The Society Rooms - Maidstone

Visited 25th February 2011. 

Having left 'The Muggleton Inn' we headed back the way we had come and kept going. As it turned out when we chose to turn left we could have turned right and would have still found a 'spoons. Whilst not as visually appealing as the previous pub it wasn't bad inside and although it was busy we were able to get a table easily. This time there were three people working behind the bar but it still took a long time to get our orders placed. Nobody behind the bar was keeping track of who had been waiting the longest and every time after serving a customer they would shout out "Who's next?" More training required! We ate, I opted for the gourmet chicken with a pint of Freedom Ale with Mrs S. opting for the lasagna and a Sailor Jerry. While eating I was thinking how the pub had a very modern look from the outside but was dimly lit inside. This gave it quite a restful feel. The others agreed with this assessment so it was a bit of a surprise when, just as we finished eating, the entire ambiance changed as somebody came along and replaced two ceiling bulbs!
Maidstone was a nice place to visit and our two pubs were also pretty decent. Both, however, could have been so much better with very little extra effort.

© John Sinner. None of the material contained in this post, or this blog as a whole, may be reproduced without the express and written permission of John Sinner. All rights reserved.

The Muggleton Inn - Maidstone

Visited 25th February 2011. 

It's that time of year again. Ttime for our annual pilgrimage to Margate and a chance to eat and boogie with no care in the world (other than the voices of dozens of friends telling me I need to go on a diet and perhaps I shouldn't dance just in case it triggers a heart attack). We are travelling with a couple of friends who are happy to indulge me in my quest and have visited more than a few 'spoons themselves. The plan was to make just a very small detour from our normal route and take in the sights of Maidstone. Well, 'sights' is what I tell the girls, pubs is of course the reality (I know I'm not fooling them but the they are happy to go along with the masquarade as they know they will get to induge their shopping habit). Having parked  fairly near to the town centre (we think) we wander a long a couple of alleys and emerge into a busy street unsure of wether to turn left or right. Following a brief discussion the desicion is made by the girls who have spotted a Primark to their left. So left it is... We leave the girls shopping and continue to the end of the road. At the T-junction we sight 'The Muggleton Inn' off to the right. Inside it turns out to be very busy, lots of people eating and not a spare seat to be had. We head upstairs where it turns out to be just as busy but we get lucky and a table of customers are leaving so we briefly hover and then sit! We both try to contact the girls to let them know where the pub is and both end up leaving voicemails... What's the point of having a phone if you're not going to answer it! My friend goes up to the bar where one girl seems to be rushed off her feet taking food and drink orders. I hold the fort and wait... And wait... My phone rings and I'm expecting it to be one of the girls. It turns out to be my friend at the bar who is reluctant to leave his spot and is also wondering wether to buy drinks for the girls as well (who we know may be some time) as he doesn't want to have to queue up again. We decide yes and it's just as well as by the time he returns to the table and has taken his coat off the girls arrive. I know time always slows down when you are waiting for something but I do believe this was probably the longest time I have ever had to wait in a pub for a drink. It's a nice pub, with a nice atmosphere and obviously gets very busy, but would have definately benefitted from more staff. We had planned on eating there but really didn't want to wait again and we knew there was another Wetherspoon pub just a short distance away. We made the decision to take our chances at the next pub...

© John Sinner. None of the material contained in this post, or this blog as a whole, may be reproduced without the express and written permission of John Sinner. All rights reserved.

The Assembly Rooms - Epsom

Stiggy having her soul stolen.

Luxury seating in "the ladies".

Check these out if you want a blow job with style.

Visited 21st February 2011. 

I have a few days holiday from work to use up. "Use it or lose it", I'd been told. I didn't need telling twice! An old friend (Stiggy), who has done a few of these trips with Mrs S and myself previously has come along for the ride. We trundle around the M25 (again), playing spot the hold up, narrowly avoiding the future delay which will soon appear as we swerve around a fresh accident. The police had already arrived and appear to be about to close a few lanes... We arrive in Epsom and find a place to park, at the opposite end of town from where we want to be. We knew this as we had already driven pass 'The Assembly Rooms' as we entered town. This gives us the opportunity to have a little look around which we start to do but then Stiggys' teeth start chattering and we decide it's just a little to cold. "Fortunately" there are some ladies clothes shops that seem to be full of "interesting" things to try on, what luck!

We eventually make it to the pub where the usual "don't photograph me, you'll steal my soul" arguments take place and finally we make it inside. The first thing you see is an impressive looking bar and then you start to realise that this is actually a rather nice pub inside. It didn't look to bad from the outside either.

Stiggy is hungry and as we cannot find a breakfast menu decides to order the 'all day brunch' instead. Then just for good measure orders a couple of rounds of toast each as well. It's an impressive amount of food and I voice the opinion that she has bitten off more than she can chew, so to speak.
I'm not a gambling man, in fact I have never been inside a betting shop. This is something Stiggy wants to rectify but she has decided to start me off slowly. We end up shaking hands on whether she can eat all the breakfast, the loser pays for the next round of coffees. She is only the size of a leprechaun so I know I'm on to a winner. After watching her wolf down her own body weight in breakfast I know I've been hustled. But all that coffee takes its toll and she needs to pay a visit. She returns swiftly telling me how fantastic "the ladies" are and that I should go and check out the gents. I do and return somewhat disappointed to tell her that they are nothing special and seem to be like many other Wetherspoon toilets. "Come with me", she says. I'm led upstairs and after she checks to make sure I'm not going to upset any 'sitting tennants' she takes me in. From her reaction I'm guessing that not all 'ladies' are made this way but gentlemen, we have definitely been short changed at 'The Assembly Rooms'. If you get the chance, check them out. (Have a lady friend check for the all clear first and remember to turn and smile for the ever present security camera watching your back).
A little more shopping ensues and then it's time to make a move back to the car. On the walk back we (almost) pass a betting shop... Stiggy decides to enhance my education and I learn about a 'lucky' something or other. We pay our monies and are each handed our receipts. Woohoo, I'm going to be rich! Due to our detour we are running a little late so it's a swift walk back to the car and then an unusually straight forward trip home. We enjoyed our visit to Epsom and 'The Assembly Rooms' makes it into my top five Wetherspoon pubs.


For anyone having stuck with this post so far you may want to know how our horses did. Later that evening I checked and found that none of my four horses had come anywhere useful, Stiggy on the other hand managed to select three first place horses out of five. That's why I don't gamble and why she does!

© John Sinner. None of the material contained in this post, or this blog as a whole, may be reproduced without the express and written permission of John Sinner. All rights reserved.