The George, West Malling

Fine-looking pub at the back of a small green, and while partly opened-out and refurbished, it retains a very traditional interior. In addition to the various seating and (mostly) dining areas, there is a substantial beer garden at the back. With two of the three handpumps in use, I found Shepherd Neame's Whitstable Bay Pale and Wadworth 6X (£4.60) being poured.

Official site of the George, contains menus - www.thegeorgekent.co.uk

Official site of the George, contains menus - www.thegeorgekent.co.uk

This large country pub has completely avoided the recession, if last Sunday lunchtime was anything to go by. It serves food all day, and evidently gets custom from far and wide. Ales were Masterbrew, Skinners’ Betty Stogs, and Bateman’s Winter Wellie. It took a while to get served as the place was heaving, and at the separate food order point we gave our location as ‘the bar’, gambling on a table becoming available before our food arrived, although they were fully booked. Luckily a table did become available shortly thereafter, and our food arrived surprisingly (perhaps suspiciously) quickly. From the fairly extensive menu, the caesar salad wasn’t terribly inspiring but the moules were pretty good. This is a nice pub, quite welcoming and evidently efficiently run, although its success perhaps made it feel a bit like a food production line. I doubt I’ll come here to eat again though I’d happily drop in for a drink again if passing at a less busy time.