The Sportsman, Rochester

The Sportsman is a small pub with a pool table that takes centre stage in the middle of the bar area. There is also a dartboard to the left of the bar and during my Saturday afternoon visit the two plasma screens were showing the racing at Ascot and Athletics. The jukebox was playing some old school tunes which were drowning out the commentary of the sport which made me wonder why the TVs were not muted. To the right of the bar is the exit to the beer garden that is reached through a covered smoking area that I think was once part of the main pub. The window frames have been taken out, but there is seating and three TV screens so that the football can be watched with a pint and a cigarette. The garden is a long lawn with a barbeque and some picnic tables up the left hand side and a union jack is proudly hoisted at the end of the garden. I found the staff here to be friendly and the locals seemed harmless enough. I would have no problem returning if in the area.