Okay, it’s a little out of town, but this was a Saturday night in Canterbury and, even its most ardent fan would have to admit, The Phoenix was as dead as the abandoned Christmas tree outside its back door. Solitary drinker Mark, a regular who retired here from Watford, was the only person in to provide barman Stewart with some company, so the SD family quadrupled the numbers. This free house on Old Dover Road is an unusual wedge shape with the narrowest edge facing out to the street and you enter through a side door.
It’s only a stone’s throw from the Spitfire Ground and relies upon Kent County Cricket to bolster its numbers and keep the till recording a decent score. Barman Mr Alexander, who’s never visited Scotland despite his name, said it had been rammed out with cricket fans the night before despite Kent’s T20 Blast side losing to Essex with 30 balls to spare. There were plenty of beers available and, prior to deciding, I had a taste of 5% Bullion from the Hopfuzz Brewery.
Sadly though, by Stewart’s own admission, it hadn’t been pulled all day and my tester was decidedly vinegary. Having declined option one I chose a pint of Gadd’s She Sells Sea Shells instead, Which Stewart said the landlord’s son rated, and this was a big improvement. It being The Euros, the football was showing, on both a screen at the narrow front of the pub and a much bigger projector screen towards the back but no-one ie.
regular Mark or barman Stewart, was the slightest interest.
