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The Butchers Arms (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dark ConspiracyExcellent1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopExcellent1
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%)Excellent1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über BrewExcellent5
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Excellent4
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Green Hop (2017 with Challenger)Excellent1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESBExcellent1
Oakham - JHBExcellent2
Oakham - CitraNot Tried0
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Not Tried0
Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - 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
Adnams - BroadsideNot Tried0
Oakham - Bishops FarewellNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent
Picture 2. The Butchers Arms, Herne, Kent

Visits Details

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 (now brewed by Goodh) - 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 (now brewed by Goodh) - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - ÜberHop5.20Not Tried
21 Jul 2017 (Andrew)
A swift visit after the Kent Beer Festival. Martyn was on good form and told me all about the Micropub guide book.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew3.80ExceptionalThis was top stuff!
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not 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
01 Jul 2017 (ChrisE)
Saturday just after the evening opening time, I had a good chat with Martyn before the pub got busy.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - JHB3.80Excellent
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Excellent
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
22 Apr 2017 (Andrew)
Ian and I walked down from the First and Last and managed to get a seat. Martyn was ill unfortunately; it isn't the same without him!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - JHB3.80ExcellentRefreshingly good
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Oakham - Bishops Farewell4.60Not Tried
Oakham - Citra4.20Not 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