Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Hostelry serving up good beer and good conversation
‘It’s a beautiful 17th century building and ticked all the boxes for what we wanted and we haven’t had to do too much to it’
There is no shortage of pubs and bars in Canterbury but a new hostelry plans to bring a fresh experience for real ale lovers.
Because Mark Robson is about to open the city’s only truly dedicated ale house, where music, fruit machines, pool tables and even mobile phones are all outlawed in favour of good beer and conversation.
The 58-year-old is in the last stages of preparing the The Thomas Tallis for business in Northgate and is due to open next week.
It is his second real ale pub, having opened The Just Reproach micropub in Deal four years ago.
He said: “I can’t really call the new place a micropub because it has three rooms, but I think it will be unique in Canterbury with the emphasis simply on good beer and conversation.”
The former teacher says he had been looking for a suitable premises in Canterbury for two years before coming across the empty former florists.
He said: “It’s a beautiful 17th century building and ticked all the boxes for what we wanted and we haven’t had to do too much to it. Although it seems that an ale house existed on the site as long ago as 1084.
“Northgate is on the up with all the street improvements the council has done and there is now a real eclectic mix of shops and businesses. It’s an ideal location for a business like ours.”
Mr Robson says the real ale scene is becoming increasingly popular with younger enthusiasts, as well as the traditional older customers.
He plans to serve four Kentish cask beers and a wide range of other craft beers, with tables and chairs outside but he is confident the new pub will not cause problems for neighbours because of the clientele it will attract and its closing hour of 11pm.
He said: “I chose the name Thomas Tallis because I love his work and he was a 16th century composer of choral music at Canterbury Cathedral, which we are almost in the shadow of.
“We are planning a low key opening next week and hopefully real ale enthusiasts will enjoy what we have to offer.”