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The Mechanical Elephant (Wetherspoon)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Moorhouse's - Black Cat MildExcellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dr Sunshine's Special Friendly English Wheat AleExcellent1
Arundel - StrongholdExcellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark PorterExcellent1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - SeasiderGood1
Mordue - Newcastle Coffee PorterGood1
Burton Bridge - Burton PorterGood2
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Galbraith's Mr.G's Luncheon AleGood1
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Golden HostAcceptable1
Woodforde's - Dragon Hall BitterAcceptable1
Banks's - Toshi's Amber AleAcceptable1
Bath Ales - Hefeweizen HareAcceptable1
Nelson - Golden GalleonAcceptable2
RCH - Pier AleAcceptable1
Browar Namyslow - Namyslow PlumPoor1
Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%)Not Tried0
Butcombe - Brunel Atlantic IPANot Tried0
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please)Not Tried0
Greene King - AbbotNot Tried0
Nelson - Friggin in the RigginNot Tried0
Springhead - Cromwell's HatNot Tried0
Stonehenge - Eye-OpenerNot Tried0
Theakston - Cooper's ButtNot Tried0
Otter - AleNot Tried0
Cairngorm - WildcatNot Tried0
Nelson - SpankerNot Tried0
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)Not Tried0
Marston's - Old Empire IPANot Tried0
Moorhouse's - Black PantherNot Tried0
Shepherd Neame - Spitfire (or Spitfire Amber Ale)Not Tried0
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Wells Banana Bread BeerNot Tried0
Marston's - PedigreeNot Tried0
Highgate - Davenport's Last MinuteNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Mechanical Elephant, Margate, Kent

