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The Butchers Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Green Hop (2017 with Challenger)Excellent1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESBExcellent2
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dark ConspiracyExcellent1
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)Excellent2
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Excellent5
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopExcellent1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über BrewExcellent4
Dark Star - SunburstNot Tried0
Oakham - CitraNot Tried0
Adnams - BroadsideNot Tried0
Skinner's - Betty Stogs BitterNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - ÜberHopNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Red TopNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Snow TopNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent
Picture 2. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Visits Details

18 Jul 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit from minutes after opening. All seemed at peace here with massive gas main replacement works closing the side road and added roadworks traffic lights, plus a mandatory burst water main then some early doors customers wielding mobile phones. Usual argumentative banter seemed so very tame after all of that action.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40ExcellentBest beer of the evening, either first or second out of new cask
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50GoodNot the ESB of old
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)3.40GoodAlways dependable. My compadre stuck on this one all through our stay
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not TriedRan out
Dark Star - Sunburst4.80Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
14 Jul 2018 (Andrew)
Charlie and I were on the bus home and he was very keen to visit the Butchers. We only had 30 mins before the next bus so we stood and talked to Martyn.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentCharlie thought this the best beer he'd had all night.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Sunburst4.80Not Tried
Oakham - Citra4.20Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
10 Apr 2018 (ChrisE)
Evening visit, Kevin the Pickle was covering for Martyn who is currently on holiday. A most enjoyable visit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Excellent
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew3.80Not Tried
10 Apr 2018 (Magnus Greel)
Just after evening opening we were the first to arrive soon joined by many others. Kevin was at the helm as Martyn was off enjoying a well earned holiday.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Excellent
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew3.80ExcellentSo this brewery can make decent beer after all!
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Snow Top6.00Not Tried
10 Mar 2018 (Andrew)
Busy. Martyn was on good form if a little 'tired' from the days activities :)
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Excellent
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
13 Jan 2018 (Wittenden)
My first visit here.I'd been seeing someone about a dog in the badlands of The Blean,so decided to look in.Noon on a bleak January Saturday:standing room only.Reminisced with the Guv about the glory days of the Smarden Bell.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)3.40ExcellentTop notch pale ale.Succulent malt and raspberries.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Red Top3.80Not Tried
12 Dec 2017 (Jack William)
Just after noon - first in and a nice welcome and interesting chat with Martyn.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew3.80ExceptionalSo much flavour and body for a session strength brew. Superb.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dark Conspiracy4.90ExcellentDelicious full-bodied winter warmer.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
12 Oct 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Early evening visit. We were of just 4 in until a party of a dozen arrived in one hit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50ExcellentRather the old taste of ESB - tending toward barley wine type bitterness
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Good
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew3.80GoodTasty but poured rather flat
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not TriedAlways popular here
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
03 Oct 2017 (Magnus Greel)
A minute or two before opening we were the first to arrive for RWC's 71st, soon to be joined by our host and a dozen or so invitees, including a few locals made for a very cosy and enjoyable lunchtime session.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew3.80ExcellentFull bodied and full of flavour for a session beer with a strong floral aroma.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Green Hop (2017 with Challenger)4.00ExcellentWhat's going on, another OD brew bursting with flavour? Superb!
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
17 Aug 2017 (Magnus Greel)
Lunchtime and first stop on our way to Herne Bay. We decided to stay longer than planned as it would have been rude not to. Two other gentlemen plus another two joined us in the convivial atmosphere as always.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40ExcellentRich, full bodied and flavoursome hence stayed on this.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - ÜberHop5.20Not Tried

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About The Butchers Arms

The pub sign. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional239
Excellent424
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 378 times, seen 164 different beers and tried 135 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT6 7HL