The Globe Inn Marsh, Rye

How many pints can you send back before you get barred? Harvey's Sussex best I know well and the unholy mess I was served didn't deserve to be tasted. No arguments with a swap over and clip reversed. The second pint, a Romney Ales Amber, looked everywhere worse. I don't know this beer but despite my experience, didn't want to take it back a second time. Most expensive pint in Rye (so far). If nautical themed food pubs with terrible beer are you thing, knock yourself out.

Located a short stroll away from the town centre and outside the city walls, it’s consequently unlikely to get too much in the way of the tourist trade, but is nonetheless worth making the effort to get to. It almost looks a little nautical from the outside with it’s painted clapboard cladding, and there was also a large golden cockerel standing proudly on a plinth. It was surprisingly busy on our early lunchtime visit, and it appeared that many of the tables were reserved for diners, so I’m not sure how much space there would be for those just wanting a drink, particularly at peak times. Inside it’s a real mash-up of all sorts, not only in terms of all the bits and pieces around, but the colour schemes as well. It’s quite a good size, with the pub extending pretty much right around the central bar counter, with painted wood partitions, some with inset glazed panelling, breaking up the space in to a number of distinct areas. The flooring is sanded wooden boards, but that’s about as far as anything traditional goes, with the rest of the décor being quite quirky. Paint colours included burnt orange, royal blue, chocolate brown and pale green, whilst the ceiling was painted and embossed black wallpaper, although in many places it was obscured by pale joists and other bits of wood that further odds and ends were suspended from. Other bits and pieces included light fittings in all sorts of different styles of which many had been fitted in to old fishing baskets or crates, oars, brewery mirrors, a lighthouse, a London bus, a guitar and the town’s name spelt out in large letters. Mermaids seemed to be something of a theme and included a life-sized one just inside the door, as well as a number of smaller ones behind the bar counter. The low bar counter was unusual being quite low and made from some sort of galvanised steel, although the beer pumps on here were apparently for display only with the actual drinks being dispensed from taps on the back wall behind the bar. A small fire was off to one side which was a nice touch on a cold February day. Beers on tap were Goacher’s Best and Romney Amber, but I assume there may also be another on occasions going on the third pump. There were also a few keg options including Hythe Bay, Reforestation Pale Ale and Wingding Pale Ale. The cider meanwhile was Hawke’s Urban Orchard. Overall I thought this was quite quirky and very pleasant, and I’d have happily stopped for a few more if we’d had time.

A weird fusion of trad and modern. It looks inviting from the outside in a quirky way what with its odd shape, weatherboarding and 19th century style of painting its name in jumbo letters on a side wall…and quirky is what you certainly get inside. Mish-mash of stuff, with a lobster pot, a booby lady from a ship front as well as steel bar area made to look like a case. There's still a separation between the rooms but the decor is fairly modern with blue and orange with most punters dining. Three cask with fake pumps at the bar front, with the beer pulled from the rear; three unusual and assumed local beers, my Romney Amber was fine (NBSS 3). There's enough here to warrant a visit and I was happy enough.

I see no reason to deviate from the "quirky" description here. I found the Globe Inn Marsh to be a quirky and friendly pub away from the tourist hordes. When I popped in, there were 3 ales (Tonbridge Hookers Hooch, 360 Best & Churches Pale) on offer with the clips placed on false pumps on a low counter and the beer served from the real thing behind. My Thursday visit coincided with the chef's day off, so a huge cheese board went nicely with the pale ale. I stayed indoors, grateful to get a break from the sun on a warm day, so didn't get the benefit of the outside seating area on the sunny side of the street.