The Anchor, Faversham

Fine old Shepherd Neame inn, located at the far end of Court Street, with a very traditional bar and side room, but during the annual Hop Festival the stand-out feature is the part paved / part-grass sloping rear beer garden that really comes into its own for live music. Master Brew, Spitfire, Bishops Finger and the ultra-fresh No 18 Yard Brewhouse Green Hop Ale (£4.50).

A wonderful historic building with 16th Century origins, sympathetic refurbishment has retained open fireplaces including a large inglenook, flag and brick floors and structural timbers. It is currently owned by Shepherd and Neame. Food is freshly cooked, but the menu is a little pretentious and the food wasn’t that tasty, added to which the pervading strong aroma of stale fat and over-cooked lamb is a little off putting. The staff were not very welcoming, the clientele consisted mainly of families enjoying their rather overpriced meals and the background music was quite annoying. The pub is dog friendly, and there is free WiFi available. Three regular Sheps beers and a guest were on draft: I had the guest, which was Whitstable IPA, which wasn’t on top form and was very much overpriced for the area. There are 3 contiguous bars, the end one of which has pine flooring and has been a shop in the past, but is now mainly a restaurant area. There is a pleasant garden at the back and a couple of bench seats at the front. It’s a good place to come and admire the architecture and the history, but there are many other pubs nearby which offer a wider and better-kept beer range at better prices and a warmer welcome.