Prince of Wales, Rochester

Very basic pub with a large but barely furnished front room mostly used for darts when there is no live music on, the bar in a narrower central section and a rear room dominated (but not fully occupied) by the pool table. Still no real ale, so it was a pint of the inevitable John Smiths (£3.80) while I was waiting for a train on a cold November evening (but at least the place was warm).

A long-standing music venue, this Victorian high street pub has changed little in the 40 years since I was last in here (actually playing back then). The front bar, formed from knocking through the two original front bars, has a permanent stage for the music acts, battered seating and an indefinable but nonetheless unpleasant odour. There is another bar behind which now contains a pool table. There is no real ale (apparently no-one buys it any more). I might be tempted to come in for a decent band, but it's unlikely. Maybe in another 40 years.