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The Waterworks (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Hop Fuzz - FalloutExcellent1
Romney Marsh - Marsh GoldExcellent1
Hop Fuzz - Martello (superseded by 4.5% version)Excellent1
Brumaison - Flaxen XPAExcellent1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über BrewExcellent1
Tonbridge - Ebony MoonExcellent1
Romney Marsh - Amber AleExcellent1
Waterworks - UryenalExcellent2
Three Legs - PaleExcellent2
Three Legs - English IPAExcellent1
Three Legs - MosaicGood1
Three Legs - English IPAGood1
Romney Marsh - American Pale AleGood4
Hop Fuzz - BlacksmithNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Breakfast StoutNot Tried0
Goacher's - Real Mild AleNot Tried0
Three Legs - Oatmeal StoutNot Tried0
Romney Marsh - Session IPANot Tried0
Three Legs - West Coast IPANot Tried0
Goacher's - Gold StarNot Tried0
Long Man - Long BlondeNot Tried0
Tonbridge - RusticNot Tried0
Tonbridge - TraditionalNot Tried0
Goacher's - DSB (house beer)Not Tried0
Gun - Milk StoutNot Tried0
Hop Fuzz - English BitterNot Tried0
Long Man - Old ManNot Tried0
Waterworks - IPANot Tried0
Brumaison - BBNot Tried0
Waterworks - Golden FlushNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue TopNot Tried0
Only With Love - Polar BearNot Tried0
Waterworks - URYEnal BitterNot Tried0
Hop Fuzz - EnglishNot Tried0
Gun - Scaramanga Extra Pale AleNot Tried0
Waterworks - I Pee a LotNot Tried0
Three Legs - Black PaleNot Tried0
Pig & Porter - All These VibesNot Tried0
Waterworks - Jolly Green OllyNot Tried0
Romney Marsh - Modern BritishNot Tried0
Brumaison - Best BitterNot Tried0
McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Speed WobbleNot Tried0
Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original)Not Tried0
Rother Valley - BluesNot Tried0
Goacher's - Special House AleNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Red TopNot Tried0
Hop Fuzz - Martello (superseded by 4.4% then 4.5% versions)Not Tried0
Constellation - AquilaNot Tried0
Hop Fuzz - Yellow ZingerNot Tried0
Constellation - DracoNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Waterworks, Rye, East Sussex
Picture 2. The Waterworks, Rye, East Sussex
Picture 3. The Waterworks, Rye, East Sussex
Jason Jones

