Bar Stool Reviews From the Perspective of William Brill
It’s no secret that when it comes to a reviews of British pubs, my work takes the biscuit. Sure, there are other reviewers, some of whom work directly for a paper or a tabloid, but none of them can beat me for sheer stamina. I’ve occupied bar stools in literally hundreds of different cities, towns and villages. I don’t favor one particular area and don’t do this on the side. I am professionally tanked up, which is to say that my full time career is to travel the countryside, visit pubs, sample their wares, then write up my findings. It’s a tough job, but if my sacrifice saves one of you from flat draft, having to deal with a barmaid who’s prone to throwing a benny, or a pub where a bar stool is so uncomfortable it lands you in bed for a week, then it’s worth it.
I try not to play favorites, but some of you keep pushing me to name the best pub in Britain. Very well, I’ll throw the name of a worthy establishments out there. This is by no means definitive, but you won’t go wrong by stopping in and pulling up a bar stool.
The George & Dragon in Ightham definitely places at the top. It’s a traditional village pub that dates back to 1515. As expected from an establishment of this vintage, the decor is dark and rather heavy, with oak beams and fireplaces figuring prominently. The bar stools obviously aren’t original, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the well worn, oak bar is. Of primary importance to me was the beer selection, and the George & Dragon delivers, thanks to a wide selection of cask and keg ales, not to mention a full range of imports. Of particular note are the Goldings Summer Hop Ale and Whitstable Bay Organic Ale. Between the two, they left me three sheets to the wind. In fact, I was sufficiently intoxicated that I didn’t complain about the £25 bill for dinner. It was quite good, but rather more than I’m accustomed to paying.
A runner up would be the Horse & Jockey in Hampshire. Named after a horse that won the Grand National back in the 1870s, this pub has plenty of ambiance thanks to comfortable bar stools and a nice beer garden. The food is good (featuring plenty of local mushrooms) and the beers on tap include Tangle Foot and The Lamb Bitter.
About the Author:
William Brill is a well known fixture in pubs from Brighton to Liverpool, as commonly found in these establishments as the bar stools he perches himself on. While he writes articles in local papers -usually about the ambiance, service, quality of food and selection of drafts he samples- how Brill makes his living is a mystery. Any payment he receives from publication must immediately be spent the moment he saddles up to yet another bar stool, but rumor has it that he inherited several million pounds from an Aunt in London, and he does nothing to dispel talk of this nature.
