Kentish Express Ashford & District
Big welcome for little venture
Charing finally has a new pub in its high street, two years after the last village hostelry closed down.
This one, however, is slightly different as The Bookmakers Arms, which opened at the start of the month, is a micropub, a venue that retains all the values of a traditional pub just in a much smaller setting.
It is at 18 High Street, a former kitchen shop, and follows a theme close to the heart of the village, Charing Point-to-Point racing.
Inside the pub expect to find the jockey silks of riders from Charing, pictures of jockeys riding and plenty of horse rugs spread around.
Graham Austen, the landlord, said: “I’ve had great feedback from the customers because they’re all making friends.
“It’s been two years since the Oak pub closed down in Charing so there hasn’t been a pub for locals to go to.
“I’m trying to recreate a traditional pub atmosphere where people come to socialise.”
The pub has already got a name for itself due to the speciality gins it serves alongside real ales, wine and local cider.
Mr Austen added: “Gin is my speciality, I make a great gin and tonic! But I do also change around my beers a lot. When one beer is gone I get a new barrel of a different beer, so I never get the same ones.”
Due to its cosy size the micropub has a capacity of 33 people sitting and standing. It is currently only serving bar snacks and opens at selected times during the week.