Blog Tracker
03-12-2023, 11:10
Visit the Paul Bailey's Beer Blog site (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2023/12/pre-loading-before-firms-christmas-bash.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLRVmq8EfLb0MeiiSNEbgKDHYGmKeWiD3Vf0PY_aG6Y aygBLvC0TROn0FA_slxkCya5v-REvAspAjofiZybmMi-G3ymv5uL_9rgUGqzod8KV7EoMc9yDEdnsUnaFegX8H3cr8q9JM UOChIhTc3RQHruoj613LRDKkrV64DP9zpZkMf4lMTT8kNedIxX 4/w400-h225/Barn%20T%20Wells.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLRVmq8EfLb0MeiiSNEbgKDHYGmKeWiD3Vf0PY_aG6Y aygBLvC0TROn0FA_slxkCya5v-REvAspAjofiZybmMi-G3ymv5uL_9rgUGqzod8KV7EoMc9yDEdnsUnaFegX8H3cr8q9JM UOChIhTc3RQHruoj613LRDKkrV64DP9zpZkMf4lMTT8kNedIxX 4/s4000/Barn%20T%20Wells.jpg)
Friday 1stDecember, saw me in Tunbridge Wells, ahead of a Christmas Party invitation.It’s that time of year, and whilst many will think it far too early to bethinking of the festering season, my firm thought otherwise – or at least somefemale members of staff did. That might sound slightly sexist, but in my 40years + experience of such events, it is invariably the ladies who like to planand organise these get-togethers. There was one memorable year though, whenmyself and the works engineer, sorted out the party arrangements, but that wasonly because it allowed us to visit potential venues to check out what was onoffer. In pre-internet days, this was often the only way of organising theChristmas Party.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbSGIPt9zCiPvIaw7Q4kJhUqI_ZMHVD_EjUyaDtIu91 EGWIIgm_yL6_dheHamssa6geaZXiuK-vyGG1R1lZCg4iV11aiig48mq27xr51nAxuOMNeIwYDq5-8j1DxnguSvV_unBCohpyaBeHtBTzVHY34woMAtrNfC4feocsGf-y0vgvk4WN_c2_LhMZY/w400-h241/Barn%20Int..jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbSGIPt9zCiPvIaw7Q4kJhUqI_ZMHVD_EjUyaDtIu91 EGWIIgm_yL6_dheHamssa6geaZXiuK-vyGG1R1lZCg4iV11aiig48mq27xr51nAxuOMNeIwYDq5-8j1DxnguSvV_unBCohpyaBeHtBTzVHY34woMAtrNfC4feocsGf-y0vgvk4WN_c2_LhMZY/s3725/Barn%20Int..jpg)
I digress, but thisyear’s bash broke with protocol by plumping for an evening event, at adifferent location. Covid aside, for the majority of my 17 years with thecompany, our Christmas party/meal has taken place at the Little Brown Jug, alarge, but cosy and comfortable pub just 10 minutes’ walk along the road, fromour factory in Chiddingstone Causeway. The “Jug” is also directly oppositePenshurst railway station – an important consideration for those indulging in aglass or three of something inebriating, with their festive meal.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqgrOdaEqY1lgvtrtP9cDa1tE3upvUbesU3sh2uHhUw 3Op8T4U-Y-ckzH2k7ThUCnmi0TH-6E1XT01Ch8cMIi5dDmxhKtGRy2rOcN857OUd5iYzYUKUuGESX8 KjRwbv8rS11SVkfThlPdOPhcUT3KJFhXeDwKK7vjDmqr5BnVBN yHl6iRVET2zVrHNMU/w400-h225/Browb%20Jug%20Chidd.JPG (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqgrOdaEqY1lgvtrtP9cDa1tE3upvUbesU3sh2uHhUw 3Op8T4U-Y-ckzH2k7ThUCnmi0TH-6E1XT01Ch8cMIi5dDmxhKtGRy2rOcN857OUd5iYzYUKUuGESX8 KjRwbv8rS11SVkfThlPdOPhcUT3KJFhXeDwKK7vjDmqr5BnVBN yHl6iRVET2zVrHNMU/s3104/Browb%20Jug%20Chidd.JPG)
