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The Three Pillars (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - Top Hat |  | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - The Old Man and The Sea | | 1 |
| McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Straight Red (also seen at 3.2% & 4.2%) | | 1 |
| Kent - Old Skool | | 1 |
| Kent - Session Pale | | 2 |
| Musket - Fife & Drum Golden Ale | | 1 |
| Kent - White Noise | | 1 |
| Kent - Yule Log | | 1 |
| Brentwood - Santa's Sack | | 1 |
| Saltaire - Titus | | 1 |
| Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout | | 2 |
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter | | 1 |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) |  | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - New Year Beer | | 1 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | | 1 |
| Three Acre - Skylark Stout | | 1 |
| Mighty Oak - Calypso | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - West Coast IPA | | 1 |
| Musket - Flintlock Best Bitter | | 1 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | | 1 |
| Oakham - Darker Days | | 1 |
| Musket - Powder Burn | | 1 |
| Kent - Christmas Session | | 1 |
| XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Kiwi | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Dynamo | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Superdelic | Not Tried | 0 |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Green and Gold (2024 Green Hop) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mighty Oak - Bingle Jells | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rudgate - York Chocolate Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dorset Brewing Company - Durdle Door | Not Tried | 0 |
| Tonbridge - Old Chestnut | Not Tried | 0 |
| Box Steam - Chuffin' Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kent - Mosaic Revolution | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Figgy Pudding | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Firebird - Old Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Deeply Vale - Citra Storm | Not Tried | 0 |
| Parkway (formerly Glastonbury Ales) - I'm a Talking Parrot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Two by Two - Mashup (collaboration with Kent) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Black Pig | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wantsum - Hurricane | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mad Dog - Calypso American Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Lushingtons | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
07 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy with one very large party of rather raucous middle-aged patrons who should have perhaps set a better example! Does not take a lot to fill this low-ceilinged micropub either with punters or their sometimes over-loud voices. There is a separate room as you come in on your left where I would have encouraged them to sit. I ended up sitting at the bar as far away as you could get from them in the main room with bar and cold-room leading off. 5 real ales on and the 4 sampled were all superb. Prompt friendly service from the couple running this micropub for my late afternoon visit, marking my third of this outing, and nothing has changed about the place since my last visit in February 2025 apart from the table of at least 8 noisy punters on this occasion.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shivering Sands - Maunsell Bitter | 4.00 | | Excellent head and lacing on this dark amber ale from Manston, near Ramsgate, and lasting superbly. A moreishly dry bitter first hit. A touch of malty caramel flavouring rising up in the mouthfeel alongside a fruit-infused hoppiness from US-style hops winning over on the taste buds. A lip-smacking hoppy dryness to end on. Set up in summer of 2020, I have always enjoyed Shivering Sands. This bitter has got its name from the designer of the Maunsell sea forts north of Herne Bay, which were built during the Second World War. In the mid-1960s the forts at Shivering Sands became home to pirate radio, including Radio Sutch set up by Screaming Lord Sutch. |
| Kent - Born To Be Mild (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | | Came with good head and lacing on this mild from Birling, north of West Malling in Kent. A very berry-infused fruity first hit. Almost the flavouring of Ribena pervading the mouthfeel with a maltiness rising up from all those berry flavours. A bitter dryness then coming to the fore in its aftertaste and lasting. |
| Three Acre - Skylark Stout | 4.60 | | Began with good head and lacing on this Sussex-based stout from south-east of Uckfield, and north of Eastbourne, but did not manage to hold onto it. A dry bitter first hit. The merest malty chocolatey and subtle cocoa flavouring rising up on the palate and a dry maltiness lingering with the odd hint of a hazelnut or two in the aftertaste. |
| Mighty Oak - Calypso | 3.90 | | Came with good head and lacing on the amber ale from Maldon in Essex and lasted to the end. A very bitter first hit. A touch of malty fruitiness rising up from its Maris Otter malt on the taste buds and doing battle with a dry fruit-infused hoppiness from its Calypso and Columbus hops. A dry hoppy moreish aftertaste. |
