Nags Head, Rochester

An attractive weatherboarded pub situated near the station but in the opposite direction of the town so often overlooked by the tourists. The twin bar interior is on split levels, the cosy front bar being quite small with a low ceiling propped up by a pair of thin pillars, small fireplace in one corner and banquette seating with a few scatter cushions. Note the redundant corner door suggesting that this was once 2 much smaller bars. Amenities include a flat screen TV and a jukebox. A few steps up lead to the larger rear bar with bare floors, unpretentious décor and an equally rough around the edges feel as the front bar. A flat screen TV and a tuba adorn the wall as well as another jukebox. At the rear is a separate pool table area and a small triangular plot outside for the smokers. There were 2 ales across 5 hand pumps (2 at the front, 3 at the rear) with just Spitfire and London Pride. The Spitfire I had was competitively priced (£3.20) but wasn’t the best quality. A blackboard near the foot of the staeps offered well priced food with snacks around £4/5, several main courses around £6/7 and top priced steaks at less than a tenner. This is the sort of local’s pub that I generally like although the local pub bore was beginning to test my patience during my visit and it would need to improve its ale range and quality before it becomes a regular stop on my Rochester outings.

The Nags Head consists of a small front bar that has a jukebox and plasma screen and five steps lead up to a larger back bar that has a pool table, another jukebox and a second plasma screen that was showing racing at Ascot during my visit early last Saturday afternoon. At the rear there is a very claustrophobic outside area with some seating, but I think that this space is aimed more towards smokers to get them off the path outside. A standard draught range was available from the bar along with Spitfire and Pride. Very cheap food is served and I munched on a £3 sausage baguette that went down a treat with a decent pint of Guinness. I had to wait a while at the bar for the barmaid to appear, but when she did finally arrive she was very friendly and apologised for the wait. I didn’t see any Sky Sports advertised, but there is poker every Thursday night from 21:00. I liked it in here and would have no problem returning.