We have triedvarious combinations of afternoon or evening events, the latter having theadvantage of extending the invitation to the spouses or partners of staffmembers. However, as the company has grown in size, we have reverted to amid-afternoon event reserved solely for employees. The Little Brown Jug hasinvariably laid on a sumptuous, and almost gut-busting, three-course meal for us, and to my mind therewas little need to change. Other voices prevailed though, which meant thesearch was on for an alternative venue. To cut a long story short, we opted fora pub-cum-restaurant in Tunbridge Wells, and for an evening function, and thatis why I found myself in Tunbridge Wells, last Friday.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6N_JfXpS1H8tg55FzjSQ-B6wqgoaPBRW_tpIKo0VYkZjZ74BYYwUJ1MTZ-gYcEYnOdLn8FJOw7pUVaIhHBtFoHCOugfR9t4WXR45BSkrFwft XqtxSavT_0MgX7Yrd8YEqgBcLE625-tKLKUjRDDKvltUlnJequZ5jzzSpqcwFkUZ6mfWnUXZUCylTXY/w400-h225/Allkin%20Tap%20Ext.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6N_JfXpS1H8tg55FzjSQ-B6wqgoaPBRW_tpIKo0VYkZjZ74BYYwUJ1MTZ-gYcEYnOdLn8FJOw7pUVaIhHBtFoHCOugfR9t4WXR45BSkrFwft XqtxSavT_0MgX7Yrd8YEqgBcLE625-tKLKUjRDDKvltUlnJequZ5jzzSpqcwFkUZ6mfWnUXZUCylTXY/s3920/Allkin%20Tap%20Ext.jpg)
With a 5pm meet-up atthe restaurant, I potentially had several hours to enjoy, but after decidingthat with an open bar tab at the party venue, I would need to pace myself asfar as drink was concerned, I left it until just before 3 pm before taking thetrain over to the Wells. On arriving in the town, I made my way up from thestation towards the main shopping area, primarily because I wanted to stop offat the bank. From there it was just a short hop to AllkinTap & Bottle, at the far end of Calverley Road. This recently openedestablishment is a welcome addition to the local beer scene in Tunbridge Wells,and the people behind the place are Allkin Brewery, (https://form.typeform.com/to/ZckuJAGm?typeform-source=allkinbrewing.com) who are based inEridge, which is just a few miles across the border into Sussex.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySbhY4OZp_1hkLM0Dx1TBSPhhVz_YEnK0E2IJaN4KIE REW_0kVkQMnmZSsEtt9GmGhwjvysOGPYLyY9kPir2OtlCd0fAB 47UUQtlQ4lSafYGXV6bJ6_qGNHS3q0XavOlfAKdCE_iz6qrjQB ofJLg58bnUE9UR429mLUvtQDmJVCaN0Do-R5NNpG4nkmU/w400-h225/Allkin%20Beer%20List.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySbhY4OZp_1hkLM0Dx1TBSPhhVz_YEnK0E2IJaN4KIE REW_0kVkQMnmZSsEtt9GmGhwjvysOGPYLyY9kPir2OtlCd0fAB 47UUQtlQ4lSafYGXV6bJ6_qGNHS3q0XavOlfAKdCE_iz6qrjQB ofJLg58bnUE9UR429mLUvtQDmJVCaN0Do-R5NNpG4nkmU/s4000/Allkin%20Beer%20List.jpg)
Allkin Brewing started life as “Good Things Brewing” back in 2018.The brewery was housed in an attractive 17th Century barn, next doorto the family home, and by generatingtheir own electricity, drawing up their own bore hole water, re-using wasteproducts from the brewing process and delivering beer in their own electric van,established itself as the mostsustainable brewery in the UK. Things were working out fine, and the evenmanaged to survive lock-down, until on Sunday 25th July 2021, thebrewery was tragically struck by lightning and burnt to the ground.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5584B_XRk0eR5vPXMId-I6VBG0YQmIf-swZNmi2pufbF7kM8gsRedN7qYd2wGgWrr9t1h2s_FLcene18fr GhbqMsBfqBZg20ZDd58VjVDRCyDNYx5nmlqu0sVFMDPub0kfP-nzupWDMmdaYsTT0kD3gJJ8BqDOoyRmS743Mp5VwXeqa7GRUp9B KdlEhs/w225-h400/Allkin%20cask.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5584B_XRk0eR5vPXMId-I6VBG0YQmIf-swZNmi2pufbF7kM8gsRedN7qYd2wGgWrr9t1h2s_FLcene18fr GhbqMsBfqBZg20ZDd58VjVDRCyDNYx5nmlqu0sVFMDPub0kfP-nzupWDMmdaYsTT0kD3gJJ8BqDOoyRmS743Mp5VwXeqa7GRUp9B KdlEhs/s4000/Allkin%20cask.jpg)
