From the http://www.kentonline.co.uk 01 January 2016, by Lynn Cox.

Flippin' Frog micropub so flippin’ busy on opening night it ran out of beer.

Medway’s latest micropub has welcomed its first customers and the venue’s opening weekend proved so popular it ran out of beer.

The no frills, no gadgets and no loud music approach is proving a hit with those who prefer a quiet pint and a chat to vodka shots and an ear-bashing.

The "Flippin’ Frog" in Rochester High Street is following that trend, encouraging customers to engage in the art of conversation in an informal, cosy environment and enjoy a beer or cider drawn straight from the cask.

Happy punters at the "Flippin' Frog," with owners Melanie Royer and Cyril Cypres on the left. Picture: Steve Crispe.

French couple Melanie Royer and her partner Cyril Cypres are behind the new venture but unlike other micropubs, classically trained chef Melanie, 34, serves food.

Ms Royer and Mr Cypres, 44, are regulars of the micropub in Strood, "10:50 From Victoria," which opened earlier this year.

They enjoyed the Strood alehouse so much it made them want to start their own business and when they got a chance to buy the former Pizza Romana takeaway premises, the couple snapped it up and began refurbishment.

Mr Cypres, who works at Walderslade School for Girls, had said the couple love going back to basics but found all that was missing was food.

Ms Royer said: “We opened for the first time and there were people queuing in the street to get in.

“There were so many, some couldn’t get in and came back on Sunday to visit us. In fact, it was so popular we ran out of beer.”

But drinkers shouldn’t be worried, the couple ordered in some more and will be open on New Year’s Eve, Saturday and Sunday although it will be closed on New Year’s Day.

Medway’s first micropub, "Past and Present," opened its doors in Skinner Street, Gillingham, in August 2014 followed by the Strood venture in 2015 and another one is planned for Rainham this year.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Nicola Jordan, 16 October 2019.

Rochester micropub The Flippin' Frog on the market.

A town's first micopub is on the market.

Since The Flippin' Frog's highly successful opening night in December 2015, when it ran out of beer, the French owners, Cyril Cypres-Paries and Melanie Royer have taken the Rochester business from strength to strength.

With its no-frills approach the miniature boozer on the banks in the High Street has proved popular with locals who enjoy live unplugged acoustic music and locally produced food and drink.

Melanie, a qualified chef, has also introduced her own specialities, including a selection of crepes.

It has also featured in the Good Beer Guide offering a selection of continental ales.

The couple, from the town, have also encouraged local artists to exhibit their work.

Specialist property firm Christie and Co is handling the sale. The asking price for the leasehold is £40,000.

James Hughes, senior business agent, said: "The Flippin' Frog has a good reputation among the local drinking community. For that reason, as well as its location within an historic town, I would hope to see plenty of interest. Rochester has lots of residential development taking place at present which can only help to increase on the current trade."

The premises are held on the remainder of a 15-year free of tie lease from October 2015 from a private landlord, at a passing rent of £10,400 per year and is subject to five-yearly rent reviews.

The Flippin' Frog currently opens for three days a week from Friday to Sunday, serving punters from 12.30pm to 11pm on Friday and Saturday and from 12:30pm to 9pm.

However, permitted opening times are 11am to 11pm everyday and 11am to 10pm on Sunday.

The business rateable value is £3,700 and qualifies for 100% small business rate relief.

For further information call 01622 656 000.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Lydia Chantler-Hicks, 27 March 2022.

The Flippin' Frog in Rochester to be reopened by owners of The Dead Pigeon Pub.

A hugely popular town centre pub is set to reopen under new owners.

The Flippin' Frog in Rochester High Street is to be relaunched later this year by the owners of the nearby Dead Pigeon Pub.

The venue was the town's first micropub when it opened in December 2015.

Under owners Cyril Cypres-Paries and Melanie Royer the business went from strength to strength, earning a solid reputation and featuring in the Good Beer Guide.

It went on sale in 2019, and in July 2020 was snapped up by owners of the "Dead Pigeon Pub," situated in The Old High Street.

The micropub has since been used to house the "Dead Pigeon" Pub's takeaway service, serving up items including burgers, pizza and chicken wings.

But owners have today revealed The Flippin' Frog will reopen as a pub in 2022.

In a post on Instagram, they said: "Big news! The Flippin' Frog is returning later this year.

"As you may have seen we have been using it as a temporary takeaway kitchen for our other venue The Dead Pigeon Pub whilst we build a bigger kitchen there, as the current kitchen isn’t big enough for the demand.

"We’re pleased to say those works are nearing completion and the kitchen will be moving back shortly.

"So after a quick refurb The Flippin' Frog will be back pouring pints once again.

"Thank you everyone for your patience and we can’t wait to welcome you back."

Jamie Clark (left) and Tom Mudge co-own The Dead Pigeon.

The announcement has been met with excitement, with one Instagram user writing "exciting times, team", and another saying: "love this news".

Regarding their plans for The Flippin' Frog, the new owners previously said: "We aim to continue Mélanie and Cyril's legacy and ethos of great beer and great food."

The pub's opening date is yet to be confirmed.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Alex Langridge, 1 April 2025.

Beer and Feast open steak frites house Boeuf in Rochester High Street.

Restaurant entrepreneurs have opened their latest venture which only sells two things - steak and chips.

Jamie Clark and Thomas Mudge, known as Beer and Feast, welcomed their first customers to Boeuf, in Rochester, last week.

Boeuf opens in Rochester High Street. Picture: Beer and Feast.

The pair have been working on the new culinary venture, which has opened in the former micropub The Flippin’ Frog, along the Old High Street, and designing its menu for the past two years.

Speaking to KentOnline, Jamie said: “We were designing a burger for the pubs and came up with a sauce for a rich beef and we thought it needed to go with steak.

“It spiralled from there and we had this space and were scratching our heads about what to do with it.

“We kind of started a steak restaurant because we made a sauce. I do not know if it is a sauce restaurant that sells steak or a steak restaurant that sells sauce.”

Boeuf only serves the popular French and Belgian dish steak frites - steak and chips - making it the first of its kind in Medway.

Adding to its uniqueness, it serves sirloin pavé a rare, premium cut of beef which has the juicy tenderness of a fillet steak with the rich flavour of a sirloin.

Jamie said: “We know this is the best cut and no one is trying it. The main reason is because it yields less than other cuts and it is expensive.”

However, because it creates a smaller amount of beef, as part of the restaurant’s experience, diners get a second helping of steak frites.

The restaurant held a soft opening before its grand opening and is already almost fully booked.

Jamie added: “We have worked hard on the drink and food experience right down to the sauces and how we cook the steak and chips so it is good to see people enjoy it.

From left: Thomas Mudge and Jamie Clark.

“As it is a new concept, we wanted to see if people grasped it and they did. They all loved the food.

“They said they did not feel they were in Kent and forgot they were in Rochester. It is not something we really thought about but we have been told it feels like they are in a French restaurant.”

Beer and Feast has a reputation for running popular places to eat out in the county, such as the "Dead Pigeon," in Rochester, and the "Greedy Banker," in Rainham.

It has also become the operator of Gravesend Borough Market, transforming it into a street food hotspot known as Hatch.