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Lifeboat, Margate
Margate
CT9 1ER
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Lifeboat
The full name for this pub seems to be the Lifeboat Ale & Cider House.
It's not a micropub but isn't that much bigger than one and has been well described below. It now has what looked like 5 hand pumps with one unused. I only noted three of the beers, Redemption Trinity, Gadds' No 5 and Tonbridge Velvet Raven. There are also something like ten keg fonts with craft offerings and Brewdog being prominent. I didn't take too much notice of the ciders and went for the Tonbridge Black Velvet (£3.80) which was first class. This one is well worth a look if in Margate.
On 18th January 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Lifeboat
Until recently, a beer trip to Margate wasn’t really something that would get the discerning drinker bubbling with excitement. Some of the local pubs do however appear to have upped their game a little and the Lifeboat is certainly at the forefront of whatever pub revival may be happening.
Situated in the old town near the harbour and market place, this quaint looking corner pub was previously Newbys Wine Bar and then a private & corporate function business called Bespoke before being reopened as a specialized ale and cider pub about 2 years ago.
The pub is quite small and intimate and is divided into front and rear bars. The front has a sawdust strewn floor and contains a small counter to the left for ordering with an old fashioned “kerching” till that seems to permantly display a 4d price tab. The furnishings are quite basic with just a handful of stools and a couple of barrels turned into tables. A selection of games and and guide books are available and the walls have an array of old pictures and random bric-a-brac. The rear section has a couple of long tables and an open fireplace as well as the separate service counter from where the ales are dispensed.
The pub is essentially a showcase for Kent breweries and wineries with all the beers and ciders being local (and no Shepherd Neame in sight!). There are no hand pumps, the ales being mounted on a rack that divides the pub into its 2 sections and the ciders are stacked up in boxes next to the order counter. Although there were 9 casks on my visit, it wasn’t clear how many were actually available with the blackboard list containing several scribbles, rubbing outs and alterations. Quality was fine albeit my ale was a little flat, a regular problem I find with racked beers. For wine drinkers, local Kentish wine is also available. There isn’t much on the food front with basic selection of pickled aggs, sausages done on a tiny grill, cheeses and pies.
It is difficult not to be taken in by the pub’s charm, character and slight eccentricity and it is certainly the destination pub in town for pub and beer enthusiasts. If the town ever needed a place to act as a role model and attract the more civilized and responsible drinking fraternity, this is it.
On 3rd August 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
bob handy left this review about The Lifeboat
what an absolute diamond of a pub,real character and a good selection of ales and ciders.Landlord,staff and customers very fiendly.Didn't try the food but it looked good,all local produce and it sounded very tasty.Not the best place if you like lager but brilliant if you prefer proper beer,get down there asap
On 13th March 2011
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Margate Local History left this review about The Lifeboat
I adore this place. Ale, Cider and Kentish cheese, lobster and home made chutneys.
The wonderful local history and breweriana which adorns the walls makes it so relaxing inside where three hours will fly by before you know it.
On 9th October 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Phil Evans left this review about The Lifeboat
A welcome addition to Margates diminishing Real Ale pubs. I went in on saturday eve with a friend and was pleasntly supprised to see 5 bitteres stillaged in the bar. The landlord was friendly, knowledgeable and has great plans for the future. I had a pint of Hophead which was excellent. Would recomend to anyone!!
On 24th May 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]