PubsandBeer
History: Home > The Robert Pocock
The Robert Pocock (Wetherspoon)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Brains - The Rev James Original |  | 1 |
| Rudgate - Evil Elf | | 1 |
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Unity | | 1 |
| Daleside - Santa's Progress | | 1 |
| Beartown (latterly part of Manning Brewers) - Skinful | | 1 |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | | 1 |
| Harviestoun - Bitter & Twisted | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | | 1 |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | | 1 |
| Wychwood (now brewed at Banks's) - Hobgoblin Ruby Beer | | 1 |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | Not Tried | 0 |
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Exmas | Not Tried | 0 |
| Salcombe (formerly Quercus Devon) - Island Street Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hook Norton - Double Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Grainstore - Ten Fifty | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fire Island (sub-brand of Evan Evans) - Buffalo | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rudgate - Valkyrie APA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Atlantic Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Batemans - Blue Coast Ambrée | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Creature Comforts Automatic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Broadside | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Abbot | Not Tried | 0 |
Photographs of pub sign and frontage are © Copyright David Anstiss and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.
Visits Details
18 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
6th visit of the outing: Busy as per usual for my mid evening pitstop in this Spoons in the centre of Gravesend. A table close to the bar to be had thankfully and to park the rucksack to give me a table number to order my curry and taste and then order my accompanying guest real ale. No queue at the bar and prompt, efficient service as is customary.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harviestoun - Bitter & Twisted | 3.80 | | Head, very good, and lacing, good, and lasting to the end on this Scottish golden ale from Alva, north-east of Stirling and where brewing was set up in 1983, using locally sourced malt. A good hoppy first hit. A very refreshing dry hoppiness gently rising aided by its mix of five different hops: Perle, Challenger, H.Hersbrucker, Celeia and Bobek. A good fruitiness from its hoppy mix and oats combined. A tingling lemon hit winning over and sailing outwards. It ably assisted the sinking of the accompanying curry, rice, poppadom and naan bread. |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Batemans - Blue Coast Ambrée | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Creature Comforts Automatic | 5.00 | Not Tried |
13 Sep 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for my mid-evening Saturday visit as is usual but a high stool and table soon found and not too far from the bar to place my order, having tried a sample of my chosen one from a reasonable choice of guest beers on and to aid washing down the curry. Prompt friendly service and so timed it just right.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beartown (latterly part of Manning Brewers) - Skinful | 4.20 | | This traditional brown bitter from Congleton, north of Stoke-on-Trent, presented good head and lacing and lasting throughout. A very bitter first bite. A hoppy bitterness gently rising from its homegrown UK hops, Styrian Goldings. A good measure of maltiness aided by its sweet crystal malts and a hoppy dryness climbing downwards. It was the one and only beer that Beartown produced when it started in 1994 and called “Bearskinfull”. This ale grew from a home-brewer's passion for beer and unaided by any books, apps or YouTube videos on how to brew. |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Atlantic Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried |
07 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for my mid-evening visit at this conveniently located Spoons and the fourth venue of this outing and now for a fuel-stop. A high table and chair close to the bar to be had. Prompt service for my curry and beer and both arrived in next to no time.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Unity | 3.80 | | This pale, based at the foot of the Chiltern Hills and north-west of Hemel Hempstead, did not look quite right to me but tasted ok if you can excuse the amount of grapefruit flavouring it presented with. It arrived with an exceedingly foamy head and lacing and lasted. A fire extinguisher would have been proud of this! I summed it up as hazy and fruity but it did an admirable job in washing down the curry and accompanying rice, poppadums and naan bread, and in putting out any fire in my mouth. A hoppy fruity bitterness, aided by its Citra, Centennial and Amarillo hops, lingered and won over the spiciness of the curry. |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Rudgate - Valkyrie APA | 5.00 | Not Tried |
15 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Usual busy environment for my mid-evening visit but a high table to be had near the bar which suited me. It was that time for a curry to soak up some of the earlier tastings. It arrived within all of 5 minutes after getting served at the bar straight away.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brains - The Rev James Original | 4.50 | | Good head and lacing. A bitter first hit and ever so slightly sweet in the mouthfeel. A predominantly bitter aftertaste made it very moreish. |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Fire Island (sub-brand of Evan Evans) - Buffalo | 4.60 | Not Tried |
