Pubs in Rochester and Medway

Brompton is the residential area in Medway nearest to the old Dockyard. It lies between the Dockyard and Gillingham, and is separated from Gillingham by the Great Lines. It developed initially as a residential area for those working in the Dockyard, including clerks and managers, and then as a barracks for soldiers defending the Docks. It is surrounded by the military - barracks and married quarters, Fort Amherst, the Great Lines, the Royal Engineers Museum, and the Royal School of Military Engineering. Though the Docks are no longer in military use, the barracks and the soldiers are still present.

Because Brompton is isolated from the rest of Medway by the Great Lines, it has a village feel, and some of the houses in the centre, especially along Prospect Row, are very pleasant; however, most of the area is fairly blunt and simple, and the married quarters is particularly unattractive.

The area was once rich with pubs - 34 according to this map, though now there are few, and only one decent one, King George V.

The Cannon

Pub seems to have opened around 1849 as The Cannon and was family owned until 1931 when Truman's took it over.

Review: Three roomed pub - public, saloon and games room - served by a double sided central bar. One cask on offer - London pride in poor condition: warm and slightly sour. The place does have some charm - like an old railway station waiting room with little added features of interest, such as the cats on the roof over the saloon bar. Used by the soldiers from the local barracks so can be noisy and playful. The saloon bar is the quietest room. The pub organises several active clubs: football, darts and a popular and successful golfing club. It does well for the locals.
Score: 4 Date: April 2006

What Pub

King George V

Built as a pub in 1690. Was known as the King of Prussia, and was owned by Chatham brewery Winch & Sons in this picture. Winch had developed from the Best Brewery, which had been brewing in Chatham since at least 1666. Winch merged with Style to form Style & Winch, which were bought by Barclays in 1929. Independent.

Review: Run by the landlord of the Frog & Toad. This is one of the best pubs in Medway. Relaxed and secure atmosphere. Good cask ales kept in very good condition. Usually two or three. Selection changes. Score: 8 Date: July 2006

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The Two Sawyers

Built as a pub, The Sawyers, in 1756. Closed for a few years in the 1990s, otherwise has been in constant use.

Review: Two rooms - one for pool. Main room has dirty worn carpet. Keg only despite lots of point of sale promotion for Cask Ale. The Courage Best was keg, and the lines were full of sour beer. Not good. Not good at all.
Score: 3 Date: May 2009

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The Royal Marine

Earliest date appears to be 1851. Was in continuous use, though was known as The Sports Bar for a few years in the 2000s. Suspected closed in 2013.

Review: Small single room pub in the catchment area of Brompton barracks. There's a pool table on the right, and a karaoke stand on the left. Keg lager only. Unremarkable place, but would be an acceptable week day bar for the local soldiers. Laid back atmosphere - quite friendly, but not homely or comfortable. A place to stand and drink (and sing) with your mates.
Score: 3 Date: Nov 2008

Drunken Sailor / Coopers Bar

Student Union bar of Medway College. It opened as The Drunken Sailor, but is now called Coopers Bar.

Review: Quite a roomy and atmospheric student pub on the Chatham university campus. As well as students there are staff from the Medway council building and the assorted other businesses in the area. A good range of veggie food is offered. Beer is all keg - Carling, Coors, Grolsch and Worthington Creamflow. Music is a bit loud, but the building is interesting with various nooks and assorted seating. If the music was a little quieter, and the beer was cask this would be a great place.
Score: 4 Date: May 2006

What Pub

Porters Dickens World

Six Jolly Fellowship Porters

Opened 2008 as part of Dickens World.

Review: This is a bar that is part of the Dickens World building in the Dockyard. It is a part of the "theme park" attraction during the day - the only catering outlet. And is also open to the public during the evening - especially on a Friday evening during the comedy nights in the Victorian theatre room. It's a practical place rather than warm and full of character, and feels like what it is - a bar inside a theme park. It serves Shepherd Neame beers. Sitting outside you can look over the rather small Dickens World experience. Forgettable, but not terrible.
Score: 4 Date: Oct 2008

Review: Even though the full name is Six Jolly Fellowship Porters, it calls itself and is known locally simply as Porters. During the day it's the refreshment centre for the Dickens World tourist attraction, and is only open to visitors to the attraction. But in the evening when the attraction is closed, the pub is open to the general public. There are two main spaces divided by the central bar, and there's an "outside" seating area which overlooks the main courtyard of the attraction. It's not really outside, as the attraction is all indoors. The pub offers one cask - a Nelson Brewery special: Noddy Boffin's Brew - The Golden Dustman. I didn't like it, but then I don't like most of Nelson's beers. Sitting in the pub feels like sitting in a cartoon pub. It feels like what it is, a theme bar in a Theme Park.
Score: 4 Date: Nov 2008

What Pub

Ship and Trades

A modern Shepherd Neame conversion of a Victorian building that was part of the old Dockyard.

Review: Shepherd Neame pub. Quite popular, and sometimes difficult to get a table. Feels more like a modern bar than a pub - and even though built in an old building in the old dockyard, lacks charm and atmosphere. It's OK, and the snug on the right is pleasant, but it's a little pricey, and not as good as you hope it will be.
Score: 5 Date: May 2011

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