The Black Dog, Whitstable

I like the micropub concept having been in a few now, they attract people with common interests, this and the compact area encourages conversation between strangers, here was no different. As usual, a shop conversion, high benches at rows of hewn tables along each side make good use of the space even if the high benches are not your bag. The décor is colourful to say the least and includes items of interest such as a model of the Hindenburg airship, a vintage ciggy machine, lots of Toby jugs and all sorts of framed artefacts. There is a rifle, handgun and a yard of ale above the bar. The pub name is from the Led Zeppelin track of the same name, bits of Led Zep memorabilia are around especially in the toilets as well as on the pub feature T-shirts available for sale. The soundtrack on my visit was bluesy and good listening. The five handpumps on the rear bar are just to advertise what is on, a chalkboard duplicates the information. They are on stillage in a temperature controlled room beyond. Kent Brewery Cobnut, Hopdeamon Incubus, Milk Street Funky Monkey, Kent Brewery Saison plus Session Pale. Food is snack related, sausage rolls, pork pies, scotch eggs, pickled eggs, toasted ham and cheese sarnies. Beer takeaways available in 3.5 pint containers........why didn't I get one for the train home? An excellent pub, one of Whitstable's must visits.

Surprisingly, this was my first visit to an East Kent Micropub.Fleetingly at lunchtime on a drizzling April Saturday:I was on my way to buy chips to eat at our stall at the farmers market up the road. A long, narrow former shop, the display hand pumps to the back, with a taproom behind. All beers served from gravity, which is good to see. High tables and benches,rather lurid paintwork-Gothic perhaps. Only time for one-Kent Session Pale ale in excellent condition.Hope to be back at the next market.

Unlike another Whitstable micropub the name of this place has nothing to do with a pet but the opening track on the classic album Led Zeppelin IV. The pub T Shirts include an image of Jimmy Page. Inside it's a fairly typical single room with the bar and cellar at the back and benches along the walls with tall tables. There is an extraordinary colour scheme with a black floor, crimson ceiling and green papered walls. These are adorned with all sorts of bric-a-brac. I was the first one in at midday on a Thursday. The bar has five hand pumps that are just used to display the available beers from the cold room behind. Beers available were Kent Session IPA & Altered States, Salopian Far Side, Celt Experience Dark Age and Romney Marsh Golden Ale. I went for the Altered States which was hazy but tasted fine. At £3.70 it was the most expensive pint of the day. This one is GBG 2016 listed but the beer in the other two micropubs visited on the day was completely clear. Refreshingly opening times for this one are fairly standard pub hours.