The Will Adams, Gillingham

Great beer in a friendly environment - if all pubs were like this then we wouldn't see so many closing!

The Will Adams is my local and has first rate Ale with typically three guest ales on and real ciders available too. The pub is a small back street boozer but very welcoming. If you like good beer and conversation this is the place for you. The decor and fittings could do with an update but do not let this put you off. Open evenings and lunch times at the weekends only.

Castle Rock Hemlock, Sharps IPA, Summer Lightning; tried first two & both in excellent condition. Friendly welcome from big Gills-shirted guvnor who asked if we were down for the game (nope, northern accent but not Accrington). Narrowish pub with bar, barstools, & table seating as you enter, dartboard at far end, pool table between. A portrait of the eponymous Will Adams hangs behind the bar and a mural depicting his adventurer/seafaring exploits decorates the centre wall (partly hidden by St George flag). Otherwise the décor is made of dodgy plastic panels in the style of mock wild-west wood fencing(?), but don’t let that put you off, this is a proper friendly drinking venue. Two Westons ciders were available in boxes on the bar, food was hot-dogs, burgers, chilli; eg cheeseburger & chips £3. (review dated Aug08)

This smallish corner pub just off the main drag is certainly one of the better options in Gillingham. Named after the locally born explorer and adventurer, the centerpiece of the pub interior is a massive mural that covers all the walls and tramsforms the visitor to the deck of an old sailing ship moored off a rugged olde worlde coastline (spot the current pub, looking a bit lost among the 16th century mariners on the shoreline!). If this were a Cornish harbour town you would probably dismiss it as a touristy gimmick but for Gillingham town centre, one can accept is as being a bit of a pleasant surprise. A good selection of beer (probably the best in Gillingham given that there is no Wetherspoons in town) with 5 hand pumps albeit 2 were not in use on my visit (Summer Lightning, Landlord and Harveys were all available) supplemented by a selection of ciders and perrys in boxes behind the bar. Beneath the nautical gimmicks lies a down to earth locals pub with darts, pool, jukebox, fruit machines and all the characteristics you would expect but without the menacing or intimidating atmosphere that can be an issue with other nearby pubs (my visit was prior to a Gills match and whilst police were monitoring every pub in the Town Centre for trouble, the Will Adams was pleasantly off limits to any potential hassle. Some of the seating is a bit awkward, especially in the pool area where the absence of any tables means there is nowhere to place your drinks. Whilst they do have Setanta as well as Sky, the only TV I saw was fairly basic and not conducive to comfortable viewing. Other than that, a decent enough place to visit and whilst I have barely scratched the surface of Gillingham pubs, I would hazard a guess that this is probably as good as you will find in town.