The Jolly Drayman, Gravesend

Busy side-street pub with a good reputation for its real ales. No parts of the J-shaped bar are particularly spacious, but there is a side room that can be opened up for busier times or events. I found four of the five handpumps in use, pouring Greene King IPA, London Pride, Proper Job and Dark Star's Hophead (£4.20).

Only a short walk from the town centre, this is a well run, backstreet pub with friendly service and some well-kept beer. You enter via a surprisingly large front car park, much of which had been given over to marquees, presumably now redundant after the lifting of restriction on indoor drinking. You enter through a small front room which extends a short way to the left, where some limited seating is available in a fairly unremarkable space which was in darkness on my arrival so presumably not much in demand from the locals. From here, you pass into the main room which is carpeted throughout and has wood panelled walls and a nice brick fireplace to one side, with a big clock above it. Long banquette seating along the rear wall is supported by some standard pub chairs, whilst the servery can be found to the front right of the room with a simple counter front and a deep, wood panel and mirror bar back. Ceiling beams run across the room and have been well decorated with numerous old pump clips. A slightly raised, narrow space to the left offers a few more small tables and has a dartboard on the end wall with a recessed trophy cabinet to one side. Moving right past the servery, the pub opens out into a decent sized room with plenty more seating options and some very nice wood panelling, but the nature of our current pub-going restrictions prevented me from exploring the space further. There also appeared to be a fair bit of outdoor seating to the front right of the pub, but again it was difficult to get a proper look in the dark or to know if this is the norm or just something added during the course of the pandemic. A rather odd soundtrack was playing during my late evening visit – at one point they blasted ‘Disco Inferno’ to a half-empty room, which was uncalled for. On the bar, a choice of Dark Star Hophead, Skinners Betty Stogs, St Austell Proper Job and Taylors Landlord was available – perhaps not the most niche ale range, but a few reliable old favourites to pick from including the Betty Stogs which was in good shape. The barmaid was very friendly and helpful and tried to convince me to stay for one last pint, which I politely passed up in order to squeeze in one last pub before closing. I liked this place and thought it was a pretty good all-rounder – the sort of pub you could take most people to without any complaints. The high points for me were the comfortable seating areas, well-kept beer and cheery service, but it also felt like a down to earth, reliable sort of boozer - the kind of place you’d be happy to call your local. A good addition to any crawl around town.

Odd looking place - think British Legion crossed with a hotel - all in the shadow of the disney-esque Sikh Temple next door. Once inside, there is a pubby feel of low ceiling, wooden panelling and nautical paraphernalia. The beers were surprisingly eclectic - and Betty Stogs - easily the best pint taken in the three Good Beer Guide 2020 entries in town.

Advertised as a pub, bar and hotel, there were only two other customers when I visited the Jolly Drayman on Halloween night (a Tuesday). The Halloween party must have been on the Saturday before because the two ladies running the bar were taking the decorations down. It being quiet, I was glad for a bit of background noise that was being supplied by Absolute 70s via a lone plasma screen opposite the central bar. To the left of the bar, and the entrance, is an alcove with a dartboard and large surround. To the right of the bar is a very low-ceilinged seating area. During my visit the five hand pumps were drawing Dark Star Hophead, Skinners Betty Stogs, Hop Back Red Amber, St Austell Proper Job and Shrimpers prawn of the Dead. The old pump clips on the ceiling beams suggest an ever-changing cask ale range. A standard keg range was also available alongside Curious Brew lager. There is a lunchtime food menu from midday until 15:00 and roasts are available from midday until 16:00 on Sundays. Food is also available Friday evenings between 18:00 and 21:00. On the first Saturday of each month live music is held here and there is a function room available for hire. Out the front is some parking and there is a large paved well-kept beer garden. I found the service to be very polite and the surroundings comfortable. I would pop back in if passing through.