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The Laughing Barrel (Free House)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Breakwater - Cow JuiceGood1
Breakwater - Dover PAExcellent1
Breakwater - Samphire GoldGood1
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - GenesisAcceptable2
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good LordGood1
Musket - Powder BurnGood1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver TopGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - SeasiderGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea ShellsGood1
Range Ales - Black OpsAcceptable1
Range Ales - Shot In The DarkAcceptable1
Wantsum - GolgothaExcellent1
Wantsum - Montgomery (was SS Richard Montgomery)Acceptable1
Wantsum - More’s HeadGood1
Pig & Porter - Slave to the MoneyNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Not Tried0
Picture 1. The Laughing Barrel, Cliftonville, Kent
Chris Excell

Visits Details

24 Sep 2022 (Dosser)
3 beers on. Fair number drinking not long after it opened at 3pm.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Musket - Powder Burn5.00Good£4.20 a pint.
Wantsum - Montgomery (was SS Richard Montgomery)4.00AcceptableLittle wishy washy
01 Mar 2020 (Dosser)
Came here fo the special Northdown cocao beer but it was gone. 3 other ales on.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Range Ales - Black Ops4.80AcceptableBeen on for a few days I guess. Lacked condition.
28 Dec 2019 (Dosser)
Afternoon visit. 3 ales on
BeerABVScoreNotes
Range Ales - Shot In The Dark4.50AcceptableSmooth.
20 Dec 2019 (Dosser)
4 beers on all at £3.50 a pint. Great hospitality.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Wantsum - Golgotha5.50ExcellentVery nice pint
Wantsum - More’s Head3.70Good
22 Jul 2018 (Dosser)
2nd visit here. Beer now £3.50 or £3 a pint.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Good Lord5.00GoodNot one of my favourites but this was a good pint
22 May 2018 (beery steve)
Opening time visit. One other in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells4.70Good
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Silver Top4.50Good
05 May 2018 (ChrisE)
My first visit here, I was walking to the nearby Botany Bay Hotel and it was an obvious choice to divert slightly off route and try this place. They opened all day today and will probably be open all day on Bank Holiday Monday 7th May. I was informed that this place opened because of an ACV listing on the former Northdown pub, the Laughing Barrel occupies the former kitchen and toilets whilst the rest of the building is used as a pharmacy. Morning opening for tea and coffee is likely to cease as they are unable to compete with the free stuff available at the nearby church.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Breakwater - Dover PA3.50Excellent
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
Range Ales - Black Ops4.80Not Tried
Pig & Porter - Slave to the Money4.10Not Tried
02 May 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Early evening visit, my first since its opening. A most roundabout bus journey to find this house and even then it was still hidden behind the Day Lewis Pharmacy. A challenge to find but worth it, friendly welcome from behind the bar. I think this will become an almost entirely locals' house due to its location and the area being so devoid of pubs too. If I had a wish it would be that all micropubs used a temperature controlled cellar room rather than just jacket cooled casks.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider4.30GoodIn good condition, head and mouthfeel all right
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Genesis3.50AcceptableSeems the ales here that are nearing the end are sold for £2.50 not £3 as was this one. It came across as tired with little head or condition
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
Breakwater - Samphire Gold4.20Not Tried
Breakwater - Cow Juice4.20Not Tried
01 May 2018 (Jack William)
Saw Dosser’s entry and had to try it. Arrived very thirsty around 1330 having cycled over 30 miles - and then had to wait for 4 ladies having teas and coffees to be served and all paying separately. No matter, good chance to assess the place - appears to be as much a tea room/coffee shop as a micro pub but pleasant enough. Opens at 0930 most mornings - but alcohol not served until 1100. Selling ales at the end of the barrel for £2.50 a pint.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Breakwater - Samphire Gold4.20GoodGood flavour, but rather flat.
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Genesis3.50AcceptableLifeless and rather bland.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
Breakwater - Cow Juice4.20Not Tried
29 Apr 2018 (Dosser)
Brand new micro situated on the Palm Bay Estate near Cliftonville on the same spot as a former pub. 6 beers on offer on stillage. Food on offer and a £2.50 pint offer on some beers.On the 38 and 8A bus route but not on a Sunday. Lots of local beers available. Most beers £3 a pint.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Breakwater - Cow Juice4.20GoodGood beer and at 2.50 with loads of cheese, nuts and onions excellent value.

About The Laughing Barrel

The pub sign. The Laughing Barrel, Cliftonville, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent2
Good8
Acceptable5
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Cliftonville, Kent, CT9 3EZ.

Micropub in Summerfield Road in the Northdown, principally a residential, area which opened on 27th April 2018 in a former then redundant pub building (The Northdown) and now converted to be part pharmacy and part pub. Real ales and ciders are sold on gravity dispense from a room behind the bar counter with the real ales dispensed from jacket cooled casks. Apart from bar stools seating is at cafe style tables. Because of its location likely to be most popular with locals. Beware quite early finish to the evening local bus service.

We have visited this pub 10 times, seen 16 different beers and tried 14 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT9 3EZ