Rifle Volunteers, Maidstone

Official site of The Rifle Volunteers - www.goachers.com

Official site of The Rifle Volunteers - www.goachers.com

This is a very small old corner boozer set in the back streets just off the centre of Maidstone. My old Kent beer guide from around twenty years ago doesn't mention it so I have no idea who originally owned it. The only tied Goacher's house back in those days was their one at Tovey. Inside it consists of a long narrow single bar with carpet tiles and some old wooden tables and chairs. The bar stools are not traditional ones but stools with a design I remember from my childhood so probably came from a skip or a jumble sale. There are no fruit machines, TV screens or music which I suppose effectively makes it a large micropub. The bar has just three hand pumps with Goacher's Real Mild, Fine Light and Crown Imperial Stout. I went for the Mild (£2.70) which was in superb nick and a proper tasty dark mild. It was also over a pound cheaper than the Shepherd Neame seasonal beer a few streets away. I really liked this pub especially after the comparable mania of the two Spoons and it comes close to getting a ten.