The Bull, Dartford

Official site of The Bull - www.thebullhortonkirby.com

Official site of The Bull - www.thebullhortonkirby.com

Over here Sat for the Pictish showcase. Naturally, the lucky locals had drunk all the Pictish Brewers Gold on Friday, but there was still some Alchemist, Galeda, & Staddlestone, also Darkstar Hophead, Sunburst, Extra Stout & Best, later Newby Wyke Summer Session, two scary ciders were Port Wine of Glastonbury & Gwynt y Draig Haymaker (both 6.5%), & Broad Oak Perry (7.5%). Lynne identified me, yikes!, to point out that she had taken on board an earlier comment in which I mentioned that an afternoon grub option would have been good, and that they now serve rolls & sandwiches to supplement the main menu when not available. As it was, we stayed until food service resumed (18:00) and chose from the specials of Spicy Beef wi Dumplings, Mutton Curry wi rice or roti (quite hot, you need the rice), Faggots Mash Peas Gravy, or Steak&Ale Pie wi veg, all £6.50, smashing! And Garrett was his usual friendly beer-enthusiastic self. Top stuff! 9 February 2009 Enjoyed another visit Saturday when I was expecting the periodic guest brewery promotion to feature Pictish. Turned out to be Thornbridge, but none the worse for that, albeit some very strong beers in the range. No notes, but recall the stills included Lord Marples, Kipling, Ashford, the deadly Saint Petersburg and the wonderful, but also dangerous Jaipur IPA. Non-Thornbridge handpumps at bar featured Hophead, Oakham JHB & Inferno, & Newby Wyke White Squall. Always a friendly welcome, and the homemade dishes (chilli con carne, corned beef hash, & other tempting pub dishes) were all just £5, pity food service finished at 14:30; could have done with some later to soak up the beer. They even put the early footy on for me (muted), thanks folks, if I can't get over again beforehand I'll be checking London Drinker for the next brewery bash date. 11 July 2008 'intersected by The Street' - should read, 'by Bull Hill', as correctly named on streetmap. 11 July 2008 Red Squirrel Organic Blonde, Darkstar Sunburst, Newby Wyke HMS Revenge, Fenland Smokestack Lightning, all served in very good condition. The blackboard to the rt of bar listed these, and also the ‘coming soon' notice included Rebellion Overthrow, Springfield IPA(5.4%), Hophead, Hopdaemon Incubus, Summer Sovereign(?), fff Pressed Rat & Warthog. Blackboard to the left had listed 2 real ciders, Hecks Port Wine of Canterbury(6.5%) & Pitts Kingston Black(5.5%), also Gwatkins Oldfield Perry(7.5%), but the ciders had been drunk and the guv was on his way out to collect more stock – you've gotta love the freedom (& relative unshackled simplicity) of a proper freehouse business. Attractive semi-island bar faces the door surrounded by light wood furniture & a few barstools. Large plasma on left-hd wall (barmaid was kind enough switch on to allow me to quietly watch my dosh go down the pan at Newmarket), further down a dartboard, past this to glass french doors leading to large grassy beer garden with picnic sets & lovely view over fields beyond (not quite visible on photo above). To the right is a new veg garden which thay hope can source some produce for the pub grub (food miles = 20yards!). Sarnies & baguettes from £3.50, chilli chips £2, mains £7/8, eg large faggots with pork gravy, or ‘old fashioned bacon pudding'. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon visit, will definitely return. nb open all day weekdays, also nb the att'd map links are currently slightly wrong – pub sits at the corner where Lombard St & Forge Ln are intersected by The Street.

One -bar village pub located on the outskirts of Dartford. Kent CAMTA Pub of the Year 2009 which meant we had to call in (and our incoming coach tour ran into another from Kingston CAMRA!). There were seven handpumps plus a further beer on gravity and many ciders too. Ales on my visit included a number from Kent Brewery, with Dark Star and Oakham also getting a pump each. Delicious! The interior is a fairly basic affair, with a central bar and some pine tables that don’t really fit in. As Roger notes below, some extra ‘stuff’ would go a long way. To the rear is an impressive garden with a lovely view (so I’m told – it was quite dark) over the Darenth Valley. Regular brewery showcases and beer festivals are held. Dart board available, as is good value food. I enjoyed my visit even if the interior left a little to be desired and it’s worth seeking out for the beer.