The refurbished Dover Castle is popular in summer for its large beer garden and in winter for its vast selection of ales.

The Venue
Still looking and feeling fresh after its refurb, The Dover Castle is a popular watering hole. There's a heated garden at the back that seats about 40 people and is heaving during the summer months. In winter, smokers huddle together puffing gratefully on the nicotine fix.

The People
The pub caters for a wide age range and clientele, with a mix of students, blue and white collar workers and local residents but the atmosphere always falls a bit flat.

The Food and Drink
There's an impressive and tempting range of beverages on tap including Hurlimann, Asahi, Oranjeboom, Leffe, Guinness, Strongbow, Kents Best, Bishops Finger and Spitfire. In bottles there's Asahi Black, Budvar, Peroni, 1898, Bishops Finger and Bulmers. Something for everyone from the humblest to the most pretentious of drinkers then. The wine isn't badly priced and starts at £11.50 for a bottle of house red.

The food is unremarkable. It's certainly not worth making a special trip for but it will fill the gap if you need it to. The weekly changing menu includes sandwiches, salads and chips, as well as stuffed chicken, fishcakes and pastas. Food is served between midday and 3pm and 6pm and 9pm in the evening.

The Last Word
A pretty decent local boozer which has a loyal following, The Dover Castle isn't remarkable but the vast range of ales on offer more than make up for any inadequacies.