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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about Pub 31
I too wasn’t expecting a lot from this one due to its location next to the substantial Winchelsea Sands Holiday Park and part of a trio of delights, along with Ben’s fish and chip shop and Zippo’s Kebab and pizza takeaway, aimed at the happy caravaners. Also, the outside vista is not promising as it more resembles a black prefab box reminiscent of estate pubs than a traditional pub.
However inside it does feel more like a proper traditional pub with a large stone fireplace, black and white period photos of the area, a separate section with a pool table and a bar area with assorted breweriana around it. The bar supports the usual keg suspects with two ale handpumps, but only one was badged for my visit with a passable Longman Best Bitter.
There were not many inside on this particular fine weather lunchtime with most punters choosing to use the outside benches on the shingle front garden with its fine view of the passing traffic. I also took my half out here, but soon realised that most others were here not so much for a need to be exposed to sun rays rather than a need to indulge in tobacco products.
If I was staying in the holiday park next door, then I would be happy to use it. But if you have walked here along the coast or through the Rye Marina nature reserve and are looking for a pub with decent food and a fine garden, the nearby Ship Inn wins that one in spades.
The pub takes its name from it being on the site of the 31st Martello tower, counting from East to West. That’s sadly now gone but numbers 28 and 30 still exist in nearby Rye if you are into that sort of thing.
On 2nd September 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Pub 31
Pub 31 has a weatherboard exterior, large car park behind and front beer garden/car park with some picnic tables and a covered smoking shelter. I wasn’t expecting much as I approached so was surprised to find a proper pub interior complete with a pool table and dartboard. The television was off, but BT Sports is advertised. There are extended opening hours until midnight on Fridays and Saturday and live music is held here on Sunday afternoons. During my recent Saturday afternoon visit there was some background music playing. The L shaped bar supports a standard keg range and the solitary hand pump was drawing St Austell’s Tribute. I didn’t see any advertisements for food.
There was only one other customer, but I was made to feel Welcome, as are dogs on leads. I preferred this place to the Ship Inn up the road, but it cannot compete with Ship’s beer garden.
On 27th September 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5249 recommendations about 5217 pubs]