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The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Navigation - Cherry AlmondExcellent1
Stockport - Stock PorterExcellent1
Kent - French KissExcellent1
Shivering Sands - Golden Sands IPAGood1
Kent - Breakfast Oatmeal StoutGood1
Island Brewery - Earl's R.D.A.Good1
Baker's Dozen - Straight Outta KettonGood1
Titanic - Cherry DarkGood1
Wantsum - UXB?Good1
Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%)Acceptable1
Wantsum - More's Head (previously 3.4% & 3.5%)Acceptable1
Bedlam - AmagansettAcceptable2
Milestone - Sun of a BeachAcceptable1
Broadstairs Town - Wide to GaugeNot Tried0
Tonbridge - Blonde AmbitionNot Tried0
Wantsum - More’s HeadNot Tried0
Shivering Sands - Estuary PorterNot Tried0
Titsey - Gresham Hopper (was 3.7%)Not Tried0
Milestone - Black PearlNot Tried0
Tonbridge - RusticNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House, Margate, Kent

Visits Details

14 Aug 2025 (Jack William)
Swift visit on the way back to the bus. Interesting decor.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Milestone - Sun of a Beach4.50AcceptableFruity flavours but lacking in any life.
Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition4.20Not Tried
Wantsum - More’s Head3.70Not Tried
Shivering Sands - Estuary Porter4.10Not TriedLooked good - my friend enjoyed it.
18 Apr 2025 (Andrew)
Pub no. 10. Last stop before heading to the train station. Busy so we sat outside in the wind.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wantsum - More's Head (previously 3.4% & 3.5%)3.70AcceptableIt was okay. I then mixed it with some Hofmeister and that pepped it up a bit.
Milestone - Black Pearl4.30Not Tried
Tonbridge - Rustic4.00Not Tried
Broadstairs Town - Wide to Gauge5.20Not Tried
09 Jun 2023 (Magnus Greel)
Early afternoon and quiet with an unexpectedly small but decent selection on offer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wantsum - UXB?4.60GoodHit the dark fruits and raspberry description perfectly!
Shivering Sands - Golden Sands IPA5.20GoodClean crisp and dry refreshing golden ale.
Titsey - Gresham Hopper (was 3.7%)3.40Not TriedNot the first instance of this, unbeknown to me, brewery's influence in this town today..
15 Sep 2022 (Dosser)
2 beers on.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Titanic - Cherry Dark4.40GoodVery lively pint initially with a giant head. £4.20 a pint. I prefer the plum version. This was too fruity for me though in good condition.
25 May 2022 (Dosser)
4 beers on
BeerABVScoreNotes
Stockport - Stock Porter4.80ExcellentVery nice pint
22 Sep 2021 (Dosser)
2 visits here today.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Bedlam - Amagansett5.00GoodA good pint
Bedlam - Amagansett5.00PoorReturned for another pint. Unfortunately I got the last one out.
20 Feb 2020 (Dosser)
3 ales on in this lively bar
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Breakfast Oatmeal Stout4.20GoodNot bad but a bit watery
20 Oct 2019 (Dosser)
2 ales on. No longer selling brewdog but other expensive keg beers
BeerABVScoreNotes
Navigation - Cherry Almond4.50ExcellentVery nice
15 Aug 2019 (Dosser)
Only found 2 beers in both the Fez and 2 halves but a more interesting duo here, though more pricey.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - French Kiss4.90ExcellentTop strawberry hit. What will they come up with next?? unusual but tasty beer.
Baker's Dozen - Straight Outta Ketton4.50GoodCitrus hit
13 Jun 2019 (Dosser)
2 ales on. Quite a crowd in
BeerABVScoreNotes
Island Brewery - Earl's R.D.A.5.00GoodNice beer but £4.20 a pint. IOW brewery but im not sure if the name is correct
Wantsum - Fortitude (was 4.2%)4.60AcceptableUninspiring. £3.40 a pint

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About The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House

The pub sign. The Lifeboat Ale & Cider House, Margate, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional5
Excellent29
Good23
Acceptable8
Poor2

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

In Market Street, a small pub, former wine bar, opened in May 2010 specialising in real ale and cider. When it opened this was a contrast to the seafront pubs, there is no pool table, juke box, or gaming machines, and the cash register worked in pounds, shillings, and pence. Initially and for some years cask ales and real ciders were served on gravity dispense from casks stacked on stillage in the middle of the room. In 2016 a corner bar counter, with 6 handpumps and 10 massive imposing black keg fonts, was installed instead which also somewhat opened up the floor space. Boxed ciders / perries remain stacked at the end of the bar. A large wooden table and a large trestle table provide the focus for the seated areas.

We have visited this pub 46 times, seen 102 different beers and tried 56 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT9 1ER