown bitter, toffee and chocolate I really could have drank this all night.
Dark Star - Tripel8.50GoodStill not really my kind of beer, but good nonetheless.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale11.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
05 Feb 2011 (Ian)
Met up with Mes and Sim from Ratebeer and Alex from the 4.20 Bar in Rome, here. Brilliant afternoon as ever with Martyn in good form advising Alex on the art of preparing and serving cask conditioned ale.
BeerABVScoreNotes
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale11.50ExceptionalSlightly salty, Christmas cake, molasses, Oloroso sherry. Alex suggested having this with celery which would work well I think.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalPerfect as far as I am concerned
Marble - Lagonda IPA5.00ExceptionalReally surprised by this. I've had it a couple of times before and not been that impressed, but the NZ hops on this were outstanding. As was the condition.
Abigale - Samphire4.10ExcellentI like this bitter. The aroma is so inviting and I do like the slightly biscuity malts on the finish.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling5.20Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB4.80Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
22 Jan 2011 (Mick)
The Whitstable boys were in when we arrived but things soon cheered up!!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur5.90ExceptionalWOW! super beer wonderful hops and citrus, excellent finish.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Lord Marples4.00ExcellentWonderful pint, fresh with delicate toffee and a balanced hop finish
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling5.20Not Tried
18 Jan 2011 (Mick)
Rosemary and I were first in tonight, had a chat about my birthday evening here on Saturday. Irish Ken came in just before we left.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentHad a sip of Rosemary's, crisp hoppy and very refreshing, a super pale bitter.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB4.80ExcellentVery nice, dark and rich, malty without being sweet, hops coming through and a long finish.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur5.90Not Tried
Adnams - Old Ale4.10Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling5.20Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
08 Jan 2011 (Mick)
Called in for quick lunchtime pint, 10 people in at one point which means the place was half full!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80ExcellentI love this beer, dark as a stout but drinks like a bitter, good hops and a super finish, superb.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling5.20Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
07 Jan 2011 (Ian)
Brilliant evening. OK so I haven't been for a few months, but it remains a great place for a chat about anything you like, some wonderful beer and a general feeling of intense wellbeing. Martyn as ever was on sparkling form.
BeerABVScoreNotes
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale11.50ExceptionalA half pint from 2004. Wow. Christmas cake, dry oloroso sherry, intense. No oxidisation at all even after 6 years. Possibly the best barley wine in the world found in this little pub.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling5.20ExceptionalThe Nelson Sauving hops were stunning. So drinkable in the mouth. Doesn't drink 5.2% ABV. Just wonderful.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentLoved the aroma on this, the hops just leap out at you.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top4.50AcceptableIt was good, just a bit too much liquorice for me.
07 Jan 2011 (Andrew)
There aren't many pubs that are this good. For me, pubs are about customers, landlords and beer and this pub is what I'd want in for all 3 categories. I turned-up at about 8pm and met Ian who'd been here since 6 and was well into some fantastic beer. I had a good chat with Martyn (the landlord) and I left knowing that if I found myself sitting at traffic lights next to him and his van that there was no point in trying to beat him off the lights! This is the best pub I know by a mile.
BeerABVScoreNotes
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale11.50Exceptional2004 vintage. As Martyn said there are only 16 bottles of this left in the world and he has all of them. Smoother than you could believe; raisins, walnut, molasses.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalOut of this world good.
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80ExcellentGreat beer. Dark, hoppy and with a caramel bite. Top stuff.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10ExcellentGreat dark beer. A session bitter and I necked it in about 10 minutes.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top4.50ExcellentExcellent condition. Black, milky, slightly tart. A mild to me, a porter to Ian. Whatever, an excellent beer.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Critical Mass7.80Not Tried
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling5.20Not TriedHad a sip of Ian's and it was superb.

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About The Butchers Arms

The pub sign. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional240
Excellent428
Good92
Acceptable14
Poor-

Website.

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.

We have visited this pub 380 times, seen 164 different beers and tried 135 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT6 7HL