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Disappointment of the week with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Sunday, 23rd October 2022
With picture contributions to 9808 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (30 more images)
Detail Pages
The Grove Ferry, Canterbury
Upstreet
Postal town: Canterbury
CT3 4BP
Served areas
Reviews of The Grove Ferry (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Grove Ferry
Impressive Georgian building serving the eponymous former crossing of the Great Stour until it was replaced by a bridge in 1966. It benefits from a fine riverside position, with numerous small craft moored up along the banks, overlooked by the decking terrace. Indoors, the front bar (with a semi-separate lounge at one end and and a side room with booth-style tables at the other) is separated from the main dining area by the central servery and a cool room housing a row of casks on a stillage. With no handpumps on the counter, my Spitfire (£4.35) - dispensed by gravity - was the only real ale available at the Shepherd Neame pub.
On 20th May 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Grove Ferry
This riverside Shepherd Neame pub was built in 1831 and is named after a ferry service that once operated outside.
The grand exterior is of an ivy clad mansion house with a porticoed entrance that leads you to expect a rather sumptious interior however the pub has been ransacked of much of its decadent charm in favour of the contemporary style that has befallen many a traditional pub in the name of gastronomy.
The off centre island bar is surrounded by sofa laden comfort at the front, a grand piano gracing the rear bar and too much of the now familiar stripped back grey décor that is taking over the world of pubs although there are a couple of fine brick arched fireplaces kept for posterity. One corner of the pub contains a deli counter and food bar selling various local jams and preserves and the local food theme is continued with an interesting scheme whereby locals can swap home grown vegetables for meal vouchers.
The ambience feels quite formal and I always feel underdressed and out of place as I trape in from my slog across the marshes from Stodmarsh carrying binoculars and Wading Birds for Beginners guide book. Fortunately, since I have only ever been here on glorious sunny afternoons, I have always been able to make use of the riverside terrace seating beneath the weeping willows where you can watch the narrow boats and river traffic pass by. There is also a large beer garden complete with kids play area and a huge lawn with benches to the front of the pub. A separate Function suite is vaialble for hire and there is also a range of boat trips along the River Stour that start fom the pub.
The ales are not particularly extensive with just Master Brew, Early Bird and Late Red on my most recent visit with a further 3 pumps unused. The quality has always been fine but the prices are pretty hefty.
I have always treated the place as a convenient half way house for my walking activities and the location makes it worth the walk when the weather allows but there isn’t really enough here to entice me for a session on a wet November’s evening when it is best left to the diners rather than the ramblers.
On 10th September 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
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- Official site of the Grove Ferry pub, includes menus - www.thegroveferry.co.uk
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Grove Ferry - whatpub.com
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.
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 10 September 2010 by hondo .
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 10 September 2010 by hondo .
