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The Butchers Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Dark Star - Over The MoonExceptional4
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Exceptional3
Adnams - BroadsideExceptional1
Dark Star - Summer SolsticeExcellent1
Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%)Excellent1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSBExcellent1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterExcellent1
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent3
Dark Star - SaisonNot Tried0
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESBNot Tried0
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Not Tried0
Dark Star - SunburstNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent
Picture 2. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Visits Details

13 Aug 2010 (Ken)
Friday the 13th. Unlucky for some. But they obviously don't know the Butchers Arms.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB4.80ExcellentWas Gales, now Fullers, but glad to see the same high quality is being maintained. An excellent quaffable pint that disguises its 4.8% remarkably well
03 Aug 2010 (Andrew)
Winner. Jane's mum was baby sitting so Jane and I got out for an hour. Walked in and said hello to Glyn who then dashed off. What a great pub this is. Martin was up at the Great British Beer Festival and the conversation turned to who was no longer going to frequent the Butchers now Martyn was no longer regularly behind the bar and those who were going to start coming more regularly because Martyn was no longer behind the bar. That's the power of a great landlord - there's no one sitting on the fence. Personally, seeing Martyn is one of the attractions for me of the Butcher's. I'm also in agreement with Del Amitri; "If the bomb drops baby I want to be the last to know". Of course they forgot to qualify that by saying that's only the case whilst sitting in the Butcher's. Perhaps they never made it to the Butcher's.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalThis is the other main attraction for me of the Butcher's Arms. Best Hop Head I can get anywhere I've tried is here.
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80ExcellentI'm with Mick on this one. It's a superb beer with a great hop profile and subtle caramel malt.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not TriedHad a sip of Jane's and it was excellent
Dark Star - Sunburst4.80Not Tried
24 Jul 2010 (Mick)
Three locals in when we arrived 5 minutes after opening, lovely evening with the sun shining into the pub.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80ExceptionalPerfect condition, superb taste, so complex for a 3.8% beer
Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%)4.10ExcellentVery nice, smooth and moorish
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
07 Jul 2010 (Ken)
Since the arrival of Martyn's new baby it seems like we're going to see less of him. However, the addition of Gavin (aka Tuscany Sunset) to the management team is a wise choice. Now visitors can expect not only the finest ales but also service with a smile.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Summer Solstice4.20ExcellentJust the ticket for the current warm spell. Light, refreshing, hoppy as you'd expect from Darkstar with the additional benefit of a little extra kick
03 Jun 2010 (Mick)
Back here again, two days running, well the beer is sublime. Nice to see Glynn again. That unique Butchers atmosphere prevails.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40ExceptionalSplendid stuff, dark malty, raisins and dark fruit.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentSuper light hoppy ale.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
02 Jun 2010 (Mick)
Back to my favourite pub and my former local, not disapointed, beers superb as always. Why don't more pubs serve beer on gravity? There is such a difference in taste.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40ExceptionalWonderful, rich malt and a good depth of flavour.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentSuper, with that Harveys yeasty edge
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentJust had a sip of Rosemary's, very nice, hops, fruit and citrus, super.
22 May 2010 (Mick)
Only one Alistair in when we arrived, soon became busy, nice to see Glyn. Love this pub but don't get here so often since we have moved.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80ExceptionalSuperb, what a complex beer this is for it's gravity
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
15 May 2010 (Glyn)
Another visit to the multi award winning micro pub but with a pleasant difference, no Martyn. Pub packed most nights as regulars enjoyed bonhomie and conviviality. Congrats to Dickie and Tuscany who managed without a moan or a crossed word. Only similarity between the temps and Martyn was the excellent beer, usuall high standard.
BeerABVScoreNotes
15 May 2010 (Ken)
Just want to voice my thanks to Dickie and Gavin (two of Martyn's 12 friends) for their stirling work in keeping the Tardis afloat during the enforced absence of its proprietor. The beer was as good as ever and the welcome and level of service were almost unbelievable.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Adnams - Broadside4.70ExceptionalAlways a favourite of mine but the current offering is pure nectar.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Excellent
08 May 2010 (Mick)
Fairly quiet, Martyn is on holiday and Dickie was at the Helm. Spent a convivial half hour talking to Ken.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80ExcellentOne of my favourite beers, dark with complex bitter sweet tastes.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
Dark Star - Saison4.50Not Tried

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About The Butchers Arms

The pub sign. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional241
Excellent432
Good95
Acceptable15
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. Cash only accepted, no card payment facility.

We have visited this pub 385 times, seen 166 different beers and tried 136 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT6 7HL