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The Chapel (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Wantsum - More's Head (previously 3.4% & 3.5%) |  | 4 |
| Tatton - Gold | | 1 |
| Hadham - Ciara |  | 1 |
| Milestone - IPA (Imperial Pale Ale) | | 1 |
| Range Ales - Black Ops | | 1 |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | | 1 |
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | | 1 |
| Pennine Brewing (Bedale) - Hog Mans Snout | | 1 |
| Northdown - Prima Donna |  | 1 |
| Chislet - Hoplands | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Settle - Ernie's Milk Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Shivering Sands - Castle Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| White Rose (Sheffield) - Black Rose | Not Tried | 0 |
| Milestone - Black Pearl | Not Tried | 0 |
| Island Brewery - Wight Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Front Row - Lions Roar | Not Tried | 0 |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brentwood - Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Shivering Sands - Estuary Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
25 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
4th visit of the outing: Very quiet footfall but this afforded very attentive and friendly service. This is the cross-breed between a bookshop and micropub and operating as the latter since August 2012. This was in the same year the first micropub by all accounts opened in the area as in the Four Candles just outside of Broadstairs on the St Peter's borders.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wantsum - More's Head (previously 3.4% & 3.5%) | 3.70 | | Given often a low footfall early afternoon for my Saturday visits, I sought a taster of this "hoppy modern bitter" and this revealed a hint of vinegar but not overly. So bravely I went for a pint of this Kentish bitter brewed at St Nicholas-at-Wade, south-west of Birchington-on-Sea. Its head and lacing was very good. Its lacing lasted too to the end of the pint glass. It commenced with a very dry bitter first bite. A good fruited bitterness climbing up and a dry but slightly citrusy fruitiness winning over. Described as a modern bitter by the brewery, there is though no reference to where its hops are from. A malty note or two also presenting on its final paddle out to sea. Had it here before on earlier visits this year and several times at least and the bitter then was better and minus the ever so slightly vinegary hint. Cannot beat its price at £3.30 a pint and it even beats Gadds' taproom prices of £4.00 a pint a couple of weeks back. |
| Shivering Sands - Estuary Porter | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Chislet - Hoplands | 3.80 | Not Tried |
11 Oct 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Second stop of the outing: Ticking over with a party of real ale drinkers in ahead of me and thankfully all served when I got to this cross between a bookshop and micropub. Prompt, friendly service from the usual barman for my early afternoon visit.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tatton - Gold | 4.50 | | This now local golden brew* came with a positively foaming head and lacing lasting all around the side of the glass. A very hop-infused fruity first bite. A mildly fruited dry hoppiness rising. A hint of maltiness in on the mix and a hoppy dryness playing out. A good fruity note or two banging the drums on its descent. *Tatton ceased brewing north-east of Knutsford and south-west of Manchester after some 14 years due to no longer being able to sustain its operating costs. It has joined forces from June 2024 with Kent-based brewery, Wantsum, at St Nicholas-at-Wade, south-west of Birchington-on-Sea. |
| Timothy Taylor - Landlord | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Brentwood - Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried |
16 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
4th visit of the outing: This flint-clad micro opened in a bookshop that still operates. Originally St Mary's Chapel and dated 1601. Our party of two wandered along Albion Street in the direction of Harbour Street from the seafront promenade and so as to take in the changing colour of the sea to blue to reflect the now blue sky above for this one on our list. Not busy but with a few others in and so served without delay for our mid-afternoon visit. My favourite bitter of recent outings here was on and so pleased to try it again.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wantsum - More's Head (previously 3.4% & 3.5%) | 3.70 | | This chestnut-coloured bitter is now a regular here from earlier recent visits and from the St Nicholas-at-Wade microbrewery just outside Birchington-on-Sea. A good price of £3.40 a pint and only its second day on. A sample did not disappoint. A pint was duly served. Head and lacing, very good indeed, and lasting very well. A malt-infused bitter first bite. A pleasant hoppiness rising assisted by its Centennial, Chinook and Citra hops lending it a fruitiness. A maltiness winning over for my taste buds with a moreish bitterness sailing off on this now sunny afternoon. The brewer, Wantsum set up in 2009, has won Silver & Bronze in the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates' Independent South East Beer Award of 2024. |
| Milestone - Black Pearl | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Island Brewery - Wight Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Front Row - Lions Roar | 5.00 | Not Tried | Front Row Brewing is north of Stoke-on-Trent and do not recall trying before. It was set up in 2012 by a former rugby player who formed one of the front-row positions in the scrum and so giving rise to this brewery's name. |
02 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
