Blog Tracker
25-11-2023, 22:13
Visit the Paul Bailey's Beer Blog site (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2023/11/pilot-guides-way-to-perfect-fish-chips.html)
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Looking back over 15 years’ worth of blog posts, it’s hardsometimes not to spot a recurring theme, a location that gets numerous mentionsor a topic that keeps cropping up. It’s inevitable, I suppose because no matterhow much we search for something different, and new, there are times when we hitthe “repeat” button by returning to a familiar theme or end up revisiting andexperiencing somewhere we’ve been before. This goes against the grain ofperceived wisdom that says you should never go back, and whilst I’m all forchecking out new places that I’ve never been to before, it’s often equally goodto return to somewhere you are not just familiar with but are extremely fondof.
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I’ve probably over-egged that last statement, but the gistof what I want to put across remains the same, and what I’m leading up to isthe trip I made with the family, last Friday, down to Dungeness, for a lunch offish & chips, at the renowned Pilot Inn. (https://thepilotdungeness.co.uk/) Looking back, I’ve written about thePilot on at least four previous occasions, and whilst one or two of these articleswere solely about the pub (and the excellence of its battered cod and chips), therest were pieces about this famous watering hole, but combined with other topics– local towns, landmarks etc.
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So, on Friday, with Matthew having the day off from work,and Mrs PBT’s taking a well-earned rest from the world of VAT returns, wejumped in the car and headed off to Romney Marsh. This sparsely populatedwetland area, which stretches between the counties of Kent and EastSussex, has long held a fascination for the Bailey family, and it’s noexaggeration to say it’s one of our favourite places. Covering an area ofaround 100 square miles, with much of it lyingbelow sea level, thissouth-eastern corner of Kent contains one of England’s most distinctivelandscapes and consists of wide, flat fields, endless skies, meandering ditchesdotted with isolated farms and villages.
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Eileen and I both have fond memoriesfrom our respective childhoods, of visits to Romney Marsh, and this traditioncontinued when we became a married couple and then a family. We spent ourhoneymoon at Rye and later, following the birth of son Matthew,had a number of family holidays in the area. This included renting a cottage atWinchelsea Beach, in the shadow of the dunes and the seawall, andliterally a stone's throw from the sea. A shortdrive from Winchelsea is the southern tip of Romney Marsh, wherethe great sweeping expanse of shingle known as Dungeness, juts out intothe English Channel. It is the largest such shingle structure in Europeand was the destination for Friday’s trip to the coast. We normally follow awell-driven route that takes us in a roughly south-easterly direction, fromTonbridge down to New Romney, via Goudhurst, Tenterden and Appledore.
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The adage of never travel on a Friday proved apt advice, as roadclosures between Goudhurst and Tenterden, meant a lengthy diversion. Inaddition, umpteen sets of road works – most of them seemingly connected withnew housing developments, meant it was after 2pm, before we arrived at thePilot. Leaving late hadn’t helped either, but this was unavoidable, as bothMatthew and I had errands to sort out in Tonbridge that morning.
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Friday was dry, and a welcome relief following what has seemedlike weeks of relentless rain. It was also bright and sunny, although with astrong, cold northerly wind blowing, it wasn’t a day for standing on theshingle bank and admiring the views of the English Channel. Our late arrivaldid mean that the pub was relatively quiet, so with no difficulty finding aparking space, and also a table, it wasn’t long before we were tucking into ourlunchtime feast of fish and chips.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfX6Gs7k9H-qmB8hGXorSFVexPn3qzidkgpvYAYupA6qHX7ZV3Wa6sUWCwQw8 MWBtLTiBIDLqlUT1nJIi39jLBJ2-6K6n4Ht8stNoEbiEv0Oaswk_GzABMYiDy9Rqp6tat1MnJV1N08 pLLIRD4mHjBDEb5Ti7d-q42QWNvxinXvOIhWON3JnKgo_uwJM/w300-h400/Huss%20&%20Chips%20Pilot.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfX6Gs7k9H-qmB8hGXorSFVexPn3qzidkgpvYAYupA6qHX7ZV3Wa6sUWCwQw8 MWBtLTiBIDLqlUT1nJIi39jLBJ2-6K6n4Ht8stNoEbiEv0Oaswk_GzABMYiDy9Rqp6tat1MnJV1N08 pLLIRD4mHjBDEb5Ti7d-q42QWNvxinXvOIhWON3JnKgo_uwJM/s2048/Huss%20&%20Chips%20Pilot.jpg)
