Ye Arrow, Rochester

Ye Arrow is part of a twin pub package that includes the Jolly Knight on the High Street, joined together like siamese twins. My recent visit to Ye Arrow was the first for some time and I was somewhat taken aback by the scale of the refurbishments that have at least doubled the size of the pub, not particularly for the better. From what was a cosy enough single room bar, the place has suddenly turned into a characterless drinking barn that appears more like a holiday camp bar awaitinmg the next coach party. The pub is in a prime location set among historic buildings just off the High street and from the outside looks enticing enough on its own merits. The interior is however totally soulless. The main bar area is much as it was with banquette seating, bare parquet flooring and paneled walls (with some baffling unannotated photos) but the newly opened up section away from the bar (which apparently used to be the kitchen) now resembles an in-built part time music venue with speakers and spotlights (but no stage) and kills any intimacy that place once possessed. A corridor signposted to the toilets continues through to the Jolly Knight pub with who it shares the same beer cellar so if the beers are bad in one, expect the same in the other. The beer selection on my latest visit was quite poor with 2 Greene King ales (Old Speckled Hen and Royal London) 3 unused pumps and at £3.40 for the latter, not cheap especially given that the quality was very poor. The pub’s sole redeeming feature is probably the rear patio with its wonderful views of the cathedral and castle but this is hardly any substitute the pubs other shortcomings. The place has such potential and sits in a wonderful location but it isn’t a place I will be rushing back to in any great hurry.