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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray on the Pub Forum

The Jolly Drayman, Gravesend

Wellington Street
Gravesend
DA12 1JA

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Moby Duck left this review about The Jolly Drayman

A bit of a higglty piglty mish mash of an interior with several areas to sit with your drink, the place was extremely busy but felt almost more like a clubhouse than pub, my Dark Star APA was fine but the venue didn't really float my boat.

On 28th January 2024 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]

Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Jolly Drayman

Busy side-street pub with a good reputation for its real ales. No parts of the J-shaped bar are particularly spacious, but there is a side room that can be opened up for busier times or events. I found four of the five handpumps in use, pouring Greene King IPA, London Pride, Proper Job and Dark Star's Hophead (£4.20).

On 31st August 2023 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Pub SignMan left this review about The Jolly Drayman

Only a short walk from the town centre, this is a well run, backstreet pub with friendly service and some well-kept beer. You enter via a surprisingly large front car park, much of which had been given over to marquees, presumably now redundant after the lifting of restriction on indoor drinking. You enter through a small front room which extends a short way to the left, where some limited seating is available in a fairly unremarkable space which was in darkness on my arrival so presumably not much in demand from the locals. From here, you pass into the main room which is carpeted throughout and has wood panelled walls and a nice brick fireplace to one side, with a big clock above it. Long banquette seating along the rear wall is supported by some standard pub chairs, whilst the servery can be found to the front right of the room with a simple counter front and a deep, wood panel and mirror bar back. Ceiling beams run across the room and have been well decorated with numerous old pump clips. A slightly raised, narrow space to the left offers a few more small tables and has a dartboard on the end wall with a recessed trophy cabinet to one side. Moving right past the servery, the pub opens out into a decent sized room with plenty more seating options and some very nice wood panelling, but the nature of our current pub-going restrictions prevented me from exploring the space further. There also appeared to be a fair bit of outdoor seating to the front right of the pub, but again it was difficult to get a proper look in the dark or to know if this is the norm or just something added during the course of the pandemic. A rather odd soundtrack was playing during my late evening visit – at one point they blasted ‘Disco Inferno’ to a half-empty room, which was uncalled for.
On the bar, a choice of Dark Star Hophead, Skinners Betty Stogs, St Austell Proper Job and Taylors Landlord was available – perhaps not the most niche ale range, but a few reliable old favourites to pick from including the Betty Stogs which was in good shape. The barmaid was very friendly and helpful and tried to convince me to stay for one last pint, which I politely passed up in order to squeeze in one last pub before closing.
I liked this place and thought it was a pretty good all-rounder – the sort of pub you could take most people to without any complaints. The high points for me were the comfortable seating areas, well-kept beer and cheery service, but it also felt like a down to earth, reliable sort of boozer - the kind of place you’d be happy to call your local. A good addition to any crawl around town.

On 27th May 2021 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Ian Mapp left this review about The Jolly Drayman

Odd looking place - think British Legion crossed with a hotel - all in the shadow of the disney-esque Sikh Temple next door.

Once inside, there is a pubby feel of low ceiling, wooden panelling and nautical paraphernalia.

The beers were surprisingly eclectic - and Betty Stogs - easily the best pint taken in the three Good Beer Guide 2020 entries in town.

On 8th December 2019 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Steve C left this review about The Jolly Drayman

Advertised as a pub, bar and hotel, there were only two other customers when I visited the Jolly Drayman on Halloween night (a Tuesday). The Halloween party must have been on the Saturday before because the two ladies running the bar were taking the decorations down. It being quiet, I was glad for a bit of background noise that was being supplied by Absolute 70s via a lone plasma screen opposite the central bar. To the left of the bar, and the entrance, is an alcove with a dartboard and large surround. To the right of the bar is a very low-ceilinged seating area.
During my visit the five hand pumps were drawing Dark Star Hophead, Skinners Betty Stogs, Hop Back Red Amber, St Austell Proper Job and Shrimpers prawn of the Dead. The old pump clips on the ceiling beams suggest an ever-changing cask ale range. A standard keg range was also available alongside Curious Brew lager. There is a lunchtime food menu from midday until 15:00 and roasts are available from midday until 16:00 on Sundays. Food is also available Friday evenings between 18:00 and 21:00. On the first Saturday of each month live music is held here and there is a function room available for hire. Out the front is some parking and there is a large paved well-kept beer garden.
I found the service to be very polite and the surroundings comfortable. I would pop back in if passing through.

On 1st December 2017 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5228 recommendations about 5196 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Roger Button left this review about The Jolly Drayman

Situated on the site of the old Wellington Brewery (closed 1928), the Jolly Drayman is now part of a hotel / restaurant / bar complex that, thanks to its low beams, reclaimed timbers and exposed brickwork, feels like it should be a lot older than it actually is.

The entrance is through a glass lobby which has a few seats and a fruit machine but not much in the way of character. Once in the main body of the pub there is a panelled alcove to the left housing an unobtrusive darts area. From here onwards it is “mind your head” territory. The main bar is divided into a brace of small carpeted rooms that are similarly decorated. A wall in between contains a brick fireplace and with the low ceilings there is a feel of cosy intimacy. The small bar itself is not in the best position and access is a bit awkward when the pub is busy. There is also a small outdoors patio at the front. Note the perimeter walls, pretty much all that is left of the original brewery.

The beer selection is always worth calling in for, usually 4 ales that on my recent visit included Dark Star Hophead, St Austell Tribute, Triple FFF Comfortably Numb and Rother Valley Holly Daze. The pub regularly challenges for the annual local CAMRA Pub of the Year award although I don’t think it has ever actually won it. Service has always been good on my visits and the atmosphere friendly and relaxed.

It is a curious place but is well worth seeking out and only a short stroll from the town centre if a little elusive if approached from the wrong direction.

On 20th December 2011 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Robert READ left this review about The Jolly Drayman

A real nice little pub with real ales. A real character pub with real wood beams, Mind your head..!
Sadly you get some pond life walking down Love Lane who stop and stare in the back windows at you??

On 9th April 2011 - rating: 6
[User has posted 84 recommendations about 63 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

john mcgraw left this review about The Jolly Drayman

Small single bar pub with very low ceilings and selling up to 4 real ales (2 of which are rotated).The customers here get the chance to choose the guest beers.All this beer is served up by a very friendly and most knowledgeable bar maid (see pic). Has a seperate restaurant.About 10 minute walk from the railway station but well worth a visit.

On 20th July 2008 - rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Malden man left this review about The Jolly Drayman

This place has the feel of a country pub in the town, very low beams, timbered, with an unfortunate contrast of a modern bleak and austere entrance with not surprisingly the only two vacant tables. Darts are evidently popular here and the dartboard has a sign adjacent stating "Scores under eleven, 5p in the box". The food servery hatch is right next to the dartboard, could be some close calls there!
Youngs Ordinary. Spitfire, Everards Tiger and Summer Lightning on offer. The hotel section could be useful for those who over indulge?

On 20th April 2008 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]