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The Mechanical Elephant (Lloyds No 1), Margate
Margate
CT9 1XJ
Pub Type
Lloyds No. 1 (J D Wetherspoon)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Mechanical Elephant (Lloyds No 1)
The name of this pub was taken from a fairground ride in the 50's, which was a rotating mechanical elephant located along the sea front. The interior was quite compact and served a purpose, the colour scheme was an uninspiring mustard coloured painted walls and brown granite bar counters. Ten handpumps with the majority doubled up, so a very limited choice. The Westerham Single Hop Pale Ale was about the best choice. Good views of the seafront and a good view of the Dreamland Fun Park at the rear, especially the old style timber rollercoaster.
On 8th June 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Mechanical Elephant (Lloyds No 1)
Average sort of Spoon's in what was once a prime location close to Dreamland and facing the beach. The interior seemed surprisingly small compared to the frontage but there is also an upstairs area and balcony. The beer range included a couple of guests alongside the usuals and condition seemed ok. Tolerable if you find yourself in the vicinity but not worth seeking out.
On 10th December 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Mechanical Elephant (Lloyds No 1)
The Mechanical Elephant is a Lloyds but I could see no evidence of the Lloyds Disaster Area where it becomes a weekend night club so assume that it must be in the upstairs area which was closed off on my winter weekday visit. The downstairs area is a fairly average sort of JDW set up with a long room that has mostly tall tables and chairs along the bar area and a smallish room on the right with just low seating.
The bar has ten hand pumps but the choice was poor with two available soon, the JDW Trio Of Doom doubled up, Lymestone Stone Cold and Westerham East India Pale Ale. I went for the Stone Cold (£2.45) which quite honestly was pretty rank. The place redeemed itself slightly when I returned to eat and had an Abbot (£2.45) which was alright and a Devils Backbone as the "free" drink with the Steak Club. Despite that I thought it was a poor Spoons to visit for a beer.
On 13th January 2017
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mr Fexer left this review about The Mechanical Elephant (Lloyds No 1)
Service and prices were good. By 7pm the regulars had started talking to themselves so time to move on
On 21st July 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3 recommendations about 3 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Mechanical Elephant (Lloyds No 1)
Smallish but typical Wetherspoons, the building looks like a former arcade or the like. Open plan L-shaped room, standard seating.
Overlooks the seafront across the main road.
Service seemed above avaerage for the chain and were helpful.
8 real ales but mainly large standards such as Ruddles, Abbott & Pride.
On 14th May 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Mechanical Elephant (Lloyds No 1)
The eponymous tourist attraction which was eventually sold to the actor Peter Sellars, apparently UK was the world's leading manufacturer of mechanical elephants. This former amusement arcade houses an open, light and airy seafront pub consisting of a large main bar with a smaller room to one side and an inward-looking mezzanine terrace. Part of the main bar has a glass roof so there is still a bit of an outside feel at the back of the bar, otherwise it's devoid of atmosphere. There is the usual collection of JDW clients, staff looked averagely alert and otherwise it was a typically bland JDW conversion. I had a pint of Whitstable Brewery IPA which was very good indeed. Worth dropping in when in the area.
On 27th July 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3285 recommendations about 3250 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Mechanical Elephant (Lloyds No 1)
This seafront Lloyds No 1 bar is named after a 1950’s seaside attraction, a life-sized, petrol driven elephant that I believe was owned by the now defunct Fremlins Brewery that would ferry passengers up and down the promenade.
From the outside it is a rather drab looking place and certainly doesn’t present itself as a pub worth visiting. Internally there isn’t a great deal of character with a narrow front section that opens up a bit at the back beyond the bar although this section also doubles up as a dancefloor for its late night revelry. There is a separate bar upstairs and to the front is a small terrace overlooking the sea front which is the best place to be if you can bag a seat.
Most of the ales seemed to have the dreaded “available soon” tab attached to them but it does nevertheless provide one of the few places in town where there are a selection ales available and more importantly reasonably decent quality. Service can be a bit hit or miss even when not busy.
Margate isn’t exactly the classiest of seaside resorts and this was always going to be a magnet to some of the towns more unwelcoming elements so I wouldn’t particularly recommend a visit at peak times although during the day I’ve not encountered anything unruly. If nothing else, Wetherspoons do generally provide a safe option for food and drink and you generally know what you’re getting although this isn’t one of the chain’s better branches.
On 30th July 2012
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Mechanical Elephant (JD Wetherspoon)
Large, busy pub overlooking the seafront, with an atrium in the square bar area. Separate bar upstairs. Mostly usual suspecst from the ten handpumps (admittedly quite a lot for a Lloyds No 1), but at least there was also the local Wantsum Hengist on offer (very well priced at £1.90). (NB - Review dates from August 2011.)
On 9th February 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Mechanical Elephant (JD Wetherspoon)
This Wetherspoon's is right on the seafront.A fairly large pub on two levels selling a fair range of real ales.5 mins walk from the railway station.
On 12th November 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]