Mackland Arms, Gillingham

Official site of Mackland Arms - www.macklandarms.co.uk

Official site of Mackland Arms - www.macklandarms.co.uk

Nowadays something of a rarity (at least in the South East); an authentic side-street local with a modest selection but well-deserved reputation for real ale. Compact L-shaped layout with as much traditional seating as can be fitted into the limited space available. As a Shepherd Neame house, I not only found the seasonal It's Coming Home but also the festive but rare Christmas Ale (£3.90) as well as the expected Master Brew from three of the four handpumps.

The Mackland Arms is a u shaped Shepherd Neame pub with their usual draught and four hand pumps that were drawing Master Brew (x2), Spitfire and Late Red during my recent early Thursday evening visit. There were six or seven locals sitting around the bar and I was quickly involved in friendly conversation with them and the governor. Sky Sports is advertised, but the television was being used to play Magic FM making the jukebox redundant. I managed to step over the massive, but friendly, pub dog to note the dartboard around to the rear of the bar. I didn’t visit the advertised beer garden. This is a friendly local pub that I would gladly visit again.

One of the few proper pubs left in Rainham, the Mackland is a lively town local in the middle of a terrace near the station and just off the High Street. It's a Shepherd and Neame house with plenty of trappings - dart board, children's room, pub dog and garden. It's also the only pub in Rainham with a thriving euchre team. The single L shaped bar had two ales on - I had the Late Red which was just past its best but still very drinkable. The staff are welcoming and the atmosphere convivial. In my opinion the best pub in Rainham which deserves its GBG entry and is an essential part of a town crawl.