Visits Details

20 Nov 2009 (Blair)
The usual filling up stop before a night out in Margate. Unusual crowd in tonight, mainly older people, not the usual hoardes of young people. relatively impressive line-up yoday, we stayed here for quite a while .
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mordue - Newcastle Coffee Porter4.70GoodRich black porter with a nice hit of coffee. I'd like to try this again outside of 'spoons.
RCH - Pier Ale5.00AcceptableAmber ale, quite bitter and malty. Fair hop to it. Not bad but not really my cup of tea.
Woodforde's - Dragon Hall Bitter4.40AcceptableSweet and malty bitter, fairly standard as bitters go but perfectly quaffable.
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please)4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Marston's - Pedigree4.50Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Wells Banana Bread Beer4.50Not Tried
Highgate - Davenport's Last Minute4.50Not Tried
06 Nov 2009 (Blair)
I was on an adventure in Margate so ended up coming in here twice. They've now got a big sign saying they've made it into the good beer guide, not sure how that's happened. Pretty quiet for a friday night, a lot of families in oddly enough.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Galbraith's Mr.G's Luncheon Ale3.70GoodPale, hoppy beer. A little lemon and malt, all quite subtle. To be honest this is quite nice.
Banks's - Toshi's Amber Ale4.40AcceptablePale, malty ale. Pleasant, if a little watery.
Bath Ales - Hefeweizen Hare4.70AcceptableHas the usual wheat beer kind of flavour, a little sweet. Alright but not that great.
Browar Namyslow - Namyslow Plum4.00PoorWow, when they say plum they're not joking are they? I found it overpoweringly plummy and sweet. Very artificial. I really struggled with a full pint of this.
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Marston's - Pedigree4.50Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%)3.40Not Tried
Moorhouse's - Black Panther4.80Not TriedAvailible soon.
10 Jul 2009 (Blair)
The usual meeting point before heading onwards to the wonders of Margate. Really busy tonight which was good to see. Got to the bar to see they had all pumps on the go with a variety of interesting beers. However, one by one the barman informed me that they weren't actually on. Wetherspoons really need to sort this out, it's a real pain.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider4.30GoodNice light and fruity ale. A classic summer beer in my eyes.
Greene King - IPA (was 3.6%)3.40Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please)4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Marston's - Pedigree4.50Not Tried
Marston's - Old Empire IPA5.70Not Tried
19 Jun 2009 (Blair)
Fairly quiet for a friday night, actually had a reasonably pleasant atmosphere which was quite refreshing. Only had the one pint before we headed off.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - DogBolter Dark Porter5.60ExcellentIn great condition. Rich and chocolatey with lots of fruit. One of the better porters.
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please)4.00Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Marston's - Pedigree4.50Not Tried
Nelson - Spanker4.20Not Tried
16 May 2009 (Pedro)
Arrived 11:15 long wait queuing at bar, this improved before I left at 3:15
BeerABVScoreNotes
Moorhouse's - Black Cat Mild3.40ExcellentVery very good nick, could have drunck lots of these !
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dr Sunshine's Special Friendly English Wheat Ale4.20ExcellentNew one for me and very very very good !
Burton Bridge - Burton Porter4.50GoodOnly beer available when I arrived, but was very good, so better than good but maybe not excellent.
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Marston's - Pedigree4.50Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%)3.40Not Tried
Cairngorm - Wildcat5.10Not Tried
15 May 2009 (Blair)
I was pleasantly surprised with the crowd in here tonight, not the usual bunch of yobs and hooligans. I do wish the staff would turn the pump clip round when a beer goes, it's really annoying. Had a good few pints then headed clubward.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Burton Bridge - Burton Porter4.50GoodRich dark porter with lots of roasted malt. Quite smoky almost charcoaly, in a good way.
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please)4.00Not Tried
Marston's - Pedigree4.50Not Tried
Otter - Ale4.50Not Tried
03 May 2009 (Blair)
Dragged here against my will, I knew it would be awful being a bank holiday sunday and my fears were proved correct. Full of exactly the types of people I try to avoid round here. Just kept my face forward and didn't make eye contact with anyone, then made a quick exit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Golden Host4.20AcceptableSweet with a little hop and a floral aroma. Meh.
Theakston - Cooper's Butt4.30Not Tried
10 Apr 2009 (Ian)
Great breakfast. It's a pub in Margate, what the hell do you expect? I did like the bar manager though. Very good, multiple order taking.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Nelson - Golden Galleon4.30AcceptablePerfectly ok golden ale.
10 Apr 2009 (Andrew)
Ian and I came here prior to the Thanet Beer festival so Ian could stock up on a Farmhouse Breakfast. The pub seemed to be inhabited by CAMRA types milling around waiting for a plausible time to go join the mile long queue at the Winter Gardens. As pub interiors go it was a bit like a site-portacabin on a minor building site but the staff were efficient and the beer range was quite good I thought.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Nelson - Golden Galleon4.30AcceptableGolden beer surprisingly enough. Dusty mandarine orange flavours. Watery sweet and earthy hop finish.
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please)4.00Not TriedDo they really still brew this?
Greene King - Abbot5.00Not Tried
Marston's - Pedigree4.50Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%)3.40Not Tried
Nelson - Friggin in the Riggin4.70Not Tried
Springhead - Cromwell's Hat6.00Not Tried
Stonehenge - Eye-Opener4.50Not Tried
13 Mar 2009 (Blair)
I once again found myself in the ghetto, so my only choice was to come here for a quick one. The usual crowd of yobs and chavs, we just sat in the corner and kept our heads down.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Arundel - Stronghold4.70ExcellentI have to hand it to them, this was fantastic. Rich and chocolatey with plenty of malt to back it up. Really good.
Shepherd Neame - Spitfire (or Spitfire Amber Ale)4.20Not Tried
Marston's - Pedigree4.50Not Tried
Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%)3.40Not Tried
Butcombe - Brunel Atlantic IPA5.00Not Tried

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About The Mechanical Elephant

The pub sign. The Mechanical Elephant, Margate, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional1
Excellent40
Good46
Acceptable21
Poor8

Website.

The pub is found in Margate, Kent, CT9 1XJ.

Typical Wetherspoon's, on the sea front, although at one time was a Lloyds No.1 Bar at the weekend thus got pretty busy and had music playing loudly at the weekend. Since early 2013 the formerly dance floor partitioned off area for weekend music has been converted to carpeted bar seating to make this Wetherspoon traditional through and through. 10 handpumps in 2 banks of 5.

We have visited this pub 93 times, seen 151 different beers and tried 86 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT9 1XJ