The Tiger Moth, Chatham

Originally an estate pub, but this is now a food-led outlet of the John Barras chain with numerous offers. Various seating areas around the large bar. Large patio beer garden to one side. Standard real ales offered from two banks of three handpumps.

Named after the military plane that used to fly from Rochester Airport when it was a RAF station, the pub was built in the 1960s and was formerly a Courage pub. It's part of the Davis Estate but now much of its custom comes from the industrial and retail sparks in Rochester. It's characterised by the usual cardboard food and daft uniforms worn by inefficient staff associated with JB pubs. There's tv, dartboards (although one dartboard has been made unusable by a dining table) plus a few more private seats off to one end. They do try to look after their beer, and it's not too bad - three ales on this time, Doombar, Pride and Spitfire all drinkable but none perfect. I have previously had GK IPA in there as well, which was also OK. Free wifi is available. It's OK to drop in for a pint and a snack, and it's convenient if travelling between Chatham and Maidstone.

The Tiger Moth is a large John Barras pub on a roundabout across the road from Rochester Airport. The bar supports three hand pumps that were drawing Spitfire, London Pride and Greene King IPA. There is also a standard draught selection and like all JB pubs the food is very reasonably priced. I had to wait at the bar for a couple of minutes whilst the barman took a food order from an aging gentleman. The gentleman in question was struggling to understand why he couldn’t have his steak cooked medium rare. Apparently it is JB policy to cook their meat medium or above which we all know means well done. You get what you pay for! My visit was late on a weekday afternoon the week before Christmas when there were a handful of customers. I spotted two plasma screens that were showing muted Sky Sports and there was some music playing in the background. There is an advertised quiz every Tuesday evening and Monday is poker night. This is a typical JB pub that I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit again.