To be pedantic, it was the family that had the fish andchips – huss for Eileen and haddock for Matthew, I went for the "DungenessFisherman’s Pie", consisting of cod, salmon, smoked haddock, and prawns, toppedwith mashed potato and melted cheese. I’ve enjoyed this dish before, and itdidn’t disappoint this time around. Asfar as the beer is concerned, the Pilot features a couple of “house beers”produced for the pub by Romney Marsh Brewery. As on previous visits, I opted for the B17Sleepytime Girl, an American-style IPA that was the perfect accompaniment to theseafood. It's worth noting that I’ve never failed to be impressed at theslick operation in place at this family-run pub. Food orders are taken at aseparate counter, whilst drinks are ordered at the bar. This means drinkersdon’t have to wait whilst diners faff over what to order from the menu. It alsomeans there never seems long to wait before the food is brought to the table,piping hot and ready to enjoy. As well as appealing to fish lovers, meat eatersare catered for too, as are those who prefer plant-based concoctions. Dailyspecials are also available, and food is served from noon right through to 9pm(8pm on Sundays). Given the above, the Pilot is justly popular with a widerange of discerning customers.
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The cold wind meant we weren’t tempted to go for a walkalong the beach afterwards, but the breezy conditions did make for goodvisibility had we wished to view the shipping moving up and down the Channel. Wedid, however, take a drive along to Dungeness point, where the two lighthousesstand guard over the two nuclear power stations. Dungeness “A”wasdecommissioned some years ago, and I believe the “B” power-generating unit isalso now undergoing the same process. Nearby, is the terminus of the Romney,Hythe & Dymchurch light railway, although being term-time, as well as winter,trains didn’t appear to be running.
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On the way home, we called into Jempson's Superstoreat Peasmarsh, just outside Rye. Jempson’s are a local company,and their shop is well-stocked with from the surrounding area. The adjacentfilling station is also renowned for cheap fuel, and a lengthy queue haddeveloped. I’d already purchased my diesel, before leaving Tonbridge, and withthe gauge hovering just on the reserve mark, there wouldn’t have beensufficient for the drive down to Romney Marsh, especially with the diversionsand roadworks encountered, on the way.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzw143Q9MIwOYCALjfN1A2opJIYlWQvOBfcUNamO_zVM lBv4Wm8p7X-y21GcZ4XOADKyYgSA02kl3P0tZM8TLBF___08W7khCC0NfT22x C2aN5PpiiYpU076hhcq0mGJ8h-OJyDGAKHWZvlO3PSNv_6tEDq4NIkauc1udbeOT5Ufz2h2QK0aC rfpSIhnI/w400-h225/IMG_20231124_152257.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzw143Q9MIwOYCALjfN1A2opJIYlWQvOBfcUNamO_zVM lBv4Wm8p7X-y21GcZ4XOADKyYgSA02kl3P0tZM8TLBF___08W7khCC0NfT22x C2aN5PpiiYpU076hhcq0mGJ8h-OJyDGAKHWZvlO3PSNv_6tEDq4NIkauc1udbeOT5Ufz2h2QK0aC rfpSIhnI/s4000/IMG_20231124_152257.jpg)
Eileen bought a couple of packs of Jempson’s famous sausagerolls, which we had for tea, the following day, and also purchased a bag offreshly baked jam doughnuts. I took a look at the beer aisle, noting that CellarHead Brewing seem to have taken over from Old Dairy, as the store’s supplier oflocal beers. This is not surprising, given the sad demise of Old Dairy, earlierthis year. The store itself was buzzing, and as I’ve mentioned before it's goodto see an independent, family-owned supermarket more than holding its ownagainst the bigger boys.Like I said at the beginning, this piece is a little predictable andfamiliar, but occasionally it doesn’t hurt to stick with what you know andlove.
