The Compass Alehouse, Gravesend

Official site of The Compass Alehouse - www.thecompassalehouse.co.uk

Official site of The Compass Alehouse - www.thecompassalehouse.co.uk

It would seem the exterior has fallen into some poor repair and very tatty, to the extent I walked past it twice while seeking it out, the only give away that there is a pub here was the couple of empty casks placed on the road presumably to deter parking though one did get backed into with a clatter whilst I was there. Once inside though it is still as PSM describes below and quite cosy and welcoming despite me being the only punter at 1pm on a Saturday. On my visit there were four cask, from gravity dispense, four keg and three Ciders on offer, I plumped for Kent Hygge an odd tasting stout that did grow on me in the end. Don't read a book by Its cover, this is a decent micro.

Handily located just a short walk away from the station, this is a typical shop-converted micropub, most recently home to an estate agent. The pub has a two room, although the rear space is more for staff use, with customers passing through solely for access to the toilet. The small front room acts as the seating area, with modern laminate flooring, whitewashed walls and high seating around the perimeter, serving similarly high tables with the unusual feature of long footrests around the whole room, which help you to feel like you’re sat at he correct height rather than at an uncomfortable high table. A nice partitioning screen next to the entrance looks like it has been repurposed from a church, thanks to some decorative woodworking, whilst the etched glass front windows are shaded by some fun map-covered blinds. The latter fit in with the pub’s general navigational theme, which extends to a number of compass-related items, various seafaring bits and bobs including a boat’s rudder nailed to the left-hand wall and a cigarette card collection of various old ships. A high shelf contains various items of glassware, ceramic vessels, pewter tankards and the like and beer boards can be found to the right rear, listing the full range of drinks available. A few old Nokia mobile phones have been nailed to the wall whilst components from other phones have been formed into an actual mobile which is suspended from the ceiling between plenty of Union Jack bunting – polite signs ask that calls are taken outside and phones are set to silent, with ‘fines’ for breaches going into the charity collection pot. The rear room has a load of kitchen units and sinks around two sides and masking tape has been used to outline a small square on the floor which punters have to stand in if they are waiting for the toilet to be vacated. The beer boards listed four cask ales – Cellar Head Flapjack and Single Hop Pale, Tonbridge Old Chestnut and Ilkley Blonde – along with three real ciders. I plumped for the Ilkley Blonde, which was in excellent condition and required a fair bit of self-control to prevent it from being drained in a matter of minutes. The couple who run the place are very friendly and welcoming and there was a decent crowd in enjoying a good-natured bit of vaccine chat, including one rather animated bloke who, upon his departure, I learnt was the local MP. Apparently, he has mentioned this pub in the House of Commons on more than one occasion! One of three very welcoming, friendly micro pubs in Gravesend, this is perhaps the most traditional in its format and relies on customers being happy to chat amongst themselves as everyone is in such close proximity to one another. The beer range was interesting and varied enough and my pint was excellent, so I would have no problem recommending the place and would definitely stop-off here again the next time I’m in town.

As classic a micro pub as you can hope to meet. Small shop conversation with high seating around the edge of a tiny room. Whilst balancing and trying not to fall off the bench seating, you can either eavesdrop or join in the conversation. There is no choice. A laminate on the tables described the different European styles - a chance to swat up on your lambics - and presumably there is a bottle menu somewhere. Real ales and Ciders on a chalk board - with the real ales fecthed from gravity pours out around the back. Intense - like breakfast in a B&B.

Town-centre micropub, with a generally friendly atmosphere (apart from a slightly overzealous 'no mobiles' policy). Light decor and limited bench seating around a square room, with no room for a counter so all real ales served on gravity from the cool room behind. These included Highlander (£3.40) and Dark Conspiracy from Fyne Ales together with the much more local and seasonal Gadd's Green Hop.