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The Unicorn (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Verdant - Lamanva Best BitterExcellent1
Purity - JimboExcellent1
Iron Pier - Old AleExcellent2
Hopdaemon - Green DaemonExcellent1
Kent - Hygge Excellent1
Titanic - Plum PorterExcellent1
Kent - OlicanaExcellent1
Pig & Porter - Got The Face OnGood1
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Merchant's AleGood1
Oakham - Nelson SauvinGood1
The Crewe Dog - Crewe’s ControlAcceptable1
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - GenesisNot Tried0
Adnams - BroadsideNot Tried0
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew BitterNot Tried0
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Pacific PaleNot Tried0
Oakham - CitraNot Tried0
Ossett - VoodooNot Tried0
St Austell - AnthemNot Tried0
Iron Pier - Milk StoutNot Tried0
Liberation (formerly called Jersey) - Herm GoldNot Tried0
Flack Manor - Romsey GoldNot Tried0
Little Critters - Malty PythonNot Tried0
Kent - CobnutNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - Blackbird Dry StoutNot Tried0
JW Lees (see also Lees) - BitterNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Unicorn, Canterbury, Kent
Picture 2. The Unicorn, Canterbury, Kent

Visits Details

25 Sep 2024 (Magnus Greel)
Mid evening and the usual quiet relaxed and chilled atmosphere despite being busy with most tables taken, we were lucky to find a vacant corner to plonk ourselves after a rather good tapas meal in town earlier.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Titanic - Plum Porter4.90ExcellentOne of the last before the clip was removed yet nigh on faultless.
Verdant - Lamanva Best Bitter4.00ExcellentBready malty toffee and drying biscuity finish.
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Bitter4.00Not Tried
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Genesis3.50Not Tried
23 Jan 2024 (Magnus Greel)
Mid evening quick refreshment stop to wash down my recently scoffed double quarterpounder with cheese. Fairly quiet and relaxed atmosphere as expected.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Merchant's Ale4.00GoodA smooth, mild black stout with gentle roast malts and soft fruity hop notes and a clean fruity finish.
Kent - Cobnut4.10Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Blackbird Dry Stout4.00Not Tried
05 Dec 2023 (Jack William)
Mid-evening. Mulled wine for the lady and a winter warmer for me. Very seasonal. Fire on; plenty of comings and goings in the short time we were here; pleasantly busy .
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Hygge 5.00ExcellentPronounced “hooga”. A Norse winter stout according to the pump clip. It really was silky smooth and quite delicious.
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not Tried
Little Critters - Malty Python4.30Not Tried
09 Sep 2023 (Andrew)
Ah, the Unicorn. Hasn't changed for years. We sat in the back. Old school (spelt correctly as "old school" should be). 1980' music on the stereo. Cracking stuff.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Iron Pier - Old Ale4.30ExcellentVery soft carbination. Hint of red fruit. Reedy.
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not Tried
Flack Manor - Romsey Gold4.00Not Tried
St Austell - Anthem3.80Not Tried
09 Sep 2023 (Ian)
Hasn't changed at all
BeerABVScoreNotes
Iron Pier - Old Ale4.30ExcellentTurkish delight Late Red style. Fruit good plums damsons. Good nick.
01 Jul 2023 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon- swift one, quiet.
BeerABVScoreNotes
The Crewe Dog - Crewe’s Control5.00AcceptableA ‘Tropical Pale Ale’. Opaque. On hand pump so I’m assuming it was a living ale, but how do they know when the barrel is going?
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not Tried
Iron Pier - Milk Stout4.40Not Tried
Liberation (formerly called Jersey) - Herm Gold4.20Not Tried
17 Feb 2023 (Jack William)
Early evening waiting for a takeaway. Spent a pleasant 40 minutes or so watching the comings and goings here and listening to the pleasant hubbub of a good old fashioned public house. Noted that the pub clock is 5 minutes SLOW (that never use to be the case). Intriguing old pump clips behind the bar including Master Brew Mild, Worthington Draught Bitter and Whitbread White Label (1%). Sometimes I’m very grateful that pubs aren't what they used to be. Canterbury Ales, Oatmeal Porter (4.9%) also on - limited edition.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kent - Olicana4.50ExcellentSuperb.
Oakham - Nelson Sauvin4.20Good3.8% version.
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not Tried
08 Nov 2022 (Magnus Greel)
Early evening friendly and welcoming busier than expected so opted to sit at the bar and enjoyed my pint.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Pig & Porter - Got The Face On4.50GoodOaky peaty and earthy yet sweet and fruity complex ale.
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not Tried
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Merchant's Ale4.00Not Tried
St Austell - Anthem3.80Not Tried
18 Oct 2022 (Magnus Greel)
Time for a late evening pint after a very pleasant meal before our train home, quiet just a couple of other groups in. We sat at the bar and enjoyed our drinks in the calm relaxed atmosphere here.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hopdaemon - Green Daemon5.00ExcellentGolden 'helles' beer with luscious tropical fruit aromas and a crisp clean finish.
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not Tried
Oakham - Citra4.20Not Tried
Ossett - Voodoo5.00Not Tried
28 Jun 2022 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon. Usually quite a “blokey” pub (according to my wife) - but 3 women and one chap in today. I was given some freshly picked spinach by one woman and chatted to another, Tracy, who had been a regional CAMRA official for 27 years.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Purity - Jimbo4.00ExcellentUnusually traditional for Purity - but very well done.
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Shepherd Neame - Master Brew Bitter3.70Not Tried
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Pacific Pale4.30Not TriedMarked up as 4.0%

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About The Unicorn

The pub sign. The Unicorn, Canterbury, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent56
Good42
Acceptable19
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Canterbury, Kent, CT2 8BS.

Tudor style, low ceilinged pub with U-shaped bar counter which is close to Canterbury West railway station. A corridor leads to the toilets and then a well appointed garden. Good selection of beers and a cider served in good condition. 5 handpumps. CAMRA Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable Branch Pub of the Year 2014.

We have visited this pub 93 times, seen 119 different beers and tried 79 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT2 8BS