Camra - Deal, Dover, Sandwich & District

29/10/2026

News on the King's Arms, Sandwich

🍺 Good news for the Kings Arms! 🔑

After the uncertainty of recent days, it’s fantastic to see some positive progress at the Kings Arms in Sandwich, despite attempts to frustrate the process!

The new team are already in the building, carrying out refurbishment works and preparing to welcome customers back.

As the notice now displayed in the windows confirms, the closure is temporary, with plans to reopen very soon!

I’ve been pleased to work with those involved to help navigate the Asset of Community Value (ACV) complications following Sandwich Town Council’s decision to unnecessarily nominate the building for listing.

Crucially, the transaction is exempt from the ACV moratorium, meaning the six-month restriction does not apply!

That’s excellent news for everyone who wants to see this historic pub back open, serving customers, providing accommodation and contributing to our local economy.

There are still improvements to be completed, but it’s encouraging to see investment going into one of Sandwich’s much-loved pubs.

I’ll continue offering my support wherever I can to help get the doors open again as soon as possible.

A few weeks of refurbishment is a small price to pay for a brighter future for the Kings Arms! 🍻

27/10/2026

For some of your regulars, you're the only conversation they'll have today.

Not the only pint. The only conversation.

You know exactly who they are. The fella who's in at opening for a half and the crossword, and asks you for a six-letter river even though he's already got it. The woman who has one glass of white every Tuesday, same seat, same time, and tells you about the grandkids in Australia she hasn't seen for three years. The bloke who lost his wife and started coming in at five, because five o'clock is when the house gets too quiet.

You start pouring before they reach the bar. You keep a tankard on the hook for one of them. You know which one wants the racing on, and which one wants to be left alone with the paper but still likes a “hello” as you walk past.

They'll never leave you a review. They don't follow your page. They spend the same few quid every visit, and they don't show up anywhere in your numbers.

But you notice when one of them hasn't been in for a few days. You ask around. You ring someone who knows them. Sometimes you're the one who goes round and knocks on the door.

And when the day comes that one of them doesn't come back, nobody sits on that stool for weeks. You shut for an hour so the team can go to the funeral. You put on the wake, and you don't charge what you should. Their tankard stays on the hook.

Nobody teaches you that bit. It's not in any training course, any area manager's checklist or any P&L. But every landlord reading this knows exactly what we are talking about.

So on the days you're knackered, behind on the bills and wondering why you still do this, think about them. To some people you're not a business. You're the reason they put a coat on and leave the house.

That's not a sideline to running a pub. That's the job.

17/10/2026

We are in business! Deal Hop Farm and Shivering Sands Brewery and Tap Room….it’s a good one! 🍺

10/10/2026

An interesting b**r on at the The Anchor at Wingham. Kevin, the landlord says it’s going fast. Sadly. I’m driving so I’ve steered clear.

27/09/2026

Congratulations to The Red Cow - Sandwich on their entry in the 2027 edition of CAMRA's Good B**r Guide (GBG).

Did you know that we select our branch's GBG entries based on the quality of the cask ale they have served during the year.

Want to know more? See the first comment.

The Red Cow are very proud to be in the good b**r guide again!

27/09/2026

The Red Cow - Sandwich - one of the fifteen pubs in our branch featured in this year's edition.

26/09/2026

Latest newsletter from Time & Tide Brewing, with news about its latest brews, its Rising Tide Festival & a change in the opening times of its taproom,