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Looking back over 15 years’ worth of blog posts, it’s hardsometimes not to spot a recurring theme, a location that gets numerous mentionsor a topic that keeps cropping up. It’s inevitable, I suppose because no matterhow much we search for something different, and new, there are times when we hitthe “repeat” button by returning to a familiar theme or end up revisiting andexperiencing somewhere we’ve been before. This goes against the grain ofperceived wisdom that says you should never go back, and whilst I’m all forchecking out new places that I’ve never been to before, it’s often equally goodto return to somewhere you are not just familiar with but are extremely fondof.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxEmKztrOLZ_AmH6sUKcBXryhcz8E_Pg5yP7u1pwdsa ATUtknYm_ISBHM_V7b8Q0fTiqYt21aaQTzRmpqnR0T-O1zvDySMHCxLUJr8lfQ-vqk2R3oD3oRF0rdmhAenSqD1P5cuggPD2zgVDMKuOKLwKf2Ry7 zJha2TF3gPwSIVPmVSgBdzMiO7SsCCio/w400-h225/IMG_20231124_152241.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxEmKztrOLZ_AmH6sUKcBXryhcz8E_Pg5yP7u1pwdsa ATUtknYm_ISBHM_V7b8Q0fTiqYt21aaQTzRmpqnR0T-O1zvDySMHCxLUJr8lfQ-vqk2R3oD3oRF0rdmhAenSqD1P5cuggPD2zgVDMKuOKLwKf2Ry7 zJha2TF3gPwSIVPmVSgBdzMiO7SsCCio/s4000/IMG_20231124_152241.jpg)
I’ve probably over-egged that last statement, but the gistof what I want to put across remains the same, and what I’m leading up to isthe trip I made with the family, last Friday, down to Dungeness, for a lunch offish & chips, at the renowned Pilot Inn. (https://thepilotdungeness.co.uk/) Looking back, I’ve written about thePilot on at least four previous occasions, and whilst one or two of these articleswere solely about the pub (and the excellence of its battered cod and chips), therest were pieces about this famous watering hole, but combined with other topics– local towns, landmarks etc.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx98mLdm5Ro309t1gVVeSlgT7VqbSqekVB79-3IlVZeo6M05my642FWSo6fSVsetEXkr46I5mUPP_S7_4dk6fci twFejtgXCmzq2fTudsKdw-nNdG4YRWEHRpa1rlwPUCW0YS3OzYDzFJgp85-eFAnDVBrJoIsZ-Bo1D1VxKje_eNLdazWUvXbxptghQ/w400-h300/Dungeness%20light%20house.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx98mLdm5Ro309t1gVVeSlgT7VqbSqekVB79-3IlVZeo6M05my642FWSo6fSVsetEXkr46I5mUPP_S7_4dk6fci twFejtgXCmzq2fTudsKdw-nNdG4YRWEHRpa1rlwPUCW0YS3OzYDzFJgp85-eFAnDVBrJoIsZ-Bo1D1VxKje_eNLdazWUvXbxptghQ/s4128/Dungeness%20light%20house.jpg)
So, on Friday, with Matthew having the day off from work,and Mrs PBT’s taking a well-earned rest from the world of VAT returns, wejumped in the car and headed off to Romney Marsh. This sparsely populatedwetland area, which stretches between the counties of Kent and EastSussex, has long held a fascination for the Bailey family, and it’s noexaggeration to say it’s one of our favourite places. Covering an area ofaround 100 square miles, with much of it lyingbelow sea level, thissouth-eastern corner of Kent contains one of England’s most distinctivelandscapes and consists of wide, flat fields, endless skies, meandering ditchesdotted with isolated farms and villages.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqImvPYkRUYvJcAorgxGB3M3d6XFYo5V8QVTZNE9KW1 f_k7EcZxcITB9qxBCMk6zt5Ws_IGY7qbNJgrsbnswSQtS-4lI5hEjcQbC363pE6ENaj4YoN6yWLuvvw4iLwMaS_kGMSNy7lA jGZUOXJBtPq8MIf4GMrmzlfouWMog9lnUcWhvjXF2p-dU0bUk/w300-h400/20180825_145529.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqImvPYkRUYvJcAorgxGB3M3d6XFYo5V8QVTZNE9KW1 f_k7EcZxcITB9qxBCMk6zt5Ws_IGY7qbNJgrsbnswSQtS-4lI5hEjcQbC363pE6ENaj4YoN6yWLuvvw4iLwMaS_kGMSNy7lA jGZUOXJBtPq8MIf4GMrmzlfouWMog9lnUcWhvjXF2p-dU0bUk/s4128/20180825_145529.jpg)
Eileen and I both have fond memoriesfrom our respective childhoods, of visits to Romney Marsh, and this traditioncontinued when we became a married couple and then a family. We spent ourhoneymoon at Rye and later, following the birth of son Matthew,had a number of family holidays in the area. This included renting a cottage atWinchelsea Beach, in the shadow of the dunes and the seawall, andliterally a stone's throw from the sea. A shortdrive from Winchelsea is the southern tip of Romney Marsh, wherethe great sweeping expanse of shingle known as Dungeness, juts out intothe English Channel. It is the largest such shingle structure in Europeand was the destination for Friday’s trip to the coast. We normally follow awell-driven route that takes us in a roughly south-easterly direction, fromTonbridge down to New Romney, via Goudhurst, Tenterden and Appledore.
