Rainham (Kent), Gillingham, Rochester & Strood

The Mackland Arms sits just north of Rainham’s railway station in a part of Rainham historically known as Macklands, an older settlement area of the town that predates much of the twentieth-century growth. Its name reflects this local heritage, tying the pub to the Macklands Manor House. Rainham itself expanded rapidly after the arrival of the railway in 1858, and pubs like the Mackland Arms became important social hubs for workers and travellers alike. Over the decades the Mackland Arms has remained a classic community pub, retaining a single-room layout enhanced by a large garden and local ales on handpump. It’s long served as a gathering place for locals and visitors heading to or from the station, keeping traditional pub culture alive well into the twenty-first century.

The Greedy Banker is one of Rainham’s more recent pub conversions, opening in November 2022 inside a former Barclays Bank branch on the High Street. Its transformation from a financial institution into a lively drinking and dining venue reflects a trend in Medway’s town centres where historic or disused buildings are repurposed for hospitality, preserving the streetscape while giving it new life. Operated by a team with roots in the local pub scene, the Greedy Banker combines elements of a modern sports bar and craft beer destination, with large screens and a diverse beer list framed by the building’s distinctive banking architecture. Its creation continues Rainham’s long pub tradition in a contemporary form. The venue’s focus on food and drink, including burgers and an extensive keg selection, has helped it become a popular social hub on the High Street, especially among groups seeking a vibrant, casual atmosphere that nods to both Rainham’s past and present.

The Prince of Ales is a modern micropub that opened in March 2016, part of the broader real ale and micropub movement that grew across Kent and the UK in the 2010s. It occupies a space that was previously a convenience store, repurposed to create an intimate, one-room setting dedicated to quality cask ales and ciders, with a focus on local Kent brews. Unlike traditional multi-bar pubs, the Prince of Ales embraces the micropub ethos — community-centred, with gravity-dispensed ales and wooden seating fostering conversation and quality beer appreciation. There’s a great collection of local and national breweriana too. In recognition of its quality and community role, it was named Medway CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2025, highlighting its status as a beloved local institution within Rainham’s pub culture and the thriving regional real ale scene.

Originally known as the Railway Hotel, this pub was built around the 1870s, not long after the opening of Rainham’s railway station in 1858, which transformed the town’s economy and social life. It was originally a temperance hotel, but first served pints around the turn of the twentieth century. It was typical for inns near stations to flourish as hubs for travellers and locals alike, and the Railway quickly became a focal point on Station Road. Throughout much of the twentieth century the Railway served as a popular social venue for Rainham residents. In the 1970s, for example, it was noted as one of the liveliest pubs in town, drawing a mixed crowd of local characters, sports enthusiasts, and regulars who made it a community fixture long before the era of corporate pub chains. After a period of closure in 2012, the pub’s heritage was revived when JD Wetherspoon purchased and extensively refurbished it, reopening in October 2019. The redesigned Railway retains its historical connection to the station and legacy as a meeting place, now serving a wide range of beers and operating with extended hours that reflect its ongoing role in Rainham’s social landscape.

Train from Rainham to Gillingham, then a walk. The Frog & Toad in Gillingham is a classic backstreet corner pub with deep roots in the town’s local culture. Known historically as the Rising Sun, it has been an established venue in the community for many years, serving generations of locals and earning recognition such as local CAMRA Pub of the Year awards. Traditionally a one-bar pub, the Frog & Toad offers a large patio and garden area, a feature that harkens back to earlier pub designs where outdoor space was integral to socialising, especially during summer months and local festivities. Its continued popularity reflects a continuity of traditional pub values — real ale, conversation, and community gatherings. Over the years the pub has maintained its charm and identity amidst the broader commercial development of Gillingham, remaining a cornerstone of the local pub scene and preserving a sense of continuity with the town’s historic social life.

Originally known as The Victory, then The Jolly Jake, The Scruffy Duck, located on Skinner Street in Gillingham, Kent, has long been part of the town’s traditional pub landscape, serving the local community for many years. Like many established Medway pubs, it developed as a neighbourhood meeting place during a period when pubs played a central role in daily social life, offering a space for workers, families and friends to gather after long days in nearby docks, industries and railway services. Over time, The Scruffy Duck has retained much of its traditional character, reflecting the history of independent local pubs rather than large national chains. Its layout, décor and informal atmosphere echo the style of older Kentish boozers, where familiarity and conversation were as important as the drinks themselves. Just look at the floor to see how the history has been retained! Remaining a free house has allowed it to adapt gradually while still maintaining a sense of continuity with its past. Today, The Scruffy Duck stands as a reminder of Gillingham’s social history, representing the resilience of community pubs in an area that has seen significant change. While modern influences and updates have been introduced, the pub continues to be valued for its roots, its long-standing presence, and its role as a social hub that connects past and present generations of local residents.

Past & Present in Gillingham is a micropub with a fluid history of names and locations. The current venue began life as One for the Road in September 2018, then became the Gin & Tap Room in February 2019, and ultimately was renamed Past & Present Ale House in April 2020 after the previous micropub of the same name closed and the operation moved. That had been in Skinner Street since 2014. This evolution reflects broader changes in the local pub scene over the past decade, with micropubs growing in popularity as intimate, conversation-focused alternatives to larger bars. Past & Present specialises in gravity-dispensed cask ales and craft beers, continuing Gillingham’s tradition of real ale culture that has existed alongside larger pubs and Taverns since the nineteenth century. Although the name has migrated between sites, the ale house maintains a consistent role in offering quality local and regional brews, preserving the ethos of traditional British pub life in a modern context and contributing to the rich tapestry of Gillingham’s drinking establishments. When I visited they had just finished the Christmas raffle, which was very popular.

