The Hungry Fox, Gillingham

Spruced up a bit in recent years, and now mostly a family dining pub serving the Hempstead Valley shopping centre and the surrounding housing estates. However, there is a general seating area around the bar to supplement the other tables laid up for those eating in a slightly split-level layout. Nothing fancy in terms of furniture and decor, and the beer garden is basic at best. As a Greene King pub, just IPA (£3.20) available from the three handpumps.

Built in the 1970s as part of the Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre complex, and originally called The Snooty Fox, this (now) GK pub is showin gits poor original build quality and is looking very shabby indeed, and is in desperate need of updating. Outside it's dirty, smelly and untidy with faded bunting from some (unspecified) past event, overgrown borders, overflowing waste bins and piles of smokers' litter besieging the building. Inside is better - although worn, it is clean and tidy, although there is a faint smell of stale sweat in the air. the bar area is formed from a single large bar with various nooks and crannies on various levels. Overloud muzak, an unoriginal plastic food menu and far too many gaming machines contrast with a fairly nice chandelier, exposed brickwork and wooden beams to make it feel cheap. There were 2 ales on, Ruddles and GK IPA, both much too cold and much too gassy. I'm not sure why this pub even exists, nowadays, as there is no real local population, there are better eateries in the shopping centre and there are better pubs a short drive away.