Phoenix, Dartford

Facebook page of Phoenix - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Phoenix - www.facebook.com

This is a pretty typical shop converted micropub with a great central location and a relatively open and spacious interior. Shop-style windows have been retained at the front and the grey floor tiles throughout aren't too far from the micropub norm, but the pub has somehow managed to create separate seating areas by using low, tongue and groove screens with glass uppers bearing the pub's name and logo. This requires a bit more meandering than usual to get from the entrance to the bar on the back wall, which is an interesting USP more common with much larger premises. Seating is a good mix of padded benches, high stools and wooden topped kegs acting as low stools, supplimented by a seatless drinking ledge to the rear left which has some board games and CAMRA literature on it. The bar occupies the rear wall and has a tongue and groove counter, matching canopy lined with beer bottles and ceramic dachshund ornaments, and a simple, shelved bar back, all in the same colour scheme. The front part of the room has two huge murals on either side - one depicting an old map of the local area, the other a montage of historic photos mainly of local pubs. The walls further back are plainer but decorated with beer related stuff, such as a framed brewing process diagram and one of those periodic tables of beer. Stairs to the right of the bar lead up to the toilets, past loads of framed, joke cartoons. Two issues struck me as being a bit off-putting on entry - firstly, the crowd stood around the bar area, making it impossible to reach the counter, and secondly, the great cacophony that they then generated, enhanced by quite loud music, which echoed in a room devoid of any soft furnishings, making it unpleasantly loud at times. On the bar, I noted cask options of Thornbridge Charlie Brown, Tonbridge Golden Rule and a Best Bitter from an unknown brewery. One craft keg line was in operation, pouring a sour of all things, and there were several cider options too. Any downsides were quickly offset by an incredibly friendly landlady, who was very welcoming and popped over to my table to check everything was okay - excellent customer service. When I entered, the overwhelming noise and inability to get to the bar were immediate big negative points that I thought would spoil my enjoyment of the pub, but after half an hour in here, I ended up really liking the place and thought it was the best of the four Dartford pubs I visited by quite a margin. The quality service, well-kept beer and slightly quirky layout all worked in its favour and I'd happily brave the din again. Date of visit - 14th August 2024

New town-centre micro-pub, with a surprisingly fresh, modern look. This begins with the full-height front window and door, and continues inside with barrel stools at the front, some taller cask tables and bench seating in several small areas divided by low part-glazed screens. The compact pumpless counter is at the back, with the ales being dispensed by gravity from the glass-fronted cool-room beyond. Good range of real ales on offer (once you have located one of the clipboard lists) from which I went for the tasty Kent Brewery Session Pale (£3.00).