A period of crowdfundingthen followed and has resurfaced as Allkin Brewing Company. I’m not sure if thenew brewery is up and running yet, or whether some of the beers are currentlycontract-brewed, although looking at the website, I suspect the latter situationapplies. Looking for a place to showcase their beers, the company acquired aformer shop unit at the far end of Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, which they openedas theAllkin Tap & Bottle (https://allkinbrewing.com/) six months or so ago. Initially, opening was restrictedto Thursday to Sunday, but recently was extended to seven days a week.I knew the localCAMRA branch had been keeping an eye on the place, and I had seen some goodreports about it on one of the WhatsApp groups. It was no surprise then to finda couple of West Kent CAMRA members sitting there, at a table next to thewindow, when I walked in on Friday. They were probably surprised to see me, asI don’t get over that much to Tunbridge Wells, but after exchanging a fewpleasantries, I ordered myself a beer, and joined then at their table. I’dtaken the trouble earlier, to select a couple of beers from the Tap’s website, (https://allkinbrewing.com/) andstarted off with Flip the Bird, a 4.5% pale ale from Allkin. It was a keg beer,in common with most of the other beers at the tap. A total of 15 keglines serves up a mix of beers and ciders from approved brewers, basedthroughout the UK, but a single cask beer is dispensed by hand pump. The choiceof beer changes weekly, to ensure the freshest beer is always available.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUph2J-sv53GIWafcfaTUtVEoruTpOPuRollYTNibHKxn10cOU2-OZZSHN60eD4QvGXIgg5lDf3WL8SgzGijpew8A963v54LVYpEiQ eB-Qo79taC-InUSxsOSeWKXOwJLzOhUB5cv9WY4a0b_f-r1AYq9p6DxY9SzWAufzSGPWqoXTBxUoAECe273n5A/w400-h225/Allkin%20Bar.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUph2J-sv53GIWafcfaTUtVEoruTpOPuRollYTNibHKxn10cOU2-OZZSHN60eD4QvGXIgg5lDf3WL8SgzGijpew8A963v54LVYpEiQ eB-Qo79taC-InUSxsOSeWKXOwJLzOhUB5cv9WY4a0b_f-r1AYq9p6DxY9SzWAufzSGPWqoXTBxUoAECe273n5A/s4000/Allkin%20Bar.jpg)
I switched to cask for the second beer, and this was Plateaufrom Burning Sky Brewery, (https://www.burningskybeer.com/) who are based close to the village of Firle, in theshadow of the South Downs. Apart from me plus my two CAMRA companions, there wasonly a handful of people in the Tap, but as the afternoon drew on, the place startedfilling up. The pub interior is long and slim with bench and stool seating,looking towards the bar counter and serving area to the right of the building.It seemed quite canine friendly, with canines of varying breeds anddescriptions, present, along with their human owners/handlers.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTB_7DOJIuhjz1vOhoLmF-1hPd3zWh5TDAY3ENldQ2YSjwEtJ2a4MMrN-oZYQguXn1nlMxZcMe_OyQaFIYNi76AyHaOdG7iZUdu4oYNY-VavdJeBVmdbEk2jSOR2NW82gW5foH4VtfUl1HJqm4mnfbfe6PK TFLFuAWiL71JRgBsGpom1AWPnUnHN9ERk/w400-h225/Bog%20rolls.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTB_7DOJIuhjz1vOhoLmF-1hPd3zWh5TDAY3ENldQ2YSjwEtJ2a4MMrN-oZYQguXn1nlMxZcMe_OyQaFIYNi76AyHaOdG7iZUdu4oYNY-VavdJeBVmdbEk2jSOR2NW82gW5foH4VtfUl1HJqm4mnfbfe6PK TFLFuAWiL71JRgBsGpom1AWPnUnHN9ERk/s4000/Bog%20rolls.jpg)
Food, at the moment, seems limited to cold meats, pate, and cheeses,in the same vein really as nearby Fuggles. My companions were enjoying some sortof spread on artisan bread, but I had a meal waiting for me, just down the road.With this in mind, I polished off my final beer, a half of London Black Porterfrom Ansbach & Hobday, said goodbye to my companions, and set off back downthe hill, towards the station.The venue hosting our Christmas celebration was the Barn, a rebuildof an old barn using some of the original beams and bricks, which lies just offMount Pleasant in the middle of town and a short walk from the station. There’snot a huge amount to report, on the venue, or the meal, so I shall save that particular pleasure foranother day.
