The Thomas Waghorn (JD Wetherspoon), Chatham

The Thomas Waghorn was very busy during a recent Wednesday evening visit, all the tables both upstairs and down were being used, mainly by diners. The long bar counter runs up the right-hand wall where two banks of six duplicated hand pumps are supported in amongst the standard and premium keg. The three usual cask suspects were available alongside Branscombe Brewery’s Summa That (decent), Great Newsome’s Emperor and Exmoor Beast. Unfortunately the people of Chatham have not understood that this is not a PO anymore so they were queuing single file from the till, my god people the bar is so long, please us it! It took 15 minutes to be served, if I wasn’t meeting someone I would have bailed long before receiving my drink. On a mission to find the toilets I noted that there are lots of seating areas in the left side of the pub and open plan seating is upstairs. Oddly between 19:15 and 19:30 the pub completely emptied, literally 100 people must have left. I didn’t see any meal deals for that time period so I’m at a loss. On leaving I noticed a large arch to the left of the pub that leads to a courtyard full of seating. The main issue I have with this pub is that it’s in Chatham, so has more braindead morons than your average Spoons.

A big Spoons occupying some historic buildings,and with a courtyard area in the middle. Despite the fine architectural surroundings, the interior is quite mundane and the whole place felt a bit dead. 3 guests ales were on, including 2 from Wantsum, but I can't say the place really worked for me. Despite that, it is probably the best source of ale in Central Chatham (anyone want to open a micro?).

Decent 'spoons, and although it was formerly the main post office it had already been converted to a pub when they took it on. Large, multi-room interior with additional upstairs seating, a fine little terrace and a sizeable patio garden. Just seven different beers from the two banks of six handpumps, but these did include two from the local Nelson Brewery: Friggin in the Rigging and Dogwatch Stout (both £1.99)