The Seaview, Birchington

This neatly presented Shepherd Neame pub is situated at start of the High Street not far from the station. Externally the pub probably hasn’t changed much since it was built with some classic Victorian pub features still evident. The traditional style interior is a welcome sight amongst the more modernized pubs in town. The central horseshoe bar is split into a basic Public Bar style section to the right containing a pool and darts area at the far end and a carpeted Lounge Bar to the left hand side with an elaborate brick fireplace. The Lounge section was set out mainly for dining during my lunchtime visit but I suspect this was just an afternoon thing as the pub is certainly more of a drinker’s place than a diners. The décor includes some old pictures of Shepherd Neame vehicles and drayhorses as well as traditional pub games. There is a spacious and tidy, mostly turfed beer garden with a few benches and music piped through from the pub so there is no escape if the music isn’t to your taste. Theer were just the 2 Sheps ales available, Spitfire and Master Brew, the latter being decent enough and reasonably priced at £3. I did overhear the landlord saying he had thrown away half a barrel of Summer Sizzler which suggests that the regulars aren’t very adventurous and that the pub does at least show some consideration for the quality of its ales. Overall this is probably the best in town for pub traditionalists and seemed a welcoming and efficiently run place.

Official site of the Seaview, contains menu - www.seaviewhotelbirchington.co.uk