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More... (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2023/12/pre-loading-before-firms-christmas-bash.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLRVmq8EfLb0MeiiSNEbgKDHYGmKeWiD3Vf0PY_aG6Y aygBLvC0TROn0FA_slxkCya5v-REvAspAjofiZybmMi-G3ymv5uL_9rgUGqzod8KV7EoMc9yDEdnsUnaFegX8H3cr8q9JM UOChIhTc3RQHruoj613LRDKkrV64DP9zpZkMf4lMTT8kNedIxX 4/w400-h225/Barn%20T%20Wells.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZLRVmq8EfLb0MeiiSNEbgKDHYGmKeWiD3Vf0PY_aG6Y aygBLvC0TROn0FA_slxkCya5v-REvAspAjofiZybmMi-G3ymv5uL_9rgUGqzod8KV7EoMc9yDEdnsUnaFegX8H3cr8q9JM UOChIhTc3RQHruoj613LRDKkrV64DP9zpZkMf4lMTT8kNedIxX 4/s4000/Barn%20T%20Wells.jpg)
Friday 1stDecember, saw me in Tunbridge Wells, ahead of a Christmas Party invitation.It’s that time of year, and whilst many will think it far too early to bethinking of the festering season, my firm thought otherwise – or at least somefemale members of staff did. That might sound slightly sexist, but in my 40years + experience of such events, it is invariably the ladies who like to planand organise these get-togethers. There was one memorable year though, whenmyself and the works engineer, sorted out the party arrangements, but that wasonly because it allowed us to visit potential venues to check out what was onoffer. In pre-internet days, this was often the only way of organising theChristmas Party.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbSGIPt9zCiPvIaw7Q4kJhUqI_ZMHVD_EjUyaDtIu91 EGWIIgm_yL6_dheHamssa6geaZXiuK-vyGG1R1lZCg4iV11aiig48mq27xr51nAxuOMNeIwYDq5-8j1DxnguSvV_unBCohpyaBeHtBTzVHY34woMAtrNfC4feocsGf-y0vgvk4WN_c2_LhMZY/w400-h241/Barn%20Int..jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbSGIPt9zCiPvIaw7Q4kJhUqI_ZMHVD_EjUyaDtIu91 EGWIIgm_yL6_dheHamssa6geaZXiuK-vyGG1R1lZCg4iV11aiig48mq27xr51nAxuOMNeIwYDq5-8j1DxnguSvV_unBCohpyaBeHtBTzVHY34woMAtrNfC4feocsGf-y0vgvk4WN_c2_LhMZY/s3725/Barn%20Int..jpg)
I digress, but thisyear’s bash broke with protocol by plumping for an evening event, at adifferent location. Covid aside, for the majority of my 17 years with thecompany, our Christmas party/meal has taken place at the Little Brown Jug, alarge, but cosy and comfortable pub just 10 minutes’ walk along the road, fromour factory in Chiddingstone Causeway. The “Jug” is also directly oppositePenshurst railway station – an important consideration for those indulging in aglass or three of something inebriating, with their festive meal.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqgrOdaEqY1lgvtrtP9cDa1tE3upvUbesU3sh2uHhUw 3Op8T4U-Y-ckzH2k7ThUCnmi0TH-6E1XT01Ch8cMIi5dDmxhKtGRy2rOcN857OUd5iYzYUKUuGESX8 KjRwbv8rS11SVkfThlPdOPhcUT3KJFhXeDwKK7vjDmqr5BnVBN yHl6iRVET2zVrHNMU/w400-h225/Browb%20Jug%20Chidd.JPG (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqgrOdaEqY1lgvtrtP9cDa1tE3upvUbesU3sh2uHhUw 3Op8T4U-Y-ckzH2k7ThUCnmi0TH-6E1XT01Ch8cMIi5dDmxhKtGRy2rOcN857OUd5iYzYUKUuGESX8 KjRwbv8rS11SVkfThlPdOPhcUT3KJFhXeDwKK7vjDmqr5BnVBN yHl6iRVET2zVrHNMU/s3104/Browb%20Jug%20Chidd.JPG)
