The Cellars Alehouse, Maidstone

I rather liked this pub, which is well described by others, below. The young Dutch barman was chatty and cheerful, there were a couple of locals in and the atmosphere was convivial albeit smelling a bit damp. Cask ales on were Tonbridge Coppernob, Oakham Hare and Hedgehog, Kent Karma, Monty’s Hazy IPA, Shifty Drop Project, Might Oak New Leaf, Downland’s Oatmeal Stout and Titanic Plum Porter. Also on were 8 craft ales and 20 real ciders. I’ll definitely be back.

The Cellars does not open until 5pm during the week. So, we'd left a visit here until last. This is not exactly a pub you would notice in passing, as it's hidden well away alongside the railway between Maidstone West and Maidstone Barracks stations. As the name suggests, it's a cellar bar that is surprisingly spacious. The bar is set in the one corner, with a cool room behind it from where the ales and ciders are dispensed. There is quite a range of ciders in particular. It is hard to imagine how they can turn over enough for them to stay in good condition, given the limited opening hours. However, everything we had was good quality and there were a fair number of regulars and visitors in the know whilst we were there. 6 real ales were Kent Cellars Session Pale, Battle EPA & Black Arrow, Drop Project Shifty, Musket Flintlock & Iron Pier Rosherville Red. Ciders were Turner's Pear Cider, Dry, Apple Pie, Medium Dry, Rhubarb Cider & Elderflower Cider, Double Vision One Vision & Fruits of the Forest, Ascension Wrath & Champing At The Pit, Snail's Bank Sloe Gin Cider, Banoffee Pie, Pineapple & Pink Grapefruit Cider & Black Forest, Sandford Orchards Devon Red, Broadoak Mango Cider, Pear & Chilli Cider & Pheasant Plucker & Thistly Cross Whisky Cask. Craft beers were Polly's Enigma Pale Ale The Hop Series & Mambo Sun, Verdant/Jon Hopkins Light Through The Veins, Wiper & True Phantasmagoria, Amundsen Helles, Yonder Trunk of Funk 2021 & Torrside Optimism As A Radical Life Choice. With a friendly barman and some chatty locals and the excellent ale and cider choice, this was my favourite pub of 10 in Maidstone. The interior all feels a bit gloomy, but otherwise I found little I could fault.