PubsandBeer
Red Lion (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Soft Top |  | 2 |
| Hop Fuzz - The American | | 2 |
| Abigale - Hoyman's Porter | | 2 |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) |  | 1 |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | | 2 |
| Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale | | 1 |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | | 2 |
| Hop Fuzz - Chocolatier | | 2 |
| Abigale - Bramling | | 2 |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | | 2 |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Genesis | | 2 |
| Abigale - Nailbourne | | 2 |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | | 1 |
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | | 1 |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Health | | 2 |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | | 3 |
| Whitstable - Crown Jewel | | 2 |
| Abigale - Samphire |  | 2 |
| Whitstable - Renaissance Ruby Mild | | 1 |
| Westerham - Finchcocks Original | | 1 |
| Irwell Works - Mad Dogs & Englishmen IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - Spirit of Kent XXX Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| 1648 - Laughing Frog | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good King Wenceslas | Not Tried | 0 |
| Westerham - God's Wallop | Not Tried | 0 |
| Arkwright's - Ding Dong Merrily on Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
27 Dec 2012 (ChrisE)
Kate was running the pub on her own for most of the lunchtime session as Doris had gone to hospital for treatment for a dog bite. The bar was quiet at first but soon filled up with locals and visitors from far and wide. Doris returned from hospital towards the end of the session and was in good spirits.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | | |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good King Wenceslas | 4.80 | Not Tried | This ran out and was replaced by Goacher's Crown Imperial Stout. |
| Westerham - God's Wallop | 4.00 | Not Tried | This ran out and was replaced by Goacher's Fine Light. |
| Arkwright's - Ding Dong Merrily on Ale | 5.60 | Not Tried |
19 Aug 2012 (Alenomore)
14:00 visit. Having ridden to Eastbourne for 10:30 and turned left, the whole of the E. Sussex coastline was full up today. Rye and Camber in particular were silly busy, so I headed inland via Rolvenden, Northiam, Tenterden and Appledore and arrived at my favourite pub in Kent. Good local crowd in plus cyclists and three other bikers parked next to my Bullet. Looked like two new ales on for me, alas, I stuck to a soft drink but very fiery Ginger Beer from Rochester, which was very refreshing in todays heat.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Spirit of Kent XXX Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | Another new ale on me. Let it go today. |
| 1648 - Laughing Frog | 5.20 | Not Tried | A new ale. I was sorely tempted, but had to say no on this occasion! |
06 Jul 2012 (Magnus Greel)
Lunchtime and already busy as one would expect of this popular time warp pub! A crowd of us gathered outside to watch the skill of our driver manoeuvre his vintage RT into position in the car park https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B63PcmfVtms
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | | One of my favourite beers, delicious.. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Whitstable - Renaissance Ruby Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Abigale - Samphire | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Irwell Works - Mad Dogs & Englishmen IPA | 5.50 | Not Tried |
06 Jul 2012 (ChrisE)
This pub is well used to dealing with 'bus loads of people turning up, but we did not expect it to already be busy before we turned up just after 12:00 but it was. Doris, Kate, and one of her sisters worked very hard behind the bar and everybody was served quickly and enthusiastically. Quite a lot of us managed to squeeze in a second pint in the time allowed on our tight schedule.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitstable - Renaissance Ruby Mild | 3.80 | | |
| Abigale - Samphire | 4.10 | | The penultimate pint from this cask, and perfectly acceptable. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Irwell Works - Mad Dogs & Englishmen IPA | 5.50 | Not Tried |
06 Jul 2012 (Philip Pirrip)
Doris's is well used to busloads of beer enthusiasts descending on its tranquility. Not long after opening time but a variety of customers already imbibing.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abigale - Samphire | 4.10 | | Last one out of the cask. Not at its best but acceptable |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Crown Imperial Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Whitstable - Renaissance Ruby Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Irwell Works - Mad Dogs & Englishmen IPA | 5.50 | Not Tried |
23 Jun 2012 (Pedro)
Afternoon visit to beer festival and chat with KA and Shepway Blade Ewan who had a picture of us from Tenterden in the KM.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abigale - Hoyman's Porter | 4.70 | | VVV good beer |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | | |
| Abigale - Bramling | 4.10 | | |
| Abigale - Nailbourne | 4.50 | | |
| Hop Fuzz - The American | 4.00 | | But really don't like this beer! |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Soft Top | 3.50 | | |
| Hop Fuzz - Chocolatier | 4.20 | | |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Genesis | 3.50 | | |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Health | 3.60 | | |
| Whitstable - Crown Jewel | 4.30 | | |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | |
23 Jun 2012 (Alenomore)
Here today for the annual beer festival. Doris and daughter Kate were serving at the main bar and the serving hatch in the games room was also in use. A dozen ales were on and several new types and two newish Kent breweries were found. A good crowd of locals and travellers enjoyed the weather in the excellant garden. This pub is my personal No.1, my best pub in Kent. I hope it gets selected for the 2013 Kent poty, it deserves it, a real, unspoilt gem.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale | 6.70 | | Goachers best ale. A1. |
| Hop Fuzz - The American | 4.00 | | A new brewery for me. I thought this was the best ale here today. Very hoppy, as they should be. |
| Abigale - Hoyman's Porter | 4.70 | | An excellant Porter. |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Soft Top | 3.50 | | A top mild. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | | |
| Goacher's - Gold Star | 5.10 | | |
| Abigale - Bramling | 4.10 | | |
| Abigale - Nailbourne | 4.50 | | |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Genesis | 3.50 | | A second new brewery for me today. Very good too. |
| Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Health | 3.60 | | |
| Hop Fuzz - Chocolatier | 4.20 | | Ok but not much chocolate. |
| Whitstable - Crown Jewel | 4.30 | |
13 Jun 2012 (HSB)
Lunchtime visit with a regular group of friends. We took along a selection of quiches for a taste test.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westerham - Finchcocks Original | 3.50 | |
28 Apr 2012 (Magnus Greel)
Many of us piled off a vintage EK Daimler Fleetline however the pub seemed to absorb us all without much impediment.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|
28 Apr 2012 (ChrisE)
This pub seems to be used to double deck buses full of drinkers. We filled the place, but we were expected and Doris and Kate made us most welcome, and coped very well indeed.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goacher's - DSB (house beer) | 3.80 | | A house beer brewed by Goachers. I think that DSB stands for Doris's Special Bitter, or something like that. |
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Goacher's - Fine Light Ale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried |
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