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Rifle Volunteers, Maidstone
Maidstone
ME14 1EU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Rifle Volunteers
Another highlight of any trip to Maidstone, this is one of 3 Goacher's tied alehouses.
There is a single bar, which was busy with groups of locals and a few on their own for our Tuesday afternoon visit. The barman/landlord was happily joining in conversation with the regulars. Looking at Pub SignMan's review below, I can confirm that all of the customers were men and over the age of 50, apart from myself and a guy on his own reading a newspaper.
I love a traditional pub like this one and whilst the Flower Pot (where we had just come from) stocked a better range of ales and ciders, I had a slight preference for this one, as there's very few pubs like this one still remaining.
Beers are all from Goacher's. Their Fine Light Ale, Gold Star Strong Ale & Real Mild Ale were joined by Crown Imperial Stout, which at 4.5% wasn't quite as "imperial" as I was anticipating, but still tasty nonetheless. 2 Turner's ciders were also on offer - Gold & Apple Pie.
On seeing the vintage cash machine, I wasn't expecting to be able to pay with a card, but the barman duly produced a machine. The cash machine itself is still used. But any rounds of £3 or more have to be entered multiple times in the till, as it only goes up to £2.99!
Old pumpclips can be seen around the room and there is a collection of old bottles behind the bar. A dartboard sits in one corner.
On 17th May 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Rifle Volunteers
This is a small, traditional backstreet boozer, easily reached from the town centre, that was close to packed when I turned up at around 14:30 on a weekday afternoon - all men and all over the age of 50. The pub has a small rectangular room with grey carpet tiles, plain painted walls and a very nice curved bar counter with a leaf motif design along the back wall. Above the bar, a basic gantry has pewter tankards hung from it and is topped with bottles, a large tea urn, a model of a coach and horses and a stuffed toy. The dark wood and mirrored bar back hosts a miniature figurine collection, a few old bottles and some decent breweriana, including a wonky, bit still fully functioning, Shepherd Neame Master Brew lamp. There’s also an ancient cash register, still being used by the old school landlord, although card payments are also accepted. The room is pretty small, but tables and chairs have been arranged efficiently around the perimeter, broken only by a small gas fire and a modern heater. A dartboard, positioned in an unplayable spot, still looks like it gets a fair bit of use, so perhaps the furniture gets reshuffled at times. Elsewhere, the walls are decorated with old paintings, awards and bits of breweriana including a nice absinthe mirror. For some unknown reason, there’s also a framed completed Sun crossword on one wall. A corridor to the left leads to the toilets and a small patio garden that’s perfect for the smokers thanks to some decent shelter.
Ales come by way of the Goachers Brewery, with options on this visit comprising Goachers Fine Light, Real Mild, Old Imperial Stout and Gold Star. Having not seen a mild on cask for many months, I opted for a pint of the Real Mild, which the friendly governor charged a very modest £3.40 for. It was in excellent condition and I enjoyed supping it whilst eavesdropping into some of the friendly local’s amusing conversations.
This is a great old-fashioned backstreet pub with a down-to-earth clientele, good service and some excellent local ales to work through. The place definitely has a bit of a mono-cultutre feel to it, thanks to the older, all-male clientele, so won’t be for everyone, but I really enjoyed my time here and would be keen to return the next time I’m in town.
On 21st December 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Rifle Volunteers
A wonderful traditional back street boozer, very much a rare breed these days, and an oasis of ale in a desert of drink desolation. It’s well described by MM below. There was a genuinely warm welcome from the barstaff and the landlord, while the regulars were a decent, friendly bunch. There were 4 Goacher’s ales on, all in excellent condition. Two boxed ciders were also available. Definitely one for inclusion in a Town crawl, and one to which I shall certainly return.
On 28th September 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3285 recommendations about 3250 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Rifle Volunteers
Step back in time several decades (in a good way), but enjoy one or two of Goacher's excellent local brews in this - one of only three - tied houses. Usually offers four different real ales on handpump, but the seasonal Old 1066 (£3.80) was also available on gravity on this overdue revisit. As traditional as it gets - no trappings at all. You'll either love it or hate it, but well worth the short walk up Union Street from Maidstone Town Centre to find out.
On 10th January 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Rifle Volunteers
There are not too many pubs like this left these days, a small one bar back street local without music, TV or gaming machines. A small group of regulars were congregated around the bar on stools, all drinking the local Goachers ales. Real Mild, Fine Light, Stout and Gold Star were on plus two ciders in boxes from Turners. Carry outs available. Green carpet tiles, some wood panelling and a chocolate coloured bar front. Wall mounted rifle, a few maps and framed bits, an end wall has a Fremlin's elephant, perhaps a sign of a previous life, heating from an old 70s gas fire. Pewter and glass tankards hang over the bar, food is old style, chilli with crusty bread for just £3.50 plus ham, cheese or corned beef rolls at £1.50 a pop. Pickled eggs are on offer too.
This is a truly lovely old school boozer, what community pubs are all about. An absolute must do if in Maidstone.
On 10th February 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Rifle Volunteers
This is a very small old corner boozer set in the back streets just off the centre of Maidstone. My old Kent beer guide from around twenty years ago doesn't mention it so I have no idea who originally owned it. The only tied Goacher's house back in those days was their one at Tovey.
Inside it consists of a long narrow single bar with carpet tiles and some old wooden tables and chairs. The bar stools are not traditional ones but stools with a design I remember from my childhood so probably came from a skip or a jumble sale.
There are no fruit machines, TV screens or music which I suppose effectively makes it a large micropub.
The bar has just three hand pumps with Goacher's Real Mild, Fine Light and Crown Imperial Stout. I went for the Mild (£2.70) which was in superb nick and a proper tasty dark mild. It was also over a pound cheaper than the Shepherd Neame seasonal beer a few streets away.
I really liked this pub especially after the comparable mania of the two Spoons and it comes close to getting a ten.
On 4th May 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Manky Badger left this review about The Rifle Volunteers
The Rifle Volunteers isn’t somewhere you’d find by chance. We had to search it out – it’s a pub which I had been told that I would either love or hate. A Goacher’s pub, with three fine Goacher’s ales on. I had a pint of the stout, and then another pint of the stout. Others of our party had the mild and the light ale.
I think it fair to say that my twenty year old daughter did feel a little out of place in there, but this traditional old boozer reminded me of the pub where my Dad used to drink over forty years ago.
It’s stormed into that hallowed group of pubs to which I award 9/10, and I can’t help but think I’ll be going back soon.
On 23rd February 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 155 recommendations about 154 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Rifle Volunteers
Time has passed by this pub.A classic one roomed no nonsense pub that is in a time warp with no music or fruit machines,just conversation.Has three exellent Goachers beers on and for the non real ale drinkers (you dont know what you are missing)one fizz beer and thats it.A haven from the noisey town centre bars.May it long survive.
On 18th January 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]