The Hare At Blean, Canterbury

More of a restaurant than a pub these days, the Hare at Blean has a bar area with a smaller dining room adjoining it to the left-hand side. There is also a garden area off to the left. The bar is bare boards. Walls are painted green and white. An open fire was not lit. Next to it in the corner were books and board games. The other side of the fire, there are a couple of niches containing some ornamental ducks and cats. There was also a piano. On the opposite wall is a picture of the Miami skyline (I assume the owners have named their pizza restaurant after their home city). There was also a TV in another corner. This was off in favour of some Latino music. Furnishings were in the form of sofas and armchairs near the fireplace, tables and chairs elsewhere and a couple of high tables and stools near the entrance from the car park. Cask ale is no longer available here and the handpumps have been removed. The local Chislet Lakes View was the pick of the beers, but Beavertown Neck Oil & Brixton Low Voltage were also available. The cider was Inch's. Drinks were served in jam jars labelled with Lagunitas. We were there for opening on a Wednesday lunchtime and with the pub closed on a Monday and a Tuesday, my drinking partner's beer looked cloudy enough to have possibly been in the pipes since it was last pulled through. There was also a menu of coffees on one beam and mulled wine was being promoted. Menu on each table were listing pizzas, burger and nachos. Events promoted were an open mic night, steak night and a quiz night. There is a car park to the right, with some chickens in an adjacent enclosure. The food may be worth trying here, but I wouldn't go out of may way to return here.

Newly relaunched with a Miami Pizza Co menu in the restaurant and longer opening hours for most of the week. Uncluttered by furniture in the reversed J-shaped bar area, with a separate dining room off to the side, and both parts having a light colour scheme. Also has a few wooden benches in a sunny spot by the car park. Two Canterbury Ales on the pair of handpumps: Kentish Best (£5.00) and Summer Pale.