One pub, ten micropubs and six microbreweries in Thanet have been listed in the 2020 Good Beer Guide.
Figures from the latest Guide, now in its 47th year, show that pubs have diversified their offerings with 61% of pubs offering evening meals and 65% offering lunch food, compared to traditional wet-led pubs.
In addition, many of the pubs in the Guide offer some kind of community event or activity, such as providing a social beer garden (76%), screening live sports (32%) or providing entertainment (43%).
This is complemented with a surge in 1,850 real ale breweries, making more flavours and styles available to consumers than ever before.
Thanet venues in the guide:
Birchington
Old Bay Alehouse 137 Minnis Road, CT7 9NS
Closed Mon; 12.30-2, 5.30-9.30 (10.30 Fri & Sat); 12.30-4 Sun
A fine micropub, an easy five-minute stroll from the beach at Minnis Bay. The bar counter serves real ales and ciders on gravity dispense from a temperature-controlled cool room behind. Seating is mostly at wall-mounted benches with high tables, but there are also some low tables and chairs and comfy armchairs in the front window. The real ale selection always includes at least one local beer. Bar snacks are available and there are occasional pop-up food events.
Broadstairs
Mind the Gap 156 High Street, CT10 1JB
Closed Mon; 12-10.30 “07790 730205
This micropub opened July 2016 in a former retail premises close to the town’s railway station, hence its name. The pub is on two levels, with a seating area on the ground floor and a bar counter and cold room on the upper one. Usual micropub fare is on offer including real cider/perry and wine. It is railway themed, including a length of mainline rail used as a footrest in the upstairs bar.
Cliftonville
Banks Ale & Wine House 244 Northdown Road, CT9 2PX
2pm-10.45pm (7pm Mon); Noon-10.45pm Fri & Sat; Noon-7pm Sun
In former bank premises, this bar is tastefully decorated with low tables and chairs and has a collection of old keg beer fonts displayed on shelves and window ledges. The front bar counter has four handpumps which are purely decorative. Real ales are dispensed either through two handpumps or on gravity through wall taps connected to casks in the cellar room behind the wall.
Margate
Fez 40 High Street, CT9 1DS
Noon-11pm (11.30pm Fri & Sat); Noon-10pm Sun in Summer; 3pm-11pm; Noon-11.30pm Fri & Sat; Noon-10pm Sun in Winter
This eclectically furnished micropub which opened in 2015 has a mixture of high and low tables along with some raised bench seating. Brewery and fairground memorabilia adorn the walls while musical instruments are fixed on the ceiling.
Two Halves 2 Marine Drive, CT9 1DH
5pm-10.30pm; Noon-10.30pm Sat & Sun
Friendly, welcoming micropub in an incredible location on Margate’s seafront. Beers are served from all regions of the country and change regularly – the landlord knows his ale. No matter what the weather, this micropub has a great aspect, where you can enjoy spectacular sunsets out of the window or just watch the world go by. The beer and cider are kept in immaculate condition in a large stillage room. Look for the oldfashioned postcards in the loo. Local CAMRA Pub of the Year 2018.
Minster-in-Thanet
Hair of the Dog 73 High Street, CT12 4AB
Noon-10pm (1pm1 Fri & Sat); Noon-3pm Sun
Previously a dog groomer’s premises, this micropub offers a warm welcome on the village high street. Real ales, and at least three ciders, are served from the cask in a cool room directly off the bar. Furniture is rustic with a combination of high and low seating and tables, where customers can play a mix of old games such as shove-ha’penny or try and crack some of the puzzles left out. Dogs remain welcome.
Ramsgate
Conqueror Alehouse 4c Grange Road, CT11 9LR (on corner of St Mildred’s Rd)
Closed Mon; 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-9pm (9.30pm Fri & Sat); Noon-3pm Sun
Multi award-winning micropub, Thanet’s first, a cosy place for gravity-dispensed ales, ciders and bottled beers. A former CAMRA national Pub of the Year finalist, it has been an entry in this Guide ever since opening in 2010. Although it underwent a major refurbishment in 2017, you can still find images of the paddle steamer it is named after, as well as memorabilia of local brewing history.
Hovelling Boat Inn 12 York Street, CT11 9DS
11.30am-9pm (10pm Fri & Sat); Noon-4pm Sun in Summer; 11.30am-7pm (9pm Wed & Thu; 10pm Fri & Sat); Noon-4pm Sun in Winter
Sympathetic shop conversion micropub in a handy town-centre location. The name was chosen upon learning it had originally been the Hovelling Boat public house, which ceased trading in 1909. The interior has exposed brickwork displaying breweriana. The four constantly changing beers from Kent and beyond are served at table by friendly staff. Local cider along with wine, cold snacks, tea and coffee are also available.
Montefiore Arms 1 Trinity Place, CT11 7HJ
Noon-2.30pm, 5.30pm-11pm; Noon-11pm Sat; Noon-3pm, 7pm-10.30pm Sun
Award-winning traditional back-street local enjoying a good reputation among real ale drinkers in the Thanet area. The pub’s name and sign are unique, honouring the great Jewish financier and philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore, who lived locally for many years. Now under the personal control of Eddie Gadd of nearby Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds’), the pub showcases its beers alongside some interesting changing guest ales and Biddenden cider
St Peter’s
Four Candles Alehouse 1 Sowell Street, CT10 2AT
5pm-11.30pm; Noon-11.30pm Sat & Sun
A former shop, now firmly established on the local micropub scene and renowned for its friendly atmosphere. Seating is provided at high bench tables, while the beer is served from a cooled cabinet in an adjacent room. The microbrewery in the cellar supplies excellent one-off beers to complement the offerings from other brewers. In warmer weather benches outside make the most of the sunshine
Westgate-on-Sea
Bake & Alehouse 21 St Mildred’s Road, CT8 8RE (down alleyway between Carlton cinema and bookmakers)
Noon-2pm, 5pm-8pm Mon; Noon-2pm, 5.30pm-9pm Tue-Sat; Noon-2pm Sun
A welcoming micropub and an oasis for the local real ale drinker. Around five different beers, mainly from Kentish breweries, are served from barrels kept in a temperature-controlled room, alongside a selection of Kentish ciders. Seating about 20 people, the small interior has been managed well, creating a friendly atmosphere. Locally produced cheese and pork pies are available. Winner of the local CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2019.
REAL ALE BREWERIES
By The Mile (brewing suspended)
Four Candles
Isla Vale
NauticAles
Northdown Brewery
Ramsgate (Gadds’)