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Secret Drinker reviews Wetherspoon pub the County Hotel in Ashford High Street

The Apprentice had offered to buy me a pint and for several reasons, too boring to explain here, he said we should meet in Ashford.

This left me with a serious dilemma but he said it was fine and we should meet at The Spoons. This was a first for me but I hadn’t got a better suggestion so I found myself in the County Hotel on Ashford High Street on Easter Monday.

The building dates back to 1710 but this didn’t become a pub for another 180 years. Today the County Hotel, which opened on Ashford High Street in 1926, is part of the mighty Wetherspoon chain.
The building dates back to 1710 but this didn’t become a pub for another 180 years. Today the County Hotel, which opened on Ashford High Street in 1926, is part of the mighty Wetherspoon chain.

I’d arrived early and was in first so had plenty of time to assess my surroundings.

In my experience Wetherspoon pubs fall into two categories – they’re either well-fashioned from interesting, historic buildings and turned into decent places to visit, or created from less salubrious establishments which are not desirable in the slightest.

So what were the early signs here?

The County Hotel offers the usual gargantuan space with a plethora of tables and plenty more private booths too.

There were several packed bookshelves in the bar but I doubt anyone has ever sat here and read one of these books
There were several packed bookshelves in the bar but I doubt anyone has ever sat here and read one of these books
No-one was risking their hard-earned cash when we were in but there was a whole bank of fruit machines ready and waiting
No-one was risking their hard-earned cash when we were in but there was a whole bank of fruit machines ready and waiting

There were the odd few ‘Spoons’ old blokes’ dotted about but the majority enjoying the pub brought the average age down considerably, to a point where even The Apprentice said he felt a bit old.

There is absolutely no doubt this was the busiest place in Ashford on a Monday evening – whether this is because the County Hotel is a great place or because the quality of the opposition is about as rock bottom as it gets, I’m not sure.

Prior to the appearance of my companion, I challenged myself to find the gents in this maze of a place, though I should have known, this being Wetherspoons, they were of course up a large flight of stairs.

The outside area, like the inside of the pub, is vast and equipped with many, many tables
The outside area, like the inside of the pub, is vast and equipped with many, many tables
This ornate sign can be seen over the doors at the back of the pub
This ornate sign can be seen over the doors at the back of the pub

Like the rest of the pub, the facilities were spacious and the customary yellow plastic pyramid warning of wet patches was in place. There were two subtly different shades of green tiles and overseeing all that goes on in the toilet was an eye in the sky – I couldn’t see a sign announcing CCTV was monitoring all areas of the gents, which really should be present.

By the time I got back to ground level my drinking partner was in and, despite the offer of a pint, I found myself in the seat after all. He went for a Punk IPA at £4.11 and I chose a Cowcatcher Pale Ale from the East London Brewing Company at just £2.74.

I did consider an Old Legover, at the same price, and even tried a taster of the Salcombe Seahorse, which had a good flavour too, but the smell put me off.

Poured with similar heads, the pint on the right is my Cowcatcher, the Apprentice’s Punk IPA was served in a taller glass
Poured with similar heads, the pint on the right is my Cowcatcher, the Apprentice’s Punk IPA was served in a taller glass
If she had come along then Mrs SD’s usual tipple, a large New Zealand Sav Blanc, would have cost £5.50
If she had come along then Mrs SD’s usual tipple, a large New Zealand Sav Blanc, would have cost £5.50

There is usually a Monday Club, which makes the drinks even cheaper, but this being a bank holiday, it wasn’t in operation. Although the usual Monday hours did apply with midnight being The County’s closing time – not bad for Easter Monday.

The youth of Ashford clearly feel this is the best place for a night out in town and I found myself in a very small minority by approaching the bar to buy a drink.

The Apprentice decided on a Guinness for his second pint and purposely ordered it on the App to see how long it would take – for those interested, it was a fraction under three-and-a-half minutes, though the head was fully settled by the time it was delivered to our table.

