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Tartar Frigate (Thorley Taverns)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 |  | 9 |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship |  | 1 |
| Sharp's - Solar Wave | | 1 |
| Adnams - Broadside | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Twin Coast | Not Tried | 0 |
| Adnams - Lighthouse | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
02 Aug 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
2nd visit of the outing: Early afternoon meet-up with two locals from Ramsgate in this fine old flint-clad pub and one of my favourite Thorley Taverns' houses visited. Prompt friendly service and sat on a stool at the bar in the pool-table room, positioned on your right as you enter by the main front entrance. Ticking over with mainly diners tucking in, in the main bar area.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Head and lacing, very good, lasting, good, on this Ramsgate-brewed ruby bitter and a permanent feature in this pub closest to Broadstairs' harbour quay. A lightly biscuity first bite. A bitter toffee-infused maltiness chugging along to the fore aided by the odd red berry or two. A caramel-infused malty note or two drifting off with a pleasant hoppiness lingering. |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Lighthouse | 3.40 | Not Tried |
12 Jul 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
First visit: Busy for my early afternoon half and met with the usual friendly prompt service in this popular Thorley Tavern's flint-clad pub from the 18th century. It is named after HMS Tartar, a frigate launched in 1801 from the west bank of the River Medway. It is believed there has been a pub on this site since Elizabeth I's reign. A stool at the bar served just the job after a paddle in the sea and walk round the harbour.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 |  | It came with great foaming head and lacing and lasted the voyage in being as steady as a rock did this local bitter from Ramsgate. A hoppy bitterness in its first bite. A pleasantly caramel-infused maltiness rising up and a bitter hop or two bobbing up and down. A malty hoppiness sailing off with the odd red berry or two on board on gentle waves of toffee-infusions and liquorice lapping up. At its peak and marked a very good start to this real ale-orientated outing to Broadstairs. |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Lighthouse | 3.40 | Not Tried |
14 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for early afternoon half following my direct train from London, breakfast in the high street and a stroll around the harbour quay. A lot of sand had been blown up onto the paths by the previous evening's storm. Signs were out on the beach advising not to enter the sea. But all was well in the Tartar Frigate and a fine half of local bitter was presented promptly by a helpful bar staff member. Met up with a fellow real ale enthusiast who had walked along the beach from Ramsgate.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Good head and lacing and lasing on this Ramsgate-brewed bitter. A pleasantly hoppy and malty-infused first hit. A bitter hoppiness rising up on the taste buds and lingering. |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Lighthouse | 3.40 | Not Tried |
19 Apr 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for my early afternoon half here following my breakfast in the high street and walk around the harbour quay. Warm welcome and friendly service from this Thorley Taverns' pub and nothing has changed inside with the walls adorned with old photographs of Broadstairs.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Very good head and lacing on this best bitter from the local Ramsgate Brewery and where off to next for its Easter beer festival. A sweetish first hit from its toffee malts and red berries. A bitter mouthfeel presents itself alongside a hoppy finish. |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Lighthouse | 3.40 | Not Tried |
31 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for early afternoon as decidedly stormy on the outside with giant waves crashing over harbour quay. Warm welcome and managed to get a bar stool.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Frothy head, like the waves outside, and sweet, bitter tasting and very refreshing as always. |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Lighthouse | 3.40 | Not Tried |
17 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Mid-afternoon visit and busy but a table to be had for our party of 3. Thankfully sunny weather and so most visitors were on the beach opposite.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | Gadds at its best and a regular ale here. Fresh bitter aftertaste and lovely frothy head for this best bitter with malt and red berry flavouring. |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Twin Coast | 3.90 | Not Tried |
20 Jul 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Two real ales on. Busy early afternoon but comfortable for busiest day of the year so far for Viking Bay beach according to some locals I spoke to.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | In tip-top condition with great taste and head was this regular best bitter in there. |
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | 4.50 | Not Tried |
26 Jul 2023 (Dosser)
Lynne wanted to come here for her birthday so why not. 4 beers on at £4.80 a pint. Had a folk come sea shanty band on and no seating due to the crowd. Very enjoyable.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adnams - Ghost Ship | 4.50 | | Ok but lost its sparkle quickly. |
| Sharp's - Solar Wave | 4.60 | | Tasted great, smelt great...15 mins later lost it all. Still, guess if I drank it quickly....lol |
31 Jan 2020 (Dosser)
2 beers on. Strange atmosphere tonight
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | £3.90 a pint and not that great. |
03 Sep 2019 (ChrisE)
Evening visit and fairly busy. I was interested to note that Chicory Tip will be playing here on 6 September.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | | |
| Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried |
About the Tartar Frigate
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 11 |
| 23 |
| 10 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 1EU.
Found by the harbour and built of flint. In days of yore it was a Cobb's of Margate brewery house. Famed as a drinking haunt for former Prime Minister Edward Heath. 4 handpumps.
We have visited this pub 43 times, seen 23 different beers and tried 13 of them.
Postcode: CT10 1EU