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Ringlestone Inn (Free House)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopExcellent1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Red TopExcellent1
Shepherd Neame - Goldings AleGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Acceptable1
Shepherd Neame - PorterAcceptable3
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew BitterPoor1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterNot Tried0
Picture 1. Ringlestone Inn, Ringlestone, Kent

Visits Details

04 Dec 2021 (Wittenden)
We came for a family pre Christmas meal. A good company of diners and drinkers on a cold December Saturday night.I'm glad to say that the quality of the beer matched the quality of the food, which doesn't always happen!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Red Top3.80ExcellentReally good drop of Red.Strait forward autumnal bitter.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
26 Oct 2019 (Wittenden)
This pub was reopened as an upmarket restaurant and freehouse by a couple with a background in charcuterie in August 2019.We came for a meal with family and friends.I'd been trying to visit since the 70s, but had always got lost.Busy with diners on a rainy Saturday evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10ExcellentIn great nick.Autumnal.Apricots.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40AcceptableWoody,taken off sale.
24 Aug 2014 (Jack William)
Arrived noon - sunny and warm on the patio - blazing log fire in the bar! A few early punters but not at all busy as we left around 1
BeerABVScoreNotes
Shepherd Neame - Goldings Ale4.10GoodCondition fine, but rather lacking in body and flavour. £4.10 a pint, ouch.
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not Tried
21 May 2011 (Pedro)
Afternoon - spitfire not available today
BeerABVScoreNotes
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Poorclose to taking back but with no alternative why bother !
01 Jan 2007 (Ian)
Andrew and Jane kindly picked me up in their shiny silver car and drove me to this cracker of a pub on top of the North Downs. After an invigorating 2 hour walk across the countryside taking in views across Hollingbourne and the south and up to the Thames estuary and Essex to the north, we repaired to this unspoilt gem. The inglenook fireplace, small rooms, and original wood beams are a joy. So was the home prepared pies and accompanying veg. Stunning. Good service too when Andrew had to return the first pint of Porter as it was a touch vinegary.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Shepherd Neame - Porter4.80GoodI love fresh beer from a fresh barrel. It tastes so good. This was full and had some choc and a touch of dark plum I guess, but mostly a milk chocolate flavour. Nice.
01 Jan 2007 (Andrew)
Came to Ringlestone with Ian and Jane for a new years walk in the country. After the walk we had lunch in the pub where quite a few other people were doing the same thing. The staff were friendly and the atmosphere was good.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Shepherd Neame - Porter4.80GoodTop of the new barrel. Very good porter in the 'plain porter' mold. Could have happily drunk it all day.
Shepherd Neame - Porter4.80UndrinkableTasted of vinegar so I took it back. They promptly changed the barrel and replaced my pints.

About the Ringlestone Inn

The pub sign. Ringlestone Inn, Ringlestone, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent2
Good3
Acceptable1
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Ringlestone, Kent, ME17 1NX.

A multi-roomed pub with real character located on Ringlestone Road off the beaten track on the North Downs. Snug and cosy with lots of exposed old brick and woodwork. Became a Shepherd Neame house in 2005. Was renowned in the mid 1900s for in 1958 Florence (Ma) and Dora Gasking (who were mother and daughter) took over the inn. Building a notorious reputation they were frequently armed with a shotgun, inspecting their clientele and requiring unwanted guests to leave. They are also said to have thrown concrete blocks from the windows and required a speakeasy-style series of secret knocks to gain entry to the pub. Their behaviour is believed to stem from an occasion when the inn was inundated by around 300 bikers. Closed in spring 2018 and sold by Shepherd Neame at auction. Re-opened in August 2019 as an upmarket food house.

We have visited this pub 6 times, seen 7 different beers and tried 6 of them.

Map location

Postcode: ME17 1NX