Foresters Arms, Sittingbourne

Originally built in 1798 and opened as an oyster house, The Foresters Arms became an ale house in 1831. In 1836 it was bought by the Flint and Kingsford Brewery (you can still see "Flint and Co" written on the wall at the front), was later bought by Whitbread and more recently by Shepherd and Neame. Now, on entering the small, mid-terrace bar which has become something of a slum, one finds a business which appears to be in terminal decline. No customers, no real ale (despite the S&N sign still hanging up outside) and no sign of life - it took some time to rouse a member of staff, only to establish that producing a beer was highly problematic. Eventually we procured a half of mild each, then left, probably never to return.