Next up was the Anchor, a pub that wasn’t on my original
list, but I’m pleased now that I took a punt on this lengthy oak-beamed
building that is over 300 years old. Situated close to the quayside and boat
moorings at Faversham Creek, I’m fairly certain that I hadn’t visited this
nautical themed establishment before on previous visits to Faversham. From the
outside, the pub looks like three different buildings joined into one, and I
suppose it may well have
been, at one stage during the past. Internally, there
are many original features, including a number of open fireplaces, along with a
wealth of nautical memorabilia.
I ended up in the right-hand bar, where there was a lively group
of local drinkers, sitting at the bar and catching up on the local gossip –
people they’d seen recently. The group ignored me, as I sat at the far end of
the bar, nursing my pint of Master Brew, and here follows an interesting
observation. In the three Shep’s pubs that I visited that day, I didn’t spot a
single pump offering Spitfire – the beer that at one time was probably the
brewery’s best-selling cask ale, and certainly the most heavily promoted.
Two
of the pubs were offering the seasonal Late Red on hand-pump, but apart from
that it was Master Brew all
the way. Departing from the Anchor, I headed back into town, passing
on the way the attractive-looking Phoenix Tavern. This is a Faversham pub that
I might have been in before, although I couldn’t be sure. One thing I did
notice was the large sign outside, looking for new licensees willing to take a chance
on running the pub. Good luck to anyone
brave enough to try, especially in today’s climate, but a publican’s life is
not the one for me.
I continued my journey into the town centre, with the aim of
visiting two further pubs before my train home. The first of these was going to
be the Railway, a pub mentioned right at the start of this piece, but I ended
up being distracted by the Creeker’s Tap, a conversion from a former glazing
shop that that opened as a pub in late 2016. This relative newcomer started
life as the Corner Tap, before adopting its present name during Covid.
The Tap was refurbished in October last year, and in its present
guise consists of two rooms with some solid and comfortable furniture, plus a
lounge type area with a Chesterfield and armchairs in the room at the rear. The
pub is also air-conditioned, a feature that would have been a major attraction two
or three months ago. The Tap features 17 keg taps, from a row on the back wall,
plus a couple of cask ales.
The main attraction for me was the availability of Tegernsee
Spezial, an import from southern Bavaria, and a beer I have enjoyed on a couple
of occasions at the, down to earth, brewery tap, overlooking the shores of Lake
Tegernsee, to the south of Munich. This idyllic scene, set against the background of the Bavarian Alps,
is one of the best places I know to enjoy Tegernsee beer, in a location that
has monastic origins. Also, coming after the rather bland Master Brew that I’d
been chugging all day, this alpine brew was far and away the best beer of the
day.
It was time for one final beer, plus one last pub, and where
better to finish at than the Elephant – a long time CAMRA favourite, situated at
the back of Faversham railway station. This two-roomed traditional, no-frills pub,
with a function room at the back, provides a warm welcome to locals and visitors
alike. I’d obviously picked a quiet time
as apart from the friendly girl behind the bar, there was just me plus one other
customer. Both of these people were welcoming and chatty, and this is a feature
that the Elephant has always endeavoured to encourage.
The establishment was local CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year in
2023 and again in 2026. There is a fine hanging pub sign, at the front of the pub
that has been restored to its rightful place after many years of exposure to
the elements. The sign features the famous
Elephant, that for many years was the trademark of the former Fremlin’s
Brewery. The pub’s landlord is a former member of the “Senior Service”
and prides himself on serving a range of cask ales that occasionally includes a
beer that has been allowed to mature in the cellar.
The pub has received
numerous CAMRA awards consistently over the years. The only cloud on the horizon
is that the landlord is looking to retire but has had difficulty in attracting
the “right” buyer. This means a person who will keep the pub much as it is
today, and without changing too much. Fingers crossed he can attract the right
buyer.
Ribersborg Stout from Shivering Sands Brewery, was my final pint
of the day, and was a good one to end my exploration of, what turned out to be,
just a few of Faversham’s many pubs. If you appreciate unspoilt pubs as much as
I do, and are not too fussed about drinking Shepherd Neame beer, then this
pleasant north Kent town is well worth a day trip, or perhaps even a longer
stay.
