Ales & Antiques, Whitstable

Curious place, with the contents of the former antique shop now relegated to a shed at the back of the rear garden, with the unit now a micropub. Fairly basic furniture, and fewer decorative features than I was expecting, but an outside table in the sun did nicely. Session Pale (£3.90) and TropicAle from Kent Brewery, plus beers from Gadds and Tonbridge from from four keg-like taps on the bar-back, alongside the Guinness which definitely wasn't real ale!

Facebook page of Ale and Antiques - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Ale and Antiques - www.facebook.com

Previously an antique shop, now an antique shop that sells ale in the style of a micropub. The main shop has been converted into a comfortable, though slightly cramped, lounge, there is a second bar area in what used to be the rear yard, and there is a garden area beyond that which had a marquee with more seating space. It was busy with a variety of customers, not just the usual micro crowd, so the model seems quite successful. Ales on were Gadd’s No 5 and TT Landlord, plus Pheasant Plucker cider and a couple of craft offerings. Not an archetypal micro, but one worth a revisit and inclusion in a crawl, though it would benefit from a larger ale selection.