Crown & Thistle, Gravesend

Long narrow bar with some interesting features. Friendly bar staff and a decent pint. Well worth spending a few hours in here.

Popped in here for 20 minutes before going to watch Ebbsfleet vs Burton on the recommendation of the Good Beer Guide. This is a friendly local, with an easy-going atmosphere and an extremely good range of ale given the pubs small size (five handpumps and my pint of Oak Leaf Porter was nice), along with a nice bottle of Fentimans Ginger Beer for Mrs Quinno. This was the winner of CAMRA National Pub of the Year in 2003. Close to the waterfront and the town centre, but far enough away to keep its identity and deter townie-types. The main fault is that it’s long and narrow inside, with the bar often being inaccessible because of the rows of old men sat at it - irritating, get rid of some of those bar stools. Aside from that, it’s quite a comfy and cosy place, with carpeted floors, hanging jugs and pictures of ships dotted around the walls. A small beer patio at the rear is a sun-trap. I noticed that for a minimum order of £10 you can get the bar staff to phone you through a takeaway order (menus scattered around the pub) which gets delivered to the bar for you to consume at your table - a nice touch. I’d recommend a diversion here, a shame I couldn't stay longer on the day.

Easily the best of the Gravesend trio tried yesterday, warm comfortable and clean, friendly welcome, decent toilets etc. A more unusual line up here, The local Gravesend Shrimpers was new to me, Dark Star Hophead, Hampshire Ironside Best, Purity Premium Amber Ale, and something I didn't record fully from RCH. Highly recommended.