Falstaff Hotel, Canterbury

Essentially it’s just a long hotel foyer with a bar along one side, with the reception counter at one end. This gives it the ambience of an airport lounge, perhaps deliberately designed to stop people lingering. The continual comings and goings of American tourists added to the illusion, Septics in an antiseptic setting. The young barman was cheerful, but I wouldn’t want his job. No real ale, just a bank of keg including Meantime IPA, 2 from Curious Brew, something called Word and something called Falstaff. Not worth it unless you’re actually staying here.

Modernised hotel bar in a covered area with rooflights between other, taller parts of the building. All very smart but rather soulless, with most of the seating in side rooms and just a line of high chairs along the counter. No real ale either, but there was a good selection of craft beers from nine of the ten keg taps from the likes of Camden, London Fields, BrewDog and Meantime, but I went for one of the Curious pair; Session IPA (£2.50, half).