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The Golden Hope (JD Wetherspoon), Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne
ME10 1DR
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve C left this review about The Golden Hope (JD Wetherspoon)
The Golden Hope is a Wetherspoons in an old repurposed building with front steps that lead up to a patio area that runs across the front and the entrance to the right that leads to the bar area. The counter up the left faces an open plan sunken extension with seating in the right-hand portion of the building. There’s a wheelchair lift so I imagine there is step free access to the building from the right hand-side. To the left, behind the bar counter, is a corridor off which three snugs can be accessed. Further left is more open plan seating and throughout is exposed brick to give the feeling that one isn’t in central Sittingbourne. The bar counter supports two banks of duplicate hand pumps that were drawing the usual suspects plus Rudgate’s Vanilla Mild, Adnams Dos Peros (which apparently is brewed exclusively for JDW) and a decent pint of Steel & Oak Brewery’s Easy Stout. The service was polite and the interior is interesting so I’d pop back in if passing.
On 9th November 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]
Graham Coombs left this review about The Golden Hope (JD Wetherspoon)
An incredibly complicated Spoons with little bits of rooms in all directions connected by assorted stairs and lifts. Even the front terrace is served by a complicated arrangement of steps. Other than that it is all fairly standard Spoons stuff and there were only 3 guest ales on, despite being in the middle of a festival. A little disappointing.
On 1st October 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Golden Hope (JD Wetherspoon)
Another JDW Hotel Stay - just as good as the other night in Rochester. Lovely Hotels.
In a week of walking in Kent, we had the best pint(s) of the trip here. Hopdeamon Skirmshader is LocALE and it was kept in absolutely perfect condition here.
Quick service off the app. Well prepared food.
Architecturally interesting - think it used to be the court/police station.
Just might be my favourite 'spoons.
On 17th May 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Golden Hope (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a rather unusual Wetherspoon's. Apparently, it used to be a courthouse. It still has several different rooms, in addition to some old cells. It reminded me of the Bridewell in Liverpool. Toilets are up a spiral staircase with stone walls, reminiscent of a castle turret.
The pub was busy and we had watched with amusement at some of the goings on from the safety of Donna's Ale House across the road.
We managed to enter without having to queue and seemingly without the difficulties other people were having. After ordering (the choice was Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best, Sharp's Doom Bar, Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Exmoor Gold, Brain's SA & Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon), the cause of the difficulties became apparent.
As we were exiting the bar, a woman strode through shouting track and trace at the bar staff. Her approach to everything seemed to be a touch too officious and was not something I'd witnessed in a Wetherspoon's before, even since pubs have re-opened. In my experience, most 'spoon's have been fairly relaxed, which is how I prefer a pub to be.
The approach here did at least provide some amusement. But before preaching about Covid-19 precautions, please at least consider practicing good cleaning. Lipstick on glasses is not really acceptable in this day and age.
On 27th August 2020
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Golden Hope (JD Wetherspoon)
Quite an upmarket Spoons this one with some interesting internal features, such as the domed sky light over the bar area. The front bar had key hole fittings along grey painted board. which were lit from behind. The grey painted walls and herring bone block floor gave more added interest. Two banks of six handpumps, Titanic Nine Tenths was our choice on the day.
On 1st April 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Golden Hope (JD Wetherspoon)
Impressive old buildings, formerly comprising the police station and courts, named after a local 19th-century Thames sailing barge. The main entrance is located up a half-flight of steps, and having passed across a small front terrace you enter a slightly split-level interior that initially seems less spacious than one might expect. However, as you explore the multi-room layout further you find all kinds of different seating / dining areas and the hotel reception. Decent selection of real ales from the two banks of six handpumps, including the Sambrook's Flat White Stout (£2.19) from amongst the choice of eight festival beers. A pleasant surprise.
On 30th March 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Golden Hope (JD Wetherspoon)
This is one of JDW's newest offerings. It's a Hotel as well as being an outlet for their drinks and food. As seems to be typical with their more recent openings it bears little resemblance to the identikit shop conversions from the 1990s.
The old Cop Shop and Courts take up the whole of the corner of Park Road and West Street. Inside it's something of a labyrinth of small drinking areas and corridors with outside patios at the front and rear. There is much exposed brickwork and the furnishings are better than the typical mix of JDW tables and chairs usually found. The majority of people seemed to be here for food although a table of women near where I sat had no food or any drinks for the entire time I was there.
The bar is on the left after ascending the staircase in West Street that forms the main entrance. There are two sets of six hand pumps but the beer selection wasn't all it could be as there was one unused, one with a cider, the two GK beers, Doom Bore, two Festival ales available soon, four festival ales and one solitary local beer Rockin' Robin Blizzard of Oz. I went for the Blizzard of Oz (£2.49) which was in excellent condition. Prices here are unsurprisingly a bit dearer than the norm with the Standard Guest Ale price being £2.49 and the food clubs being around £0.50 to £1.50 dearer. Other food items seemed to be the same or slightly more expensive.
It's well worth a look but I marginally preferred the more old school Spoons at the other side of town.
On 16th November 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Golden Hope
Only open a few days, this former court house and police station, now a Wetherspoons, has been architecturally well preserved by JDW, even to the point of using the former cells as small, single table dining rooms (which may be a trip down memory lane for many of the local customers). The standard of work is very high, making the most of the exposed brickwork and feature staircases. There are several other larger bar/dining areas, and there is a small paved garden at the front, separated from the high street by iron railings which also serve to flank the stone steps up to the main entrance. there is the usual JDW pack of mass produced food, WIFI and dumb gaming machines, but the staff here are particularly inefficient, and in one case, thick. Six ales on, and another one 'coming soon', plus two ciders. I had a pint of Rockin' Robin Spoonshine, which was just about OK, not that well kept. Worth including on a crawl to use the vouchers, and worth a look at the historic building.
On 29th July 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3284 recommendations about 3249 pubs]