I needed to watch the British Lions take on Australia, Mrs SD ‘needed’ to shop and, for reasons too boring to go into, we found ourselves by the sea in Herne Bay.
There was a wedding celebration taking place on the lawn behind the pier and the aptly-named Pier Ceylon, which featured In The Mix. It looked great but certainly wasn’t showing the rugby.
So, without hesitating, I crossed the road to the Four Fathoms on the High Street and sent her who must be obeyed down the road to find the shops.
Already surprised by the well-dressed folk and the glamorous setting in The Bay, the pub had a real classy feel on a Saturday morning with its colourful hanging baskets and tastefully-tiled floors.
There can be no doubt this place has undergone a serious makeover, and it’s clear whoever took it on has splashed the cash and not cut corners.
Everything from the dark green tiles in the toilets to the chunky wooden bar feels and looks tasteful. Then, I met the barmaid…
Smartly dressed in black, like a mini ninja, she patrolled the bar area like a force of nature, taking no truck from anyone. The letter ‘T’ doesn’t exist in her vocabulary and she is unapologetically down-to-earth and straight to the point.
I, and everyone else, is addressed either as babe or darling and it doesn’t take long to realise she is the driving force here who ensures the place is run efficiently and without bother of any kind.
She’s more than happy to drop the odd F bomb but it falls naturally from her lips and doesn’t come across as coarse or unnecessary.
This might be a great venue to see The Aussies take a beating but it doesn’t come as cheap as some places in the town. A Cruzcampo cost £5.60 and a pint of Guinness was 10p more but I reckon it was worth it.
There is a good-sized games room at the back with two large TV screens, though they were switched off on Saturday morning, there was also a pool table, a dartboard, a fruit machine (which was on) and what looked like a quiz machine. This area was partly being used for storage and this may have been due either to the rugby in the main bar, or because the outside/garden area is currently being renovated.
But, the work at the back looks close to completion and it’s already clear this area has had the same care and attention lavished upon it as the inside.
There’s also a snug, just off the main bar, which looks to have been created in exactly the way its name suggests, a quieter space for a few folk to enjoy a more private space.
Having used half time to stretch my legs and look around, I returned to find the shopping was finished and Mrs SD was already in deep discussion with the black ninja who had ‘unfortunately’ convinced her she deserved the best version of her Sauvignon Blanc, a NZ Marlborough. My protest that it was inappropriate on two counts, 1. Price and 2. The fact that it’s antipodean when the Aussies were winning fell on deaf ears and I forked out £9.50 for the only size she knows.
There are plenty of signs dotted about announcing a zero tolerance to drugs, which, like other places issuing such warnings, is either a stitch in time or a response to an issue.
The only things more numerous than the signs were the hanging baskets and the fairy lights but there were plenty of other indications the pub is under new management, so I was surprised to hear the current owners took over two years ago. But there are also plenty of signs they’ve been busy rebuilding the reputation and standing of this historic Herne Bay watering hole.
The menu looked interesting but I think it would be unfair to label this a gastropub as there’s more to it than that, not least being one of the few places in the town showing the rugby.
Now, I just need to decide where I’m going to head to watch the final Lions test this weekend.
THE FOUR FATHOMS, 2 HIGH STREET, HERNE BAY CT6 5LH
Décor: Superbly decorated throughout, everywhere you look there are classy touches. I’m sure the outside area will be great when it’s finished and the room set aside as a snug was exactly that. *****
Drink: My Cruzcampo was fine and the Guinness was a very good example of the black stuff, but there wasn’t a massive choice of drinks available. Mrs SD, once persuaded, sang the praises of her NZ wine. ***
Price: A Cruzcampo was £5.60 and a Guinness 10p more at £5.70. Mrs SD was persuaded to enjoy a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for £9.50 but alternative large Sav Blancs were also available for £7.50. ***
Staff: Nothing is more important for a pub than finding the right staff. The barmaid was hard working and efficient, but still found time to create a good atmosphere at the same time as keeping everyone in line. *****
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