Visits Details

04 Oct 2024 (Magnus Greel)
Mid to late evening and buzzing with activity with many folk inside and out given the mild weather. Proceedings inside were rather amusing as the landlord was drunk as a skunk leaving his bemused colleauge to cope with orders, glass clearing duties etc!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - Ebony Moon4.20ExcellentMalty start, rich in roasty flavours in the middle, mildly bitter and fruity finish.
Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale5.00ExcellentAll American hops giving a biscuity taste and a strong fruit punch.
Tonbridge - Traditional3.60Not Tried
Gun - Scaramanga Extra Pale Ale3.90Not Tried
Waterworks - Golden Flush3.30Not Tried
Waterworks - URYEnal Bitter3.70Not Tried
Waterworks - I Pee a Lot4.40Not Tried
Waterworks - Jolly Green Olly3.70Not TriedMy first sight of the impending 'Green Hop' nonsense!
McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Speed Wobble4.70Not Tried
15 Jul 2023 (Andrew)
First time here for me. We arrived 5 minutes before it opened and had a brief chat with the owner. Really great pub. We sat in the corner wondering what the bucket of brass cards was all about.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Waterworks - Uryenal4.00GoodWell served, tart brown bitter with a zingy finish.
Long Man - Long Blonde3.80Not Tried
Tonbridge - Traditional3.60Not Tried
Gun - Milk Stout4.10Not Tried
Three Legs - Pale3.70Not Tried
Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale5.00Not Tried
Hop Fuzz - English Bitter4.00Not Tried
Waterworks - IPA4.40Not Tried
28 Mar 2023 (Magnus Greel)
Late afternoon to early evening, busy as expected for this popular pub. Our patience standing at the bar paid off as we nabbed a vacated table before fininshing our first pint!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Three Legs - English IPA5.50ExcellentA citrus and orange punch and an assertive bitterness to carry the higher ABV.
Hop Fuzz - Fallout3.60ExcellentLight refreshing citrusy fare.
Hop Fuzz - Martello (superseded by 4.5% version)4.40ExcellentA complex taste bud treat of nuts, plums combined with a sweet yet bitter maltiness.
Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale5.00GoodFruity malty with a strong honey kick combined with a floral nose.
Goacher's - DSB (house beer)3.80Not Tried
Three Legs - Pale3.70Not Tried
Three Legs - Oatmeal Stout4.50Not Tried
Waterworks - Uryenal4.00Not Tried
Three Legs - West Coast IPA5.50Not Tried
02 Apr 2022 (Magnus Greel)
Early evening and heaving inside, thankfully I was wrapped up enough to be able to sit outside under one of the sheltered tables complete with patio heaters.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale5.00GoodMore of a fruity syrupy honey brew than the anticipated APA experience.
Rother Valley - Blues5.00Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Red Top3.80Not Tried
Hop Fuzz - English4.00Not Tried
Hop Fuzz - Fallout3.60Not Tried
Constellation - Aquila4.60Not Tried
Constellation - Draco4.20Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Breakfast Stout6.00Not Tried
12 Nov 2021 (ChrisE)
Early evening and very busy with customers being encouraged to share tables and actually talk to each other. Most enjoyable visit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Romney Marsh - Amber Ale4.20Excellent
Waterworks - Uryenal4.00ExcellentBrewed by the people that run the Waterworks on a cuckoo basis, they told me that they hope to open their own brewery at some time in the future. A good biscuity best bitter.
Gun - Scaramanga Extra Pale Ale3.90Not Tried
Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale5.00Not Tried
Pig & Porter - All These Vibes5.30Not Tried
Three Legs - Mosaic2.80Not Tried
Brumaison - Best Bitter3.60Not Tried
26 Sep 2021 (Magnus Greel)
Sunday lunchtime we arrived a few minutes before opening and were entertained by the effervescent landlord while he was setting up the outside seating. Just four of us but soon joined by many others during our hour or so's visit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Three Legs - Pale3.70ExcellentUnfined light citrus hoppy session ale
Brumaison - Flaxen XPA3.80ExcellentWith Challenger hops for bittering and packed full of local Kent Goldings giving a spicy light citrus aroma and flavour.
Goacher's - Gold Star5.10Not Tried
Tonbridge - Rustic4.00Not Tried
Goacher's - DSB (house beer)3.80Not Tried
Long Man - Old Man4.30Not Tried
Brumaison - BB3.60Not Tried
Only With Love - Polar Bear5.00Not Tried
03 Feb 2020 (Dosser)
First visit. Got off the Eastbourne to Ashford train to check this place out. Huge. Loved the Beer handpull which sent gloombar into the toilet where it belongs!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Three Legs - English IPA5.70GoodNice diverse pint. All beers at £3.70
25 Jun 2019 (Jack William)
Early evening- wanted a decent pint after the Three Oaks so stopped here. Nicely busy inside and out - good, friendly service - although I found the exception to the rule that everything was for sale - a well-thumbed copy of “Much Drinking in the Marsh” was the pub copy. Great selection of beer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Three Legs - Pale3.70GoodA fine, citrus, pale in fine condition.
Three Legs - Mosaic2.80GoodOn keg. Very fruity and good body belying its strength.
Goacher's - Real Mild Ale3.40Not Tried
Goacher's - Special House Ale3.80Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue Top4.80Not Tried
Hop Fuzz - Martello (superseded by 4.4% then 4.5% versions)3.80Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew3.80Not Tried
Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale5.00Not Tried
Romney Marsh - Session IPA3.80Not Tried
17 May 2019 (Jack William)
Early afternoon - not many in but a very friendly welcome form the guvnor. One off my wish- list and well worth the trip. Good selection of ales and a brilliant toilet that Magnus Greel obviously appreciates - it now sports a Doom Bar pump clip.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew3.80ExcellentReally like this - and in great condition.
Romney Marsh - American Pale Ale5.00AcceptableJust didn’t have the life or flavour that the Old Dairy Uber had - a bit disappointing for a 5.0 ABV.
Goacher's - Best Dark Ale (aka Original)4.10Not TriedOn the board as Goachers Dark Bitter 4.1 - I assume it was this one.
Goacher's - Special House Ale3.80Not Tried
Hop Fuzz - Martello (superseded by 4.4% then 4.5% versions)3.80Not Tried
Hop Fuzz - Yellow Zinger3.70Not Tried
Romney Marsh - Amber Ale4.20Not Tried
Hop Fuzz - Blacksmith4.20Not Tried
28 Feb 2019 (Magnus Greel)
Mid afternoon, friendly welcome from the jovial landlord and curious barmaid made for an entertaining stay. The amusing re-use of a handpump as a toilet flush in the gents is worthy of note!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Romney Marsh - Marsh Gold4.10ExcellentGolden refreshing ale with a treacle aftertaste
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue Top4.80Not Tried
Hop Fuzz - English4.00Not Tried
Romney Marsh - Amber Ale4.20Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Über Brew3.80Not Tried
Three Legs - Black Pale4.30Not Tried
Romney Marsh - Modern British3.80Not Tried

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About The Waterworks

The pub sign. The Waterworks, Rye, East Sussex

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional1
Excellent11
Good8
Acceptable3
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7AT.

In Tower Street, this Micropub began its life here in May 2018 in a most distinctive building which had previously been the town's waterworks then a soup kitchen and a public toilets then an antique shop, quite a chequered history. 8 real ales and many ciders, all with Kentish or Sussex provenance sold on gravity dispense from a cooled cabinet behind the bar. Oddly it still acts as a curio shop too and you can buy pretty much anything you can see! The ales and ciders are stored in an old coal-hole cellar under the pub and the real ale casks are placed in position on the stillage using a mobile hoist device purpose built for the job. Local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2020 and 2021.

We have visited this pub 12 times, seen 55 different beers and tried 16 of them.

Map location

Postcode: TN31 7AT