We have triedvarious combinations of afternoon or evening events, the latter having theadvantage of extending the invitation to the spouses or partners of staffmembers. However, as the company has grown in size, we have reverted to amid-afternoon event reserved solely for employees. The Little Brown Jug hasinvariably laid on a sumptuous, and almost gut-busting, three-course meal for us, and to my mind therewas little need to change. Other voices prevailed though, which meant thesearch was on for an alternative venue. To cut a long story short, we opted fora pub-cum-restaurant in Tunbridge Wells, and for an evening function, and thatis why I found myself in Tunbridge Wells, last Friday.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6N_JfXpS1H8tg55FzjSQ-B6wqgoaPBRW_tpIKo0VYkZjZ74BYYwUJ1MTZ-gYcEYnOdLn8FJOw7pUVaIhHBtFoHCOugfR9t4WXR45BSkrFwft XqtxSavT_0MgX7Yrd8YEqgBcLE625-tKLKUjRDDKvltUlnJequZ5jzzSpqcwFkUZ6mfWnUXZUCylTXY/w400-h225/Allkin%20Tap%20Ext.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6N_JfXpS1H8tg55FzjSQ-B6wqgoaPBRW_tpIKo0VYkZjZ74BYYwUJ1MTZ-gYcEYnOdLn8FJOw7pUVaIhHBtFoHCOugfR9t4WXR45BSkrFwft XqtxSavT_0MgX7Yrd8YEqgBcLE625-tKLKUjRDDKvltUlnJequZ5jzzSpqcwFkUZ6mfWnUXZUCylTXY/s3920/Allkin%20Tap%20Ext.jpg)
With a 5pm meet-up atthe restaurant, I potentially had several hours to enjoy, but after decidingthat with an open bar tab at the party venue, I would need to pace myself asfar as drink was concerned, I left it until just before 3 pm before taking thetrain over to the Wells. On arriving in the town, I made my way up from thestation towards the main shopping area, primarily because I wanted to stop offat the bank. From there it was just a short hop to AllkinTap & Bottle, at the far end of Calverley Road. This recently openedestablishment is a welcome addition to the local beer scene in Tunbridge Wells,and the people behind the place are Allkin Brewery, (https://form.typeform.com/to/ZckuJAGm?typeform-source=allkinbrewing.com) who are based inEridge, which is just a few miles across the border into Sussex.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySbhY4OZp_1hkLM0Dx1TBSPhhVz_YEnK0E2IJaN4KIE REW_0kVkQMnmZSsEtt9GmGhwjvysOGPYLyY9kPir2OtlCd0fAB 47UUQtlQ4lSafYGXV6bJ6_qGNHS3q0XavOlfAKdCE_iz6qrjQB ofJLg58bnUE9UR429mLUvtQDmJVCaN0Do-R5NNpG4nkmU/w400-h225/Allkin%20Beer%20List.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySbhY4OZp_1hkLM0Dx1TBSPhhVz_YEnK0E2IJaN4KIE REW_0kVkQMnmZSsEtt9GmGhwjvysOGPYLyY9kPir2OtlCd0fAB 47UUQtlQ4lSafYGXV6bJ6_qGNHS3q0XavOlfAKdCE_iz6qrjQB ofJLg58bnUE9UR429mLUvtQDmJVCaN0Do-R5NNpG4nkmU/s4000/Allkin%20Beer%20List.jpg)
Allkin Brewing started life as “Good Things Brewing” back in 2018.The brewery was housed in an attractive 17th Century barn, next doorto the family home, and by generatingtheir own electricity, drawing up their own bore hole water, re-using wasteproducts from the brewing process and delivering beer in their own electric van,established itself as the mostsustainable brewery in the UK. Things were working out fine, and the evenmanaged to survive lock-down, until on Sunday 25th July 2021, thebrewery was tragically struck by lightning and burnt to the ground.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5584B_XRk0eR5vPXMId-I6VBG0YQmIf-swZNmi2pufbF7kM8gsRedN7qYd2wGgWrr9t1h2s_FLcene18fr GhbqMsBfqBZg20ZDd58VjVDRCyDNYx5nmlqu0sVFMDPub0kfP-nzupWDMmdaYsTT0kD3gJJ8BqDOoyRmS743Mp5VwXeqa7GRUp9B KdlEhs/w225-h400/Allkin%20cask.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5584B_XRk0eR5vPXMId-I6VBG0YQmIf-swZNmi2pufbF7kM8gsRedN7qYd2wGgWrr9t1h2s_FLcene18fr GhbqMsBfqBZg20ZDd58VjVDRCyDNYx5nmlqu0sVFMDPub0kfP-nzupWDMmdaYsTT0kD3gJJ8BqDOoyRmS743Mp5VwXeqa7GRUp9B KdlEhs/s4000/Allkin%20cask.jpg)
