Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Elephant, Faversham
Faversham
ME13 8JN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Elephant
The Elephant was one of two standout pubs we visited in Faversham. It's situated on the other side of the railway tracks from the town centre, but easily reached through a subway under the railway line.
The interior is a single split-level room, with an archway covered in hops and a real fire separating the two sections. Flooring is bare boards. Walls are packed with pictures, mainly naval photos. There are also naval shields, CAMRA award certificates and some Popeye murals.
Toilets are outdoor to the rear and are accessed from a rather characterful yard. The gents was labelled the "Elephant House" and the ladies was the "Lady Cave". Beyond the yard is a garden.
There are 6 handpulls on the bar, one reserved for a dark beer. On our visit, the selection was Titsey Leveson Buck, Mighty Oak Jake The Snake, Thornbridge Sun Goes Down, Kent Neomexicanus & Canterbury Ruby Simcoe. The sixth handpull was reserved for a real cider, which was Pheasant Plucker. Craft beers were Beavertown Neck Oil & BrewDog Black Heart. The Canterbury beer was proving to be a bit of a hit with the locals and was a brand new beer.
Also of note at the bar, were some extra large bags of crisps. I'm not sure I've seen anything that big in a pub before. There was even a choice of scratchings.
If you're ever in Faversham and fancy a traditional boozer without Shepherd Neame beers, this is the one to aim for.
On 11th January 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Elephant
Possibly the best pub on our week on the Saxon Shore Way.
Quirky and interesting decoration that runs from the internal bar, through a covered patio area and out to a nice litle garden. Lots of pubby memorabilia.
Good Beer Guide 2022 entry. My first Rother Valley Copper Ale was in fine condition.
Would be my local, should I move to Faversham.
On 18th May 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Elephant
Local Camra award-winning pub that pointedly used to say "I see no Sheps" on its publicity, and it certainly makes a change from the offerings in most other Faversham pubs. Being a bit "on the wrong side of the tracks", you have to make an effort to find the place if visiting, but it is certainly worth it. It has a pleasingly traditional (if slightly cramped) multi-space interior, but in good weather there is a decent little terraced beer garden at the back plus a few benches out front. Five interesting real ales available on this visit - and probably the best post-lockdown selection I have encountered so far - including an excellent 3 Piers Mild from Poulton-le-Fylde (£3.60). Remains recommended.
On 17th August 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Elephant
A lovely pub with a gran facade and even better-looking inside. There are five hand pumps on the bar, with a variety of beers from many parts. I had halves of Muirhouse Magnum Mild (which had come almost as far as I had), Tonbridge Golden Rule and Kent Brewers Reserve. All were in good condition, though the latter two were not really to my taste. The landlady was friendly and talkative, though after a while this began to grate a little, as she only ever talked about herself; there's a skill in changing the conversation to something your customers might be interested in, but she didn't have it.
On 12th May 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Elephant Inn
A truly wonderful and eclectic Victorian pub, a non-Shepherd and Neame house, near Faversham Station but most definitely not a high street boozer. The interior is rambling, there is a small terrace at the back with a nice patio garden, some tasteful Victorian pornography in the gents', and the bric-a-brac adorning the walls has some genuine historic interest. There is also a function room. The staff are very pleasant and welcoming, the atmosphere is enhanced by the wooden floors and a small open fire, and the locals are an interesting and friendly bunch. There is even a friendly trainee pub cat. The pub is popular with CAMRA as well as normal people and it has a regular GBG entry. Bizarrely, it is also home to the Timothy Taylor Appreciation Society. There were five ales on including a proper beer from Czech Republic – I had a pint of Hopdaemon something-or-other that has been rebranded for the pub and found it to be a truly excellent pint. A must for a town crawl and most definitely worth breaking a rail journey for.
On 10th October 2013
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3516 recommendations about 3480 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brian Moore left this review about The Elephant Inn
A fantastic,proper pub. Expertly run with fine beers and a wonderful atmosphere. I would recommend this to anyone visiting Faversahm, if only to see what pubs without Sheps are like!
On 21st August 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8 recommendations about 8 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Elephant Inn
The characterful Elephant was voted local CAMRA PotY for the fourth year in succession which prompted our coach tour to stop-off there. The exterior is striking and one of the more unusual pub façades you’re likely to come across. The interior consists of different interconnected rooms with a lovely, quirky rear garden that contains a herd of Guinea Pigs and rabbits. Walls are adorned with interesting ephemera, much of which has a naval slant. Proper fires add to the cosy ambience, as does a friendly pub cat. The five handpumps usually feature a mild and there are usually two beer festivals a year. On my visit I tried Adnams Spiced, Red Squirrel London Porter and Dark Star Espresso. Lovely. Goachers and Whitstable were also available. "I see no Sheps" is part of the publicity, so don’t expect a pint of Spitfire here! CAMRA members get a discount on the ales too. Not sure about the Victorian porn in the gents though. All-in-all, really enjoyed this one and would love to revisit.
On 1st December 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]