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.