PubsandBeer
Red Lion (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Lamp - Prince Bishop Ale |  | 1 |
| AllGates - Back O' Bourke | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | | 2 |
| Bank Top - De Montfort 1265 | | 1 |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | | 2 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale |  | 2 |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | | 1 |
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | | 3 |
| Whitstable - Single Hop Chinook | | 1 |
| Westerham - God's Wallop | | 1 |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout |  | 2 |
| Northumberland - Wacky Dracy | Not Tried | 0 |
| Colchester - Metropolis | Not Tried | 0 |
| Romney Marsh - Cinque Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale (now use separate 3.4% entry) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | Not Tried | 0 |
| Whitstable - Native Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | Not Tried | 0 |
| Colchester - Red Diesel | Not Tried | 0 |
| Whitstable - Oyster Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bank Top - Sweeney's | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
24 May 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Lunchtime in the garden after Doris's funeral service and interring in St Dunstan's Church opposite the pub. A very well attended wake and a chance to exchange many tales. The weather could hardly have been finer.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | |
29 Feb 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Early afternoon visit as 2nd stop on a leap year birthday bash bus trip for ChrisE. Usually closed on a Monday but a roaring fire for us which I unfortunately ended up sitting in front of. Like old times but not really old times when there was never more than a couple of locals and some railwaymen from London ever in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | Surprisingly cool on gravity in an open fire-lit room |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | | |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Whitstable - Single Hop Chinook | 4.40 | Not Tried |
29 Feb 2016 (HSB)
13:10 Second stop of the day. I tucked myself away in my favourite seat, the bench under the window.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Whitstable - Single Hop Chinook | 4.40 | | Not as hoppy as some single hop Chinooks can be. |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | | Nearly at the end, not a lot of condition but tasty. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | Not Tried |
29 Feb 2016 (Ian)
Second stop on Chris Excell birthday bus bash. Open specifically for us. Goachers beers on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Whitstable - Single Hop Chinook | 4.40 | Not Tried | Clear gold lasting white head. Light hoppy. Some decent hops. Bit of bitterness good condition. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale (now use separate 3.4% entry) | 3.60 | Not Tried |
10 Dec 2015 (ChrisE)
I arrived by the daily bus at 13:39. I ordered a pint of mild, one sip and I knew straight away that my pint of mild was in fact 1066 Old Ale which turned out to be a bargain for the price of a mild. The ladies in the pub were busy talking about the problems that dogs can have with their rear ends whilst the men were discussing various things ranging from Maltese buses to Hawker Siddley aircraft and OO guage locomotives.
A thoroughly enjoyable session which I had to leave in order to walk to Brenzett and catch the fast bus to the Blacksmiths Arms at Willesborough.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | Kate gave me a taster for comparative purposes. |
| Westerham - God's Wallop | 4.00 | |
01 Nov 2015 (Alenomore)
A fresh and foggy morning on the Marsh but sunny later. We cycled from Ham Street bootfair, arriving well before opening time. A post Halloween crowd of Sunday regulars soon arrived after 12, and other passing trade too, no doubt attracted, by the selection of carved pumpkins on the front bench. Kate mentioned a packed Halloween party had all three rooms plus outside, in use on the night. In the guess the weight competition,the heaviest carved pumpkin, came in at a hefty 53kg, the declaration being announced by Doris, holding court, as usual, in the corner. Extra seasonal ales on plus two quality Ciders.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Whitstable - Oyster Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Bank Top - Sweeney's | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Northumberland - Wacky Dracy | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Colchester - Metropolis | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Romney Marsh - Cinque Porter | 4.20 | Not Tried |
25 Oct 2015 (Alenomore)
Lunchtime visit and perfect hiking weather. Just a shame our Rail replacement bus, drives right past the pub, but cannot make an 'unscheduled' stop today! The usual, good mannered folks in. Building up nicely to the upcoming,Halloween evening, with a very large specimen, awaiting the big night on the the outside bench! A mini Halloween beer fest will compliment the activities nicely no doubt.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Whitstable - Native Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Coppernob | 3.80 | Not Tried | From the barrel. |
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Colchester - Red Diesel | 4.20 | Not Tried | Seemed very popular, this visitor from Essex. Drawn direct from the barrel. |
23 Aug 2015 (Jack William)
Sunday lunchtime - opened bang on noon and about a dozen people turned up in 5 minutes. Has been on my wish list for some time and it didn't disappoint. Doris holding court in the corner of the main bar. Excellent.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AllGates - Back O' Bourke | 4.20 | | Very flavourful - excellent condition. |
| Bank Top - De Montfort 1265 | 3.80 | | Light, fresh with plenty of hoppy flavour. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried |
02 Aug 2015 (Alenomore)
A long awaited return and an early Sunday evening visit. I was last here in November 2014. The sun was setting nicely and the small, friendly crowd made for some interesting conversation.
Doris, the 90 years young landlady, her Daughter Kate and barman Bob, were all ok and in fine form.
The best pub in Kent, bar none, and recently awarded that merit officially, by the local branch of CAMRA, there pub of the year 2015, with another framed plaque to adorn the already, full to capacity wall. Well done. We like it here and finally departed at 2215.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Whitstable - Native Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried |
25 Jul 2015 (ChrisE)
The full lunchtime session and very busy from opening. Roger Protz was in attendance to present Doris with awards for thirty consecutive years in the Good Beer Guide and for the local Camra Branch Pub of the Year 2015.
A local cheese wholesaler kindly donated some superb cheeses which nicely complemented the other nibbles provided.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | A superb traditional dark mild in excellent condition. |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | | Wow |
| Big Lamp - Prince Bishop Ale | 4.80 | | |
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | | Selling very well today. |
| Goacher's - Silver Star | 4.20 | |
About the Red Lion
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 27 |
| 138 |
| 99 |
| 48 |
 | 5 |
The pub is found in Snargate, Kent, TN29 9UQ.
****RE-OPENED TUESDAY 1ST JUNE 2021 AND FROM 20TH JULY HOURS ARE 12-3, 6-9 TUESDAY TO SUNDAY ONLY (CLOSED MONDAY) (seating now inside and outside permitted) ***** One of the best pubs in England. It's in CAMRA's national pub inventory because it hasn't really changed much in the last 100 years. In fact in 2011 the Jemison family celebrated 100 years of running the pub. All beers are on gravity and Goacher's is a regular. It's locally known as Doris's after the last landlady. Before that it was Alf's. A 20 minute (no more no less) brisk walk from / to Appledore railway station. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2015. The handpumps atop the pewter bar counter were used once upon a time but not now. Extensive garden for fair-weather use. Regrettably Doris died in April 2016. The pub closed for some weeks as a result of the bereavement. Re-opened, hopefully forever, on Saturday 11th June 2016. Presume it will soon become known as Kate's! Card payments now accepted here.
We have visited this pub 138 times, seen 207 different beers and tried 128 of them.
Postcode: TN29 9UQ