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Picture of The Stag
Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Monday, 12th April 2021
With picture contributions to 9749 other pubs
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The Stag, Maidstone

Pub added by elizabeth mcgraw
11 Middle Row
Maidstone
ME14 1TG
Phone: 01622370360
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of The Stag (Average Rating: 5 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

E TA left this review about The Stag

A traditional high street pub, originally The Sun, which has in the past been a dive bar called JP’s and a bar called Duke of Earl. It has been well described by others, below. There were 2 dry pumps on the bar ad a third dispensing Adnam’s Southwold, which was in average condition. The young staff were friendly enough, but the pub lacks atmosphere and isn’t a great place to spend an evening.

On 6th September 2023 - rating: 5
[User has posted 3272 recommendations about 3237 pubs]


Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Stag

The Stag has been in the Good Beer Guide as recently as 2022 and I was looking forward to trying the Reliant Robin. However, the pub has just changed hands with the Rockin' Robin beer no longer available here.

The set of handpulls remains, but with just the one clipped and turned around. We asked the barman if there were any real ales and he did offer us Doom Bar, which we politely declined. This guy turned out to be the new owner and he already owns several other pubs in the area. He eagerly told us about his plans to transform the pub, including the impending introduction of a new T-bar of keg beers, featuring such wonders as Pravha & Madri. We listened and nodded intently whilst supping our Coke and sambuca before departing for somewhere with a better ale selection.

Unfortunately, this pub is no longer what it once was and is destined to become a run-of-the-mill town centre lager-drinking establishment.

On 17th May 2023 - rating: 3
[User has posted 2442 recommendations about 2441 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Stag

This is one of those town centre pubs that has been through dozens of incarnations without ever really hitting on a winning formula. Having gone through countless name changes and owners, including a stint as a branch of the O’Neills chain, the pub is now owned by the Rockin’ robin Brewery, who also christened it with its current name. It comes across as a rather ramshackle place that might well be surviving on its prime location alone. You enter into a quarry stone floored main bar area with the servery running along the rear wall. The bar has a rather bland counter, painted in grey for added dullness, although the dark wood bar back is considerably more appealing. This rather nondescript interior design extends to the exposed floorboards and whitewashed walls, although there are some sections of full height wall panelling, which add a degree of character. To the right of the bar stands a huge inglenook fireplace full of unused furniture, with a few tables and chairs opposite, whilst to the left there is a marginally cosier space with similar seating around a small brick fireplace, with a nice retro lamp on the mantelpiece and a plain mirror above. I believe there is a rear room behind the bar somewhere, but I didn’t venture around this side of the pub. Pavement seating can be found in a roped off space on the pedestrianised High Street, whilst back indoors there was an 80’s pop soundtrack playing all those bygone hits you’d hoped never to hear again.
The Rockin’ Robin Brewery don’t seem to be particularly prolific when it comes to brewing cask ale, or if they are, they don’t seem to send much of it to this pub, as only the one hand pump was in action, serving their Reliant Robin - a basic session bitter that didn’t have all that much going for it. The staff were pretty friendly though and there was a smattering of locals already propping up the bar when I wandered in on a Thursday afternoon.
I thought this pub lacked any real character, perhaps as a result of undergoing so many changes of ownership in recent years. I came here for the Rockin’ Robin beers, which were pretty limited (although there may have been more on keg - I didn’t check), so was a bit disappointed overall. I wouldn’t want to put others off from giving this place a chance, but it didn’t really work for me.

On 29th December 2022 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


View more reviews of The Stag (6)
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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Steve C
Maidstone West, 0.32 miles, 6 min walk (show)
Maidstone East, 0.45 miles, 8 min walk (show)
Maidstone Barracks, 0.59 miles, 11 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Stag, Maidstone
11th Jan 2024, 13:53
Picture submitted by Graham Coombs approved
 
10th Jan 2024, 23:39
Picture submitted by Graham Coombs

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 07 September 2014 by ROB Camra
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 29 December 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 07 September 2014 by ROB Camra
  • Beer Garden : No - Pavement tables - last updated 07 September 2014 by ROB Camra
  • CAMRA Discount : Yes - 10p per pint - last updated 21 March 2023 by ROB Camra
  • Car Park : No last updated 07 September 2014 by ROB Camra
  • Darts : No last updated 29 December 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Dog Friendly : Yes - Must be on a lead - last updated 07 September 2014 by ROB Camra
  • Function Room : No last updated 29 December 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Hot Food : No last updated 29 December 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Jukebox : No last updated 29 December 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Karaoke : Yes - Friday & Saturday - last updated 07 September 2014 by ROB Camra
  • Live Music : Yes last updated 29 December 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Micropub : No last updated 29 December 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Pinball : No last updated 29 December 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Pool Table : No last updated 29 December 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 07 September 2014 by ROB Camra
  • Real Cider : No last updated 07 September 2014 by ROB Camra
  • Wheelchair Access : No last updated 29 December 2022 by Pub SignMan
  • WiFi : Yes last updated 07 September 2014 by ROB Camra
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