The New Inn, Sittingbourne

Shepherd Neame pub in the Murston village area (now swallowed up in the Sittingbourne conurbation), and very much still a community local. Reconfigured at some stage to leave a simply furnished and decorated staple-shaped bar, with a slightly split-level seating area (featuring a welcome wood-burner stove on a cold winter day) and a pool table at the larger right-hand end. Also has a snug somewhat hidden behind the counter. Just Master Brew (£4.10) available from the four handpumps, and although the first pour was rather ropey, this was swiftly (and voluntarily) replaced by a fresh pint.

Official site of The New Inn - www.newinnsittingbourne.co.uk

Official site of The New Inn - www.newinnsittingbourne.co.uk

Originally called The Railway, this pub opened in about 1860 and was renamed sometime in the late 1870s to The New Inn. It was bought by Shepherd and Neame in 1893, and they still own it. It has now been knocked through into a single space, although the saloon area is still demarcated by a low wooden wall. The public bar has a pool table and dartboard, a juke box and access to the garden. The pub is very shabby on the outside and sparsely furnished inside, but the welcome is warm and the locals are friendly. The original wooden floors are on display throughout, and there are etched windows. The pub is very much a local boozer, hosting regular music nights and pub quizzes. There was only one ale on - Masterbrew - which was well past its best. Good for locals, but I wouldn't include it on a crawl as the beer quality doesn't currently justify it.