08 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall as always and at least the heating is working again since my last visit in January. Just two guests on and slightly overly strong to wash a curry down with methinks.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | | Came with good head and lacing. A hoppy and citrusy first hit. A bitter mouthfeel with a hint of toffee and caramel lingering. Did a good job of washing down the usual curry and to soak up some of those earlier beers of the afternoon. |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Hook Norton - Double Stout | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Grainstore - Ten Fifty | 5.00 | Not Tried | A mahogany coloured beer with hoppy bitterness mixed with a malty sweetness from the Oakham-based Grainstore brewery, north-east of Leicester. Had I read this at the time, I think I would have been tempted. Always next time! |
11 Jan 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Curry time to soak up the beers and to keep the internal heat going in stoking the fire. A shame this Spoons' heating system had failed and when I asked a staff member who brought me my curry as we were being blown cold air from the ceiling on my mid-evening visit. It was, to make matters worse, a bitterly cold and frosty evening. Surprisingly still full of punters in spite of no heating in the place!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | | Good head and lacing on this Ramsgate premium pale ale. A pleasantly bitter mouthfeel with a dryish aftertaste. |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | 4.50 | Not Tried |
04 Jan 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Time for a curry to warm me up with after the trot back into Gravesend from Iron Pier's taproom in Northfleet. Busy as always for my mid-evening visit but marginally less lively than the two earlier trips just before Christmas. A table near the main bar was secured and the usual curry order placed and so as to also soak up those earlier beers. Fast service and delivery of my chosen food.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | 4.50 | | Good head and lacing on this Southwold pale ale. A touch of citrus in the first hit. A dry bitterness in the mouthfeel and some fruitiness lingering. |
| Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
21 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Time for a curry to soak up some of those Christmas-themed beers. Busy for my mid-evening visit but managed to share a table with a couple already there.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daleside - Santa's Progress | 4.20 | | Reasonable head and lacing on this golden ale from Harrogate, north of Leeds. A first hit of bitterness followed by a dry, malty and fruity mouthfeel lingering. |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Exmoor (now brewed by Hogs Back) - Exmas | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Salcombe (formerly Quercus Devon) - Island Street Porter | 5.90 | Not Tried | Nearly went for this Devon bitter porter instead and which reads that it has just a hint of sweetness but an aroma of Black Forest gateau. |
14 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Heaving would be an understatement! That explains why some others visited were not that busy. Only in for the food and a beer to wash it down with before a final stop at The Compass again. We were the advance party back from Northfleet on foot, leaving two at The Earl Grey, and now ready to tuck in and I cannot fault the Spoons' curry for something filling!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rudgate - Evil Elf | 4.00 | | Plenty of head and lacing in this pale ale which was lightly hoppy. It had a dryish, fruity aftertaste which aided washing the curry, rice, poppadoms and naan bread down! |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Wychwood (now brewed at Banks's) - Hobgoblin Ruby Beer | 4.50 | Not Tried |
02 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
7th visit of the day and hunger pangs needed to be sorted and so curry time. Busy as all Spoons are and for mid-evening visit. Not so busy to not get served straight away and table literally close to bar and so did not need to recount the table number to remember.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wychwood (now brewed at Banks's) - Hobgoblin Ruby Beer | 4.50 | | Superb choice, a ruby beer, to accompany a ruby murray, a curry. Not a lot of bees & honey, as in money, was needed for this good beer and curry thanks to Tim Martin. Good head and lacing and on the beer that is! The ale had its own spiciness to accompany the food and maintained a bitter mouthfeel throughout. |
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried |
About The Robert Pocock
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 2 |
 | 20 |
| 39 |
 | 5 |
 | 2 |
The pub is found in Gravesend, Kent, DA12 1AH.
Typical town centre Wetherspoon's, named after the printer and publisher who introduced Gravesend's first printing press, in 1786, and opened the town's first library at the back of his high-street shop. At his premises, in High Street, he published illustrated children's books, including Reading Made Easy and, in 1797, The History of Gravesend and Milton - the first history book of Gravesend. Narrow frontage (actual frontage on two separate streets) leads to a large interior on two levels although only one bar serving counter which has 12 handpumps in 2 banks each of 6.
We have visited this pub 58 times, seen 194 different beers and tried 59 of them.
Postcode: DA12 1AH