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Riviera Centre, Torquay
11-13 April 2025
23 Haltwhistle Road, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5ZA
Unit 11, Valley Point Industrial Estate, Beddington Farm Road, Beddington, CR0 4WP
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116, Foregate Street, Chester, Chester, CH1 2HH
This is a real gem which is hidden away off the road and a certain determination is required from the first time visitor to discover it! Turn off by the pond and keep turning right - it really is there! The pub is down bumpy tracks so don't rush. This ex-Charrington's (previously Page & Overton's) pub combines the far end of a short terrace of cottages together with a 1950s red brick-built extension into what presumably would have been the front garden. The cosy, low-ceilinged, welcoming interior still consists of separate parquet floored public and carpeted saloon bars, both furnished with genuine bric-a-brac which can be found above the bar area on on ledges on the walls, plus real fires. Darts is also played, but you need to bring your own darts as none are available from the bar. The former Charrington's ownership is recalled by the leaded windows and illuminated wooden bar back. The pub dates back to around 1854 and remained an Ale House without a spirits licence until c.1950. Known locally as 'The Rat', from days gone by when stable lads from nearby Epsom Downs used to frequent it. Recommended on the Camra list of Historic Pub Interiors.
Three star - A pub interior of outstanding national historic importance
Listed status: Not listed
An interesting pub, albeit tricky to find, and known locally as 'The Rat'. Basically an appendage to an old row of cottages, an old photo shows it to be a rebuild of an alehouse in the same position.
The rebuilding happened about 1955 and not much has changed since apart from creation of an opening between the two rooms: public bar right and ‘better room’ left. The latter has a cosy, low area projecting backwards to the old cottages and is further embellished with a pretty vine-leaf cornice and plaster emblems above the panelling showing the emblems of the UK countries plus a fleur-de-lys. Many features seem to be original - dimpled glass in the windows, counters, fireplaces, and bar-backs with illuminated 'Charrington’s Ales' signage in both rooms. As for the nickname, various explanations are offered, the most plausible being that the local stable boys who frequented it were known as ‘rats’. To get there, turn off the track north of the village pond, then take the right-hand fork and just keep going up the track.
This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 1 regular beer.
Bell, Walton-on-the- Hill
Garden
Parking
Games
Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub
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