|
From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Secret Drinker, 4 February 2020.
Secret Drinker review This Ancient Boro’ pub, Tenterden.
The town of Tenterden proudly traces its history back to Saxon times and
over the years has prospered thanks to the burgeoning wool trade.
This Ancient Boro’ on East Cross might not date back quite as far as
those days, but the latest owners are rightly proud of the part they’re
playing in its recent history.
From the outside This Ancient Boro’ looks every inch a traditional
boozer, but inside you’ll find tapas and a full line-up of real ales in
kegs.
Faced by rows of beautifully presented kegs, I was convinced I’d been
lucky enough to wander into a micro-pub. But Sarah, behind the bar,
immediately put me straight saying it can’t claim micro-pub status as
they serve food, namely tapas.
Technically speaking this may be true, but the fact there’s such a great
selection of ales and ciders on offer, plus there’s no pool table, no
darts, no jukebox, TV screens or any other nonsense mean for me ‘If the
cap fits…’
Sarah and co-owner Ray took the place on 18 months ago, prior to this it
was a Chinese restaurant for 50 years but before that a pub, so they
were keen to return it to its former use - and name.
Some locals still remember the old pub and are delighted by the
reincarnation – Ray himself has memories of popping in to fetch his dad
when he was still a schoolboy.
Keen to sample as many ales as possible I took on a tray of thirds,
which was fantastic value at £3.80. Mrs SD stuck to her own traditions
with a large Terra Molino Airen sauvignon blanc.
A sign of the times in the window – this makes it clear what’s now on
offer at This Ancient Boro’.
The extensive tapas menu was chalked up on a huge mirror on the back
wall and looked as good as it looked authentic so, although we were in
too late for the kitchen this time, we’ll definitely return to sample
the higadillos salteados and rosado con limon aioli.
The place was quiet for a Saturday night and perhaps, even more
surprisingly, women outnumbered men by three to one while we were in.
Two ladies took up residence right on the end of the line of kegs and,
after perusing the gin menu started a highly voluble conversation where
every other word was yah.
For me the place has just enough feel of the old pub and the new
incarnation – the obligatory stripped wooden floor, a selection of
different tables and chairs, hops strung loosely over the bar and
umbrellas in a pot near the door.
A wide open room on the right of the bar was empty apart from a group of
ladies in the window seats.
Co-owners Ray Pratt and Sarah Cleaton celebrate taking over This Ancient
Boro in 2018.
With black tiles and a good deal of stainless steel, the toilets are
immaculate and incredibly well maintained. There is something of a
boudoir on suite about them, particularly with the splash of pink in the
ladies, but they were spotless. And, the cubicle ratio at two to one was
close to matching Saturday’s clientele.
Plenty of ‘old pub’ references have been retained, there was even a jar
of pickled eggs behind the bar and signs with semi-humorous messages
dotted around the walls. And, I’m certainly a fan of the old framed
photographs displaying not only the long history of the pub but also
some of its old regulars.
I spied a dog bowl just inside the door so dogs are obviously welcomed
and I also saw one local come in close to closing time to take several
pints away in cardboard take-out containers – another nice touch which I
haven’t seen for a while.
Redecorated throughout, the new owners have stayed on trend with a
variety of different wooden furniture.
Keen to make the place a financial success, the owners are trying a
whole host of different events and ideas – in January roast dinners were
introduced on Sundays, there was a Caribbean evening with special dishes
and a well contested quiz.
Finally, just a heads-up, there’s a house rule about mobile phones so if
you plan to make an extended call you need to be aware you’ll receive a
polite request to step outside!
For those interested in beer I had the Cream Ale from Tenterden' s Old
Dairy Brewery. At 4.5% it was pale, very creamy and not overly powerful,
but maintained plenty of flavour.
In a dark corner at the back you’ll find a full blackboard listing all
the beers and ciders.
Next up was the 5% Green Daemon from the Hopdaemon Brewery in
Sittingbourne. This had a good deal more fizz to it and, to me, had an
over-riding flavour of banana – certainly tropical and fruity.
Last, but by no means least, was Red Imperial from the Stag Brewery at
nearby Woodchurch, which, despite being only 4.8%, is a deep flavoured
dark red chocolatey-style ale with a slightly sour aftertaste.
Caps and hats were clearly in fashion when this one was taken – the
Quoits team from the New Inn (before it was re-named This Ancient Boro’)
Tiled from floor to ceiling in black, the gents were beautifully
presented and spotlessly clean.
The ladies were a little larger and introduced a splash of colour with
pink tiles and sink top.
|