A period of crowdfundingthen followed and has resurfaced as Allkin Brewing Company. I’m not sure if thenew brewery is up and running yet, or whether some of the beers are currentlycontract-brewed, although looking at the website, I suspect the latter situationapplies. Looking for a place to showcase their beers, the company acquired aformer shop unit at the far end of Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, which they openedas theAllkin Tap & Bottle (https://allkinbrewing.com/) six months or so ago. Initially, opening was restrictedto Thursday to Sunday, but recently was extended to seven days a week.I knew the localCAMRA branch had been keeping an eye on the place, and I had seen some goodreports about it on one of the WhatsApp groups. It was no surprise then to finda couple of West Kent CAMRA members sitting there, at a table next to thewindow, when I walked in on Friday. They were probably surprised to see me, asI don’t get over that much to Tunbridge Wells, but after exchanging a fewpleasantries, I ordered myself a beer, and joined then at their table. I’dtaken the trouble earlier, to select a couple of beers from the Tap’s website, (https://allkinbrewing.com/) andstarted off with Flip the Bird, a 4.5% pale ale from Allkin. It was a keg beer,in common with most of the other beers at the tap. A total of 15 keglines serves up a mix of beers and ciders from approved brewers, basedthroughout the UK, but a single cask beer is dispensed by hand pump. The choiceof beer changes weekly, to ensure the freshest beer is always available.
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I switched to cask for the second beer, and this was Plateaufrom Burning Sky Brewery, (https://www.burningskybeer.com/) who are based close to the village of Firle, in theshadow of the South Downs. Apart from me plus my two CAMRA companions, there wasonly a handful of people in the Tap, but as the afternoon drew on, the place startedfilling up. The pub interior is long and slim with bench and stool seating,looking towards the bar counter and serving area to the right of the building.It seemed quite canine friendly, with canines of varying breeds anddescriptions, present, along with their human owners/handlers.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTB_7DOJIuhjz1vOhoLmF-1hPd3zWh5TDAY3ENldQ2YSjwEtJ2a4MMrN-oZYQguXn1nlMxZcMe_OyQaFIYNi76AyHaOdG7iZUdu4oYNY-VavdJeBVmdbEk2jSOR2NW82gW5foH4VtfUl1HJqm4mnfbfe6PK TFLFuAWiL71JRgBsGpom1AWPnUnHN9ERk/w400-h225/Bog%20rolls.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTB_7DOJIuhjz1vOhoLmF-1hPd3zWh5TDAY3ENldQ2YSjwEtJ2a4MMrN-oZYQguXn1nlMxZcMe_OyQaFIYNi76AyHaOdG7iZUdu4oYNY-VavdJeBVmdbEk2jSOR2NW82gW5foH4VtfUl1HJqm4mnfbfe6PK TFLFuAWiL71JRgBsGpom1AWPnUnHN9ERk/s4000/Bog%20rolls.jpg)
Food, at the moment, seems limited to cold meats, pate, and cheeses,in the same vein really as nearby Fuggles. My companions were enjoying some sortof spread on artisan bread, but I had a meal waiting for me, just down the road.With this in mind, I polished off my final beer, a half of London Black Porterfrom Ansbach & Hobday, said goodbye to my companions, and set off back downthe hill, towards the station.The venue hosting our Christmas celebration was the Barn, a rebuildof an old barn using some of the original beams and bricks, which lies just offMount Pleasant in the middle of town and a short walk from the station. There’snot a huge amount to report, on the venue, or the meal, so I shall save that particular pleasure foranother day.
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