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Disappointment of the week with Tris39
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Detail Pages
The Compass Alehouse, Gravesend
Gravesend
DA12 1AA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Moby Duck left this review about The Compass Alehouse
It would seem the exterior has fallen into some poor repair and very tatty, to the extent I walked past it twice while seeking it out, the only give away that there is a pub here was the couple of empty casks placed on the road presumably to deter parking though one did get backed into with a clatter whilst I was there.
Once inside though it is still as PSM describes below and quite cosy and welcoming despite me being the only punter at 1pm on a Saturday. On my visit there were four cask, from gravity dispense, four keg and three Ciders on offer, I plumped for Kent Hygge an odd tasting stout that did grow on me in the end.
Don't read a book by Its cover, this is a decent micro.
On 28th January 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Compass Alehouse
Handily located just a short walk away from the station, this is a typical shop-converted micropub, most recently home to an estate agent. The pub has a two room, although the rear space is more for staff use, with customers passing through solely for access to the toilet. The small front room acts as the seating area, with modern laminate flooring, whitewashed walls and high seating around the perimeter, serving similarly high tables with the unusual feature of long footrests around the whole room, which help you to feel like you’re sat at he correct height rather than at an uncomfortable high table. A nice partitioning screen next to the entrance looks like it has been repurposed from a church, thanks to some decorative woodworking, whilst the etched glass front windows are shaded by some fun map-covered blinds. The latter fit in with the pub’s general navigational theme, which extends to a number of compass-related items, various seafaring bits and bobs including a boat’s rudder nailed to the left-hand wall and a cigarette card collection of various old ships. A high shelf contains various items of glassware, ceramic vessels, pewter tankards and the like and beer boards can be found to the right rear, listing the full range of drinks available. A few old Nokia mobile phones have been nailed to the wall whilst components from other phones have been formed into an actual mobile which is suspended from the ceiling between plenty of Union Jack bunting – polite signs ask that calls are taken outside and phones are set to silent, with ‘fines’ for breaches going into the charity collection pot. The rear room has a load of kitchen units and sinks around two sides and masking tape has been used to outline a small square on the floor which punters have to stand in if they are waiting for the toilet to be vacated.
The beer boards listed four cask ales – Cellar Head Flapjack and Single Hop Pale, Tonbridge Old Chestnut and Ilkley Blonde – along with three real ciders. I plumped for the Ilkley Blonde, which was in excellent condition and required a fair bit of self-control to prevent it from being drained in a matter of minutes. The couple who run the place are very friendly and welcoming and there was a decent crowd in enjoying a good-natured bit of vaccine chat, including one rather animated bloke who, upon his departure, I learnt was the local MP. Apparently, he has mentioned this pub in the House of Commons on more than one occasion!
One of three very welcoming, friendly micro pubs in Gravesend, this is perhaps the most traditional in its format and relies on customers being happy to chat amongst themselves as everyone is in such close proximity to one another. The beer range was interesting and varied enough and my pint was excellent, so I would have no problem recommending the place and would definitely stop-off here again the next time I’m in town.
On 25th May 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Compass Alehouse
As classic a micro pub as you can hope to meet. Small shop conversation with high seating around the edge of a tiny room. Whilst balancing and trying not to fall off the bench seating, you can either eavesdrop or join in the conversation. There is no choice.
A laminate on the tables described the different European styles - a chance to swat up on your lambics - and presumably there is a bottle menu somewhere. Real ales and Ciders on a chalk board - with the real ales fecthed from gravity pours out around the back.
Intense - like breakfast in a B&B.
On 8th December 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Compass Alehouse
Town-centre micropub, with a generally friendly atmosphere (apart from a slightly overzealous 'no mobiles' policy). Light decor and limited bench seating around a square room, with no room for a counter so all real ales served on gravity from the cool room behind. These included Highlander (£3.40) and Dark Conspiracy from Fyne Ales together with the much more local and seasonal Gadd's Green Hop.
On 28th October 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Compass Alehouse
Found in a quiet side street on the less busy side of Gravesend railway station. Four beers served from a cold room in the back room, which on our visit were Thornbridge Lumford, Electric Bear Weerd, Redemption Hopspur and a collaboration brew from Magic Rock and Fyne Brewery, Off the Grid Stout. I really liked the Electric Bear Weerd, which was a orange coloured unfined fruity beer. The weather was hot and sunny so we sat out in the seated rear yard, chatting to the locals and fellow beer visitors.
On 10th June 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Compass Alehouse
Well described by Aqualung, below. The atmosphere when we went in was convivial, the landlord quite chatty, the other punters equally so. There were nearly as many dogs as humans, but both species were well behaved. Four draft ciders were complemented by Thornbridge McConnel's, Wild Beer's Bibble, Gadd's Little Cracker and Ilkely Blonde, all in perfect condition. Well worth navigating to, and a good excuse to break the train journey.
On 29th December 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3280 recommendations about 3245 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Robert READ left this review about The Compass Ale House
Looks cosy and boring from the outside
On 19th May 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 84 recommendations about 63 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Compass Ale House
This is a fairly standard micropub consisting of a small square room with a laminate floor, a few tall tables with seating on the walls around them and a bespoke cooled cellar at the rear. The location was previously used by a Letting Agent company. I was more than pleased to note that they had the charity box fine of a pound for anyone caught using a mobile phone.
Four beers were available, Dark Star Hophead, Ilkley Olicana Pale, Kent Enigma and a West Berkshire beer. I tried the Ilkley Olicana Pale (£3.30) which was a bit hazy but OK apart from that then the Kent Enigma (£3.40) which was in very good nick. Finally after a brief negotiation with the landlord I got to try Gadd's Faithful Dogbolter Porter (£3.40), a beer I remembered from the Firkin chain days. This was in great nick and I thought tasted just how it used to.
I liked it here and it is very handy for Gravesend Station. It's dog friendly and if you don't believe that take a look at the picture on the pub's Facebook page!
It's well worth a visit.
Opening hours are limited but seem to be stable :-
Closed Monday
12:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00 Tuesday-Thursday
12:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00 Friday
12:00-22:00 Saturday
12:00-15:00 Sunday
On 19th April 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]