Pubs Galore - the UK pub guide

The original building is a beautiful old thatched cottage, but it's been extended and opened up and now it's just like any country gastropub, with jangly pop music to match. Four hand pumps with two local beers, but I was after a coffee after three hours on the road.

One of a few Derby pubs near the railway station. The customers were a mix of visitors, some waiting for a train and locals. The pub has two slightly shabby rooms with high ceilings. The lights were a little too bright and there were only a few tables next to the walls. This all made it feel a little uncomfortable. On the other hand there was a strong community atmosphere. The bar staff were welcoming to visitors and enjoying banter with the locals. A good selection of cask beer was available and The Bounder from Leatherbritches was okay (NBSS 3.0). In another place this could be a ‘must visit’ pub. However with two other very strong pubs in the immediate area it falls to third place and I would only visit again if I had a short time between trains or was limiting a pub crawl to this side of Derby.

Now called The Lockdown Kitchen & Bar. Called in around 1pm on a Monday and although no cask there was an interesting selection of kegs including 2 from the Hawkstone Brewery

Visited 30/09/24

Cask was just Tribute with two non-dispensing hand pumps. Keg fairly mundane choice of Guinness, Fosters, Strongbow (original and dark fruits), Heineken, Stella.

As prior (relatively recent) reviewer notes below this does seem out of place as a building in what looks like a quite down at heel suburb of Tonbridge. Approached from the car park down what feels like the proverbial garden path past some round traditional pub garden seating in overgrown lawn. Immediately get a sense of age and history of venue with doors with heavy metalwork latches and the blurb to the left of the entrance door confirming the history and haunted mess of the establishment. Right-hand latched door the takes you to main bar area, busy with locals sitting on tall stools around the bar counter in the left-hand rear corner. Beamed and wooden boarded flooring with a big fire gate with logs piled but not lit this time of year. A few TV's dotted around the tops of the walls showing Sky News on my visit. A glitzy juke box sat illuminated but unused to the right of the bar counter. A small extension to the right opposite the bar counter housed a pool table and an extensive trophy cabinet, with a door leading out to a covered area a la cheap car port type design. Open plan room to left of bar reveals another use of the shared chimney and a dart board. Seating throughout via heavy wooden tables and chairs. Should have enjoyed a lot more but let down by its mediocre beer offering.

The retirement of the long-term landlady has given Punch their excuse to take this over in their managed “Unity Social” group. So, a pub famous for being one of the few in town with no TVs or deafening music is now being promoted as “your home for live sport and entertainment”. Actually a relatively tasteful refurb inside besides the very unwelcome addition of three massive TVs - sadly ale has been slashed to two handpulls currently serving only Wainwrights. With regret, I it’s farewell to one of Liverpool’s most characterful old pubs, now just yet another 5/10 chain sports pub.