| Two by Two - Mashup (collaboration with Kent) | 5.00 | Not Tried | Can look like a milkshake by all accounts and so not my cup of tea by a long way. |
15 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy footfall for this little basement micropub just out of the main part of Gravesend and for our early evening visit. Usual friendly and prompt service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musket - Fife & Drum Golden Ale | 3.80 | | Good head and lacing thrown in on this Kentish golden from Maidstone. A hoppy first hit followed by a dry mouthfeel with a slight oiliness from the hops. It had pleasant spicy and honey-infused hints and the odd blackcurrant in the flavourings. Very moreish! |
| Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout | 4.70 | | A very creamy head on this stout from Manston in Thanet and good lacing followed. A burnt and smokey mouthfeel. Not in the least sweet with a dryness lingering amongst a hint of liquorice. |
| Musket - Flintlock Best Bitter | 4.20 | | Very good head and lacing on this Maidstone bitter. A very bitter, bitter mouthfeel with slightly sweet flavourings from marmalade and spice. A moreishly dry bitterness lingering. |
| Musket - Powder Burn | 5.00 | | Good head and lacing on this porter from Maidstone. A very dry and slightly sweet mouthfeel with a moreishly malty aftertaste. |
| Deeply Vale - Citra Storm | 4.00 | Not Tried | From Bury, north-east of Bolton. Should have tried this pale as not sampled from this brewery as I recall. |
08 Feb 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Usual busy place for our late afternoon visit. Prompt, friendly service as in the custom here.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saltaire - Titus | 3.90 | | Very good head and lacing on this Yorkshire bitter from Shipley. A first hit of malty bitterness and this remained throughout and was very moreish. |
| Mighty Oak - Top Hat | 4.30 | | A superbly creamy head on this Maldon-based porter and holding its head and lacing well. A very malty first hit. Was not in the least sweet as darker ales can tend to be with just the merest hint of coffee and chocolate. A moreish dryness and maltiness lingering. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | | Good head and lacing on this Ramsgate pale bitter. A dryish bitter first hit. A moreishly hoppy mouthfeel lingering. |
| Mighty Oak - New Year Beer | 4.00 | | Very good head and lacing on this Malden-based golden ale from Essex. A fruity and hoppy first hit. A moreishly dryish mouthfeel and lingering. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried |
11 Jan 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy but not overly for late afternoon visit. Usual friendly, prompt service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Oak - The Old Man and The Sea | 4.10 | | Superbly creamy head and lacing on this Maldon stout. Malty with liquorice and espresso coffee flavours in the mouthfeel. A dryness to die for in making it extremely moreish and with the merest hint of chocolate and the odd berry or two. A wonderfully malty, dry aftertaste. |
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | | Very good head and lacing on this bitter. A very bitter first hit and a slightly malty mouthfeel. A touch of hoppiness in its aftertaste which made it very moreish. |
| Kent - White Noise | 5.00 | | Superb head and lacing on this winter IPA from Birling. Not in the least fruity but dry with a moderately hoppy first hit. A powerfully dry hoppiness lingering and a great escape again from all those sweet Christmas beers of late! |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | Very good head and lacing on this pale brew from Birling, north of West Malling. A very dry first hit. A pleasantly lightly fruity mouthfeel alongside a lingering dryness which made it very moreish. |
21 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Late afternoon visit to this basement micropub in coming back into Gravesend after walk from Windmill Tavern. Not overly busy and seating to be had. Met with the usual friendly, prompt service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Yule Log | 4.50 | | Reasonable head and lacing on this chocolate cream stout. The first hit was of dry flavouring, and not sweet and as you might expect with chocolate being involved. A moreishly dark chocolatey mouthfeel with a dryness lingering. |
| Brentwood - Santa's Sack | 4.00 | | Fresh on and oozing with a frothy head and lacing. A very dry first hit on this Essex-based brown ale. A bitter mouthfeel with a touch of fruitiness from stone fruit and pear flavouring. A very moreish aftertaste. |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Friar's Ale | 4.30 | | Good head and lacing. A dry, fruity first hit. A pleasantly hoppy mouthfeel with a moreishly dry aftertaste. |
| Kent - Christmas Session | 3.70 | | Good head and lacing on this pale from the Birling-based brewery near West Malling. A very dry hoppy mouthfeel with a hint of elderflower in it. A pleasantly dry, lingering aftertaste which made it very moreish. |
