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The Butchers Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Dark Star - Six HopExceptional1
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest AleExceptional1
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Exceptional5
Dark Star - Over The MoonExceptional2
Dark Star - Espresso StoutExcellent1
Dark Star - Sussex Extra StoutExcellent2
Dark Star - FestivalExcellent1
Dark Star - OriginalExcellent3
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterExcellent4
Dark Star - Victorian Ruby MildExcellent1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESBNot Tried0
Adnams - BroadsideNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent
Picture 2. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Visits Details

18 Apr 2009 (Blair)
Really quiet in tonight. Only one other person in, may have been due to Martyn being down in Eastbourne. Beer was great as always though.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalI don't care if some people say this is a womans beer. It is amazing.
Dark Star - Espresso Stout4.20ExcellentIncredibly intense. A rich dark stout with a heavy dose of coffee. Really good.
Dark Star - Festival5.00ExcellentRich sweet and malty. Very satisfying beer.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
08 Apr 2009 (Glyn)
The attraction of this deminutive micro pub never ceases to amaze. No exaggeration to say that on the last three visits to the award winning tardis it has been heaving! Regulars will be pleased to learn that my birthday celebrations are now complete, thanks to those who celebrated with me and Spudders who had he known would have brought a caterpillar cake!! The pub continues to attract from far and wide including Roger and his merry men from Dover, Mrs Miggins and her scotch egg scoffing chums from Folkestone and Blair and almost his entire family from Ffannit! Strange but Blair is the only self confessed metro sexual vegan I know. Word of advise for KB(63) dont annoy the northerners.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80ExceptionalProbably one of the great session beers. Sensational!
07 Apr 2009 (Blair)
Once again a lovely day and I really fancied a pint of Hophead. First time I've been here midweek and I was amazed at how busy it was. tried our best to sell the Thanet Beer festival, hope it worked!
BeerABVScoreNotes
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Harvest Ale11.50ExceptionalUnfortunately only had a small glass of this to try, but it was sensational. It tasted like a cross between a strong ale and a sherry. Very sweet, perfect for a christmas dinner.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalIt may well be because I'd been looking forward to this all day, but this was absolutely delightful. Light, hoppy and refreshing. Beautiful.
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80ExcellentA lot darker than I remember last year, and also less hoppier. Seemed more like a traditional mild. Very good though.
Dark Star - Original5.00ExcellentRich and satisfying. Lots of roasted malt and chocolate.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
04 Apr 2009 (Blair)
It was a gorgeous night, perfect weather for a trip to The Butchers. It was packed when we arrived, I wasn't sure we'd all actually get in but we managed. Bumped into Andrew, surprised it took this long to bump into either himself or Ian here. The atmosphere was great although it did get very quiet at around 9. Just 5 people left in the place. What a fantastic night.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentStill the undisputed king of best bitters in my eyes.
Dark Star - Original5.00ExcellentRich dark ale, a little fruity with lots of roasted malt. A top old ale.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Not Tried
04 Apr 2009 (Andrew)
I popped in for 2ltrs or Hophead and found the place really quite busy although Martyn reckoned it was quite. Got chatting to Glyn and Mick about the forthcoming Butcher's trip to Harveys (shame I can't go). Just as I was about to go, Blair walked in so we had a chat about the Thanet Beer Fest which is on next week. In the brief time I was in the pub it packed out even more (this place really is a Tardis) and it was a squeeze to get out. What a top pub.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalI've said it before and I'm going to say it again... When you've had this in the Butcher's Arms there's no point in having it else where because it's not going to be better than here. I think this has to be my favourite session beer of all time.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Original5.00Not Tried
03 Apr 2009 (KB)
Another good night. Lots of regulars in tonight including Glyn the Roof(50) who has just reached his half century with lots of hair. We're not sure if its always been his !! As ever good banter and atmosphere.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExceptionalThis beer is always excellent when served by Martyn. Makes you want to go back for more.
03 Apr 2009 (Mick)
Quiet for a Friday, only locals in a splendid evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Original5.00ExceptionalSuperb, chocolate, fruit, malt and a depth of flavour not found in many other beers.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not 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
Dark Star - Sussex Extra Stout4.50Not Tried
01 Apr 2009 (Ian)
First time in a pub since breaking my arm and what a great way to start up again. Had a great time chatting with Martyn about his upcoming speech at the Camra AGM in Eastbourne which is a wonderful recognition of his efforts
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExceptionalGreat intensity of flavours, lovely yellow grapefruit hops
Dark Star - Six Hop6.50ExceptionalThis stands up well against US IPAs. Big resinous full on hops.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentFreshly tapped. Best looking pint of Harvey's I've ever seen. Yeast aroma, good toffee malt, very hoppy finish for a best bitter. Just a little tight on the tongue would be fantastic by the evening session
Dark Star - Sussex Extra Stout4.50GoodGood bitterness on finish from the roasted malts, bit of dry charcoal too.
31 Mar 2009 (Ken)
Ever noticed how psychologists, educators and the like keep talking about people's 'comfort zones' but never ever mention the Butcher's Arms? Ah well! Their loss. Meanwhile, it seems I just missed Birthday Boy Glyn's big 5 - 0. If I'd known I'd have bought a caterpillar cake.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - Sussex Extra Stout4.50ExcellentA rich almost plum and dark fruit flavoured stout with just the right edge of bitterness. The second pint is even better.
27 Mar 2009 (Blair)
I was sat at home doing nothing so decided The Butchers would be a good cure for my boredom. All the usual characters were in tonight, I was in a quiet mood so just sat back and listened to the banter. Martyn asked me to point out that a couple of gents left one of whom left at least 3 quarters of his pint behind. Don't worry Martyn there was nothing wrong with the Harvey's.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentExcellent aS always, maybe it was a bad move to have the Ruby Mild first.
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40ExcellentThe most quaffable beer I know.
Dark Star - Victorian Ruby Mild6.00ExcellentThis is a fantastic beer, tasted even better than when I had it at the Dover beer festival. Soft and fruity with a lovely velvety chocolate flavour. Dangerously easy to drink.
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Dark Star - Six Hop6.50Not Tried

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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