Whenever I visit Wetherspoons there is always a good selection of drinks available and this was no exception. As you can see, each pint was £2.74.
Whenever I visit Wetherspoons there is always a good selection of drinks available and this was no exception. As you can see, each pint was £2.74.
Advertised on a leaflet on our table was Monday Club, which offered even cheaper prices, but it wasn’t an option for a bank holiday
Advertised on a leaflet on our table was Monday Club, which offered even cheaper prices, but it wasn’t an option for a bank holiday

And, as for paying cash, don’t even get me started – the barmaid’s first reaction to hard cash for my second pint, an Old Legover, was a very definitive ‘No’, though she did relent when I asked nicely a second time. I’m pretty sure this was the first time I’d encountered humour in an Ashford hostelry.

Some of the youngsters surrounding us were choosing to stand up but when a barmaid passed to collect glasses she asked them politely if they would take a seat and they dutifully complied.

I’m sure there must be livelier evenings but everything was very restrained and peaceful on this occasion – maybe everyone was on their best behaviour for the religious holiday?

The Guinness, priced at £3.59, was ordered on the App and took three-and-a-half minutes to be delivered to our table
The Guinness, priced at £3.59, was ordered on the App and took three-and-a-half minutes to be delivered to our table
Apparently unique to each Wetherspoon pub, someone has taken the time and trouble to record the design of each carpet and have them published in a book
Apparently unique to each Wetherspoon pub, someone has taken the time and trouble to record the design of each carpet and have them published in a book

We weren’t eating, although food was being served, but I glanced at the menu and was treated to a brief history of this place.

The building dates back to 1710 when it was a doctor’s home and medical practice. It didn’t become an inn until 1890 and it was another 36 years before it was named the County Hotel. It passed into the hands of Wetherspoon in 1998.

So, having thought about it, I’ve decided this one falls into category #1 – this pub has been fashioned from an interesting, historic building and is well worth a visit.

It wouldn’t be a bank of urinals in a Wetherspoon pub if there wasn’t a yellow warning sign
It wouldn’t be a bank of urinals in a Wetherspoon pub if there wasn’t a yellow warning sign
In this picture the tiles on the right look grey but I can assure you they were two slightly different shades of green
In this picture the tiles on the right look grey  but I can assure you they were two slightly different shades of green
The outside seating area was being used by a few people even though the heaters weren’t switched on
The outside seating area was being used by a few people even though the heaters weren’t switched on

Just out of interest, do you know when, and where, the first Wetherspoon pub opened? (Answer below)

COUNTY HOTEL, 10 HIGH STREET, ASHFORD TN24 8TD

Decor: It’s a monster of a place and there’s an ocean of space outside at the back too. The carpet design (unique in each Wetherspoon) didn’t impress overly. The furniture looked much the same as many others in the chain but there is some interesting history. ***

Drink: I rated the 4.1% pint of Old Legover from Daleside – this Yorkshire ale had plenty of taste and The Apprentice approved too. His Guinness was declared ‘pretty standard’ but disappeared quickly enough. There was a really good choice. ****

Price: I had two pints for the princely sum £5.48, pretty much half the price you’ll pay for a pint anywhere else. The Guinness was a little more, but you still can’t complain at £3.59. *****

Staff: Everyone was mic’d up and concentrating hard on what they were doing. They were efficient enough, without ever getting anywhere near effusive. ***

This is the outside area at the back of the pub – the entrance may have had gates in a past life
This is the outside area at the back of the pub – the entrance may have had gates in a past life
I spotted this warning sign in the gents – it’s a Wetherspoon initiative aimed at supporting customers who feel uneasy about their date. You just approach the bar and say ‘I’m Angela’.
I spotted this warning sign in the gents – it’s a Wetherspoon initiative aimed at supporting customers who feel uneasy about their date. You just approach the bar and say ‘I’m Angela’.
There were several interesting historic items dotted about in the County Hotel – this is East Hill, pictured in 1810
There were several interesting historic items dotted about in the County Hotel – this is East Hill, pictured in 1810
My second choice, the Old Legover from Daleside Brewery was a very decent pint
My second choice, the Old Legover from Daleside Brewery was a very decent pint

ANSWER: Can you believe it? The first Wetherspoon opened 45 years ago in Muswell Hill, London (1979)

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