14 Dec 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Not overly busy for this basement micropub late Saturday afternoon on our visit and with our party now totalling 7. Usual friendly and prompt service and a high table to be had in the main bar.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Straight Red (also seen at 3.2% & 4.2%) | 4.00 | | Very good head and lacing on this Irish red ale from this brewery near Tenterden and south-west of Ashford in Kent. A good red berry flavouring in the mouthfeel and not in the least sweet. A pleasantly dry, moreish aftertaste. |
| Mighty Oak - Bingle Jells | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Rudgate - York Chocolate Stout | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Old Chestnut | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Mosaic Revolution | 5.50 | Not Tried |
02 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
My 6th visit of the outing. As per all my Saturday visits, this little rabbit-warren of a micro-pub is thriving. I blame it on the rabbits. Never shy of customers but just room to squeeze into this basement establishment. Early evening visit after walk back from the Iron Pier taproom and the usual friendly welcome and prompt service. Superb line-up of real ales and many a local pub does not compete in the odd one or three on. Six on and just time for one, what a shame! Will be back anytime and any Saturday very soon!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shivering Sands - Ribersborg Stout | 4.70 | | Probably so far of the outing today, the best. This is in terms of head and lacing and everything you want in flavour on top! Many a beer from Shivering Sands have I enjoyed and situated on the Isle of Thanet. Out of four green hops recently tried at Gadds' green hop festival, apart from Gadds' own, Shivering Sands won for its hoppy, oily mouthfeel for me. But here think of burnt toast flavours and a very malty mouthfeel and you will not be disappointed and with a liquorice hint in the aftertaste. |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Dynamo | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Superdelic | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Green and Gold (2024 Green Hop) | 5.70 | Not Tried |
22 Oct 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit. Good chat with the Guv about the beer range he has ordered to date.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakham - Darker Days | 4.80 | | Darker beers are very popular here |
| Skinner's (now brewed by Goodh) - Lushingtons | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| XT Brewing - Animal Brewing Kiwi | 4.60 | Not Tried |
07 Sep 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. A rather intrusive sound system now dominates the central pillar in the main bar, with loud music playing.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - West Coast IPA | 5.60 | | Full of flavour this heavy hitter |
| Hop Back - Summer Lightning | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Black Pig | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Hurricane | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Mad Dog - Calypso American Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried |
01 Dec 2018 (Magnus Greel)
Early evening the eerily quiet descent down the flight of stairs may have misled me into think this was closed - complete contrast once inside this buzzing and friendly pub, standing room only around the bar so I shared a table with a mother and her daughter enjoying a real ale or two.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | | Superb nick refreshing hints of tropical loveliness. |
| Dorset Brewing Company - Durdle Door | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Box Steam - Chuffin' Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wantsum - Figgy Pudding | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Firebird - Old Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Parkway (formerly Glastonbury Ales) - I'm a Talking Parrot | 3.80 | Not Tried |
About The Three Pillars
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 14 |
| 16 |
 | 1 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Gravesend, Kent, DA11 0PA.
Micropub which opened underneath the Masonic Hall in Wrotham Road initially on 1st May 2017 then finally opened permanently on 23rd June 2017 after an enforced closure due to licensing issues. Steep steps on the right hand side of the Hall lead down to what was, at one time, the Masonic Hall's bar. Carpeted front rooms, with standard tables and chairs, lead to the brick floor bar counter area with its high tables and at the bar seating. Real ales and ciders are sold on gravity dispense from a temperature controlled cellar room. Very much along the physical lines of the Cellars Alehouse in Maidstone but the floor area is less extensive. The Masonic Hall car park must not be used by patrons. From November 2017 onwards closed on Mondays. Cash only here please, cards not accepted.
We have visited this pub 16 times, seen 56 different beers and tried 28 of them.
Postcode: DA11 0PA