The Three Daws, Gravesend

I can't praise the Three Daws highly enough. Agreed it was a fleeting lunch time visit on a beautiful sunny day but the pub, apparently at 500 years is the oldest in Kent, is a great old building and very atmospheric with a variety of aspects to it.

It was quite busy with people sitting inside and others outside on the terrace with a great view of the river and the oldest cast iron pier in the world. There were two staff at the bar, both very pleasant efficient and helpful. They let me sample 3 ales, Gravesend Guzzler, Dartford Wobbler and the one I opted for the Truman's Runner. All were good but the Runner was excellent.

I was then very fortunate to get a nice table by the window with the optimum view watching the small boats toing and froing as well as some huge container ships. It was quite a heavenly interlude boosted by having some retired lightermen on an adjoining table identifying the marine traffic. They had ordered main meals and appeared to be enjoying them.

Pubs rarely seem to do proper sandwiches these days, preferring to do fancy stuff at exorbitant prices. This one though does do proper sandwiches and I had a beef one which unfortunately was on the dry side. That didn't detract from the visit though and it is clearly a better experience than the deserterd posh new restaurant built on the pier. There's a lesson there somewhere particularly as it conceals the entrance to the ferry terminal.

16 May 2014 11:56

The Woolpack, Banstead

After my last favourable review a couple of days ago I visited again yesterday in the late afternoon. It was quiet outside with a few people in the restaurant. The main part of the pub was dominated by a small group of loud elderly male drunks swearing loudly and often, despite the close proximity of a female who looked quite put out. The staff took no notice at all.

The art of running a good pub is never to allow one group to dominate and not to allow cliques. I'm not sure what the licensees' stance is on this but to run a good pub you need to stamp your personality on it. I was on my own but if I had been with my wife I would have left immediately and thereby hangs the problem. People love to ban the smoking ban, taxes etc etc for the demise of pubs but I believe one of the main reasons is that now when you go into a pub you never know what sort of atmosphere you're entering sp people stay away.

The abandonment of the saloon/public system is the main reason and this pub lends itself perfect to such a divide.

27 Jul 2011 09:02

The Woolpack, Banstead

This pub has come on a bundle, thanks undoubtedly to the reasonably new custodians. Good selection of beers, efficient and friendly service. Between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday it was very busy, the word is getting round.

Only slight downside, the modern plague of young noisy children.

24 Jul 2011 13:11