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The adage of never travel on a Friday proved apt advice, as roadclosures between Goudhurst and Tenterden, meant a lengthy diversion. Inaddition, umpteen sets of road works – most of them seemingly connected withnew housing developments, meant it was after 2pm, before we arrived at thePilot. Leaving late hadn’t helped either, but this was unavoidable, as bothMatthew and I had errands to sort out in Tonbridge that morning.
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Friday was dry, and a welcome relief following what has seemedlike weeks of relentless rain. It was also bright and sunny, although with astrong, cold northerly wind blowing, it wasn’t a day for standing on theshingle bank and admiring the views of the English Channel. Our late arrivaldid mean that the pub was relatively quiet, so with no difficulty finding aparking space, and also a table, it wasn’t long before we were tucking into ourlunchtime feast of fish and chips.
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To be pedantic, it was the family that had the fish andchips – huss for Eileen and haddock for Matthew, I went for the "DungenessFisherman’s Pie", consisting of cod, salmon, smoked haddock, and prawns, toppedwith mashed potato and melted cheese. I’ve enjoyed this dish before, and itdidn’t disappoint this time around. Asfar as the beer is concerned, the Pilot features a couple of “house beers”produced for the pub by Romney Marsh Brewery. As on previous visits, I opted for the B17Sleepytime Girl, an American-style IPA that was the perfect accompaniment to theseafood. It's worth noting that I’ve never failed to be impressed at theslick operation in place at this family-run pub. Food orders are taken at aseparate counter, whilst drinks are ordered at the bar. This means drinkersdon’t have to wait whilst diners faff over what to order from the menu. It alsomeans there never seems long to wait before the food is brought to the table,piping hot and ready to enjoy. As well as appealing to fish lovers, meat eatersare catered for too, as are those who prefer plant-based concoctions. Dailyspecials are also available, and food is served from noon right through to 9pm(8pm on Sundays). Given the above, the Pilot is justly popular with a widerange of discerning customers.
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The cold wind meant we weren’t tempted to go for a walkalong the beach afterwards, but the breezy conditions did make for goodvisibility had we wished to view the shipping moving up and down the Channel. Wedid, however, take a drive along to Dungeness point, where the two lighthousesstand guard over the two nuclear power stations. Dungeness “A”wasdecommissioned some years ago, and I believe the “B” power-generating unit isalso now undergoing the same process. Nearby, is the terminus of the Romney,Hythe & Dymchurch light railway, although being term-time, as well as winter,trains didn’t appear to be running.
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On the way home, we called into Jempson's Superstoreat Peasmarsh, just outside Rye. Jempson’s are a local company,and their shop is well-stocked with from the surrounding area. The adjacentfilling station is also renowned for cheap fuel, and a lengthy queue haddeveloped. I’d already purchased my diesel, before leaving Tonbridge, and withthe gauge hovering just on the reserve mark, there wouldn’t have beensufficient for the drive down to Romney Marsh, especially with the diversionsand roadworks encountered, on the way.
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Eileen bought a couple of packs of Jempson’s famous sausagerolls, which we had for tea, the following day, and also purchased a bag offreshly baked jam doughnuts. I took a look at the beer aisle, noting that CellarHead Brewing seem to have taken over from Old Dairy, as the store’s supplier oflocal beers. This is not surprising, given the sad demise of Old Dairy, earlierthis year. The store itself was buzzing, and as I’ve mentioned before it's goodto see an independent, family-owned supermarket more than holding its ownagainst the bigger boys.Like I said at the beginning, this piece is a little predictable andfamiliar, but occasionally it doesn’t hurt to stick with what you know andlove.
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