Train from Gillingham to Rochester. The building that is now The Coopers Arms dates back to the reign of Richard I, around 1189–1199, making it one of the oldest surviving structures in Rochester and among the oldest inns in Kent. Monks from nearby St Andrews Priory, known for brewing ale and wine, are believed to have been its earliest recorded inhabitants before it became a public inn in 1543. Over the centuries it has retained much of its historic charm, with traditional interior features and an old-world atmosphere reflective of its long heritage. The inn has persisted through England’s tumultuous history, including the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, maintaining its role as a local social hub for ale and conversation. Its longevity has made it a point of interest for both locals and visitors seeking historic pubs in the region. Local lore also speaks of a haunting by a member of the “Brethren of Coopers” said to be walled up within the building, adding to its centuries-old mystique. Today, The Coopers Arms is celebrated not only for its antiquity but also for its continuing tradition of serving great real ales and hosting community events. Its proximity to Rochester Cathedral and the castle underscores its deep roots in the city’s historic core.

The Man of Kent Ale House, tucked just off Rochester’s historic core, takes its name from the traditional term “Man of Kent,” historically used to describe people born on the eastern side of the River Medway. While detailed early records are scarce, the pub was built in the early 1920s for the long-gone Style & Winch brewery. Over time, it established itself as a welcoming venue with a focus on rotating local real ales, catering to both locals and visitors exploring Rochester’s historic streets. The name itself evokes centuries-old regional identity and folklore tied to Kent’s social history. Today the Man of Kent remains a favourite in the local pub scene, known for its friendly atmosphere and range of ales that continue Kent’s long tradition of brewing excellence. This was brilliantly demonstrated by the eight Kentish ales which were available when I visited.

The Dead Pigeon on Rochester High Street sits amid one of the area’s most historic thoroughfares, though its name is modern and distinctive. It had gained a reputation as a social gathering place offering food and drink in a building that contributes to the historic High Street’s atmosphere. Its evocative name is thought to be inspired by local humour or lore, setting it apart from the more traditionally-named inns nearby and attracting curiosity and conversation among patrons. In the context of Rochester’s longstanding pub culture, The Dead Pigeon represents the blending of historical setting with contemporary hospitality, offering a modern take on the classic British pub experience within a historic urban fabric.

The 12 Degrees Micropub is a relatively recent addition to Rochester’s drinking scene, opening on 15 September 2018 as part of the modern micropub movement that emphasises small, community-focused spaces with real ales served straight from the cask. Unlike many of Rochester’s centuries-old inns, 12 Degrees occupies converted shop premises on the High Street and focuses on a curated selection of ales and ciders, often served via gravity dispense. Its design and concept reflect a revival of traditional tasting rooms that prioritise conversation, local brewing heritage, and the enjoyment of quality beer. Since its opening, the micropub has become a recognised part of the local pub culture, drawing patrons who appreciate small-scale, high-quality real ale experiences in a historic urban centre.

The Nags Head has been a fixture on Rochester’s High Street for many decades, known locally as a traditional pub with a cosy interior and friendly atmosphere. It is believed to have 17th century origins and has a typical weatherboarded frontage. The pub has become part of the social fabric of Rochester’s centre, serving generations of drinkers and community members. Its name, typical of historic British pub naming traditions, likely references horses, which were integral to life and transport in Kent throughout history. Over the years the Nags Head has maintained a reputation as a comfortable local pub in contrast to some of the larger or more commercial houses, continuing Rochester’s long tradition of public houses as community gathering places.

The Golden Lion on Rochester High Street bears a name that can be traced back to at least 1808, though the site itself has a longer association with historic inn signs reflecting royal heraldry. Before the current venue was established by J.D. Wetherspoon, the building at 147–149 High Street housed the Golden Lion into the early 20th century, alongside other commercial uses like a savings bank in the adjoining property. Through the 19th century and beyond, the Golden Lion has been known by different names, including “The Hulk” and “The Marquis of Granby,” linking it to broader British pub naming traditions that honoured military figures and naval references. Today, the Golden Lion continues the legacy of its historic predecessors, combining multiple historic High Street properties into a large pub and hotel that serves as a social hub in Rochester’s centre while preserving echoes of its layered past.

The Two Brewers dates back to 1683, built during the reign of Charles II by Thomas Gimmit, a master builder of Rochester who used timbers purchased from nearby Rochester Castle in its original construction. In its early years, the inn was closely tied to the local brewing community, with its name reflecting the common sight of brewer’s men carrying beer barrels between brewery and hostelry. The first recorded keeper, Thomas Preston, was both a beer retailer and cooper, responsible for grading and selling beer. Over time the Two Brewers has undergone various internal and external alterations but remains a small, friendly pub in the heart of Rochester. Its historic roots and continued role as a social venue link it closely to the town’s long tradition of brewing and hospitality.

Walk over to Strood. The 10:50 From Victoria is a micropub that opened in March 2015 under railway arches on North Street in Strood, embracing the micropub ethos of simple, community-oriented spaces focused on real ale and conversation. Its name evokes train-related themes and Victorian railway culture, fitting its location beneath railway infrastructure, and it is decorated with memorabilia that reinforces that connection. Since its opening, the venue has become a notable stop on the Medway pub trail, recognised with local awards from CAMRA and celebrated for its welcoming atmosphere, outdoor seating, and range of ales and ciders.

The Steam Packet in Strood has long served as a local pub near the railway station, historically functioning as a community watering hole for residents and travellers alike. Though its precise date of founding isn’t widely documented, it has been a recognised establishment through the 20th and 21st centuries, with a street-corner location that made it a fixture in Strood’s social landscape. In recent years it has been refurbished and modernised while retaining a traditional pub feel, continuing its role as a lively meeting place with connections to the area’s transport heritage suggested by its name.