The Bull, Sittingbourne

I visited this today. My parents ran it in the 60's and 70's, and put a lot of work into its renovations. It was the top pub in the village, and drew customers from far and wide. Today, I could barely recognise it. However, the new landlord has identified the tasks ahead of him, and is determined to gradually make changes and lift the place. I hope he succeeds!

15-18 years ago this was a welcoming, friendly family pub serving nice meals and showing all the attributes of a great local village pub. Since those owners left the pub has gone downhill at an alarming rate under a succession of incompetent 'managers'. This month, March 2013, the pub was laughingly advertising 'Under New Management' which was indistinguishable from the old management. Its got to be the worst pub I've ever been in, with the exception of a bar in Tirana, Albania which at least was clean though poor. The Bull was so cold the barman was wearing an anorak behind the bar (while also also eating his spaghetti dinner at the bar as he was serving). The log fires were out, beer pumps were out of action, the whole place had a Death Wish. With the harsh lighting of bare bulbs hanging from the ceiling it looked like an STD clinic with a busy quota of customers sitting at the bar discussing their ailments. The adjacent rooms were stacked up with old furniture, the Ladies was boarded up, the Gents cistern was leaking over the floor and bits of old timber were laying on the patio waiting to be fed into the (non-existent) wood fire. Its such a shame because as the only pub in the village, under proper ownership, management and investment it could be a lovely family pub as it has a large car park, snug bars, beer garden and lots of potential!

This pub is probably the worst I have ever visited. As a local, I have little choice as all the others have closed over the years; why this one survived I shall never know. The decor is old and tatty, the cleaner has obviously been off sick for a while and the staff couldnt care less. They are either outside smoking or are upstairs watching tv. Most of the regulars havent got a job to go to and they spend all day getting stuck into wkd's or cider. By 6pm the place is full of wasters and their kids and the language is unbeleivable. The staff say nothing about it and set a bad example, when they can be bothered to make an appearance. The few old locals have been driven out and prefer to stay at home. This is a managed pub and they have obviously decided that the lowest common demoninator is their target market. Who wants to listen to foul language with a blaring juke while drinking cheap beer? Plenty of locals, obviously. The beer is often whatever's cheap, Whitstable Brewey offerings dont have the best rep, and I wouldnt vouch for the quality of anything in this place. And it has the most disgusting toilets you will ever find.

Family oriented local pub. Lou and Jacko have been owners of the pub since june and they have made great improvement to the Bull in that time including repainting the outside of the pub total refurb of the pub garden, reupholstery of all seating(expertly done by R A P Upholstery) this is an ongoing project for Lou and Jacko. There is regular entertainment and the kitchen is now serving excellent food prepared by the chef. Keep up the good work.

What a great Pub, with a friendly welcoming atmosphere, Under new management (since June 2009). Loads going on, Family days with BBQ, newly restored Beer Garden with kids activities, Great entertainment every weekend, Fantastic Sunday Dinners. Family run by Jack & Lou, come here and you won't be a stranger for long!