5th visit of the outing: This flint-clad micro opened in a bookshop that still operates and so you can browse the books over a pint or two. Its name comes from being originally St Mary's Chapel and dated 1601. Our party of four now had only to cross the road from The Magnet and wander along Albion Street in the direction of Harbour Street for this one on our list. Not overly busy but with a few others in and so served without delay for our late afternoon visit.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wantsum - More's Head (previously 3.4% & 3.5%) | 3.70 | | This chestnut-coloured bitter is now evidently a regular from the St Nicholas-at-Wade microbrewery just outside Birchington-on-Sea as was also on three weeks ago. This one I sampled as intended a pint as sold at such a good price of £3.40 a pint. A sample did not disappoint and indeed the barman told me it was fresh on that day. A pint was duly served. Head and lacing, very good indeed, and lasting very well. A malt-infused bitter first bite. A moderately hoppy bitterness rising up aided by its Centennial, Chinook, Citra hops lending fruit and floral infusions. A malty note or two bobbing up and down. A superbly moreish bitterness sailing off into the sunset on this largely calm and sunny day. The brewer, Wantsum, set up in 2009 and has won Silver & Bronze in the SIBA (the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates) Independent South East Beer Award 2024. |
| Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Shivering Sands - Castle Pale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| White Rose (Sheffield) - Black Rose | 4.60 | Not Tried |
12 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
3rd visit of the outing: Said to form part of the oldest building structure in Broadstairs, The Chapel also certainly charges a pretty ancient price for at least one of its real ales and at a mere £3.40 a pint on my visit. Perhaps I was just very lucky! I did not pick the ale for its price, as not shown, but because I like a drop of good bitter. More of that coming up. Not more than just a few others in. Most were on the beach trying out various sun-dances to encourage the sun to break through the clouds. Perhaps those dances were a bit like a ritual dance to summon rain, associated in particular with some North American Indian peoples. Friendly prompt service from the barman and good banter with him and his other customer for my mid-afternoon visit. It doubles as a bookshop with a gallery above where you can sit and sup and browse a book or two all at the same time. This micropub is part of the old St. Mary's Chapel and is said to date back to at least the 1350s.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wantsum - More's Head (previously 3.4% & 3.5%) | 3.70 | | Very good head and lacing and lasted throughout its matinee performance on this bitter from St Nicholas-at-Wade, just south-west of Birchington. I do like a beer that also looks the part as if on stage. A moreishly dry bitter first bite with a hint of citrus. A fruit-infused hoppy bitterness, aided by its Centennial, Chinook and Citra hops, rising. A malty note or two playing along before sailing off into what has become a sunny afternoon after all! I discovered this once climbing back out of this ancient chapel building. Just a mere £3.40 a pint. I had to check this out afterwards and Real Ale Finder dot com confirmed I was charged the correct price. Certainly the cheapest in years and not even the Gadd's Easter beer festival could compete on price at £4.00 a pint this year. This discounts the odd Spoons I have ventured into of course! |
| Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Settle - Ernie's Milk Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried |
04 Aug 2023 (Magnus Greel)
First and only pub in BS today, we arrived full of food after a late lunch in Posilipo's nearby we purloined the empty upstairs gallery room and chilled out as the heavens opened.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milestone - IPA (Imperial Pale Ale) | 4.80 | | |
| Tonbridge - Countryman | 4.00 | |
26 Feb 2023 (Dosser)
3 beers on..and no price list. Got a shock when I saw the bill!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hadham - Ciara | 4.50 | | At £4.80 a pint this dark un wasnt too bad. |
| Northdown - Prima Donna | 5.00 | | At £5.20 this was the most expensive pint I've had in a long while. And it wasn't that great. |
12 Aug 2022 (Dosser)
Couldn't get onto the magnet with the crowds. 4 beers on though one had to be sent back. Vinegar.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennine Brewing (Bedale) - Hog Mans Snout | 4.40 | | Nice pint despite the plastic glass. |
17 Jul 2019 (Dosser)
3 beers on and lots of key kegs
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Brewers Reserve | 5.00 | | Very nice pint |
28 Oct 2018 (Dosser)
Lots of craft ales available
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range Ales - Black Ops | 4.80 | | Huge head on this beer |
About The Chapel
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 2 |
| 15 |
| 20 |
| 8 |
 | 1 |
The pub is found in Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 1LX.
Formerly the Albion bookshop this is now converted to a pub. From the same stable as The Lifeboat in Margate. Real ales from handpump. When first opened this was served from gravity behind a trestle table bar by the stepped entrance but this was subsequently converted to an L-shaped rough plywood bar counter. In 2016 cask ale dispense was converted to handpumps. At the time of opening the venue remained a bookshop too with all books marked for sale. Drinking on several levels including a staircase up to the balcony. Now has 8 handpumps and large array of keg taps on a more formal fixed bar counter.
We have visited this pub 38 times, seen 68 different beers and tried 37 of them.
Postcode: CT10 1LX