BARNACLES, MARGATE - Best pub in Margate, or bus stop with beer?

Welcome to Margate, the legendary and  spiritual home of the kiss me quick holiday. 

Nothing says "great British seaside" more than a proper Margate pub. 

In its heyday of the 60s and 70s Margate was awash with Mods and Rockers, and in the 80's and 90's coaches full of londoners would arrive for their jolly boys outing. 

The ivory keys of the pianos were still played by the old timers, music, dancing and a fair share of fist fights and that's a fact.. 

The people that lived through those eras in Margate remember a Margate being alive, it was the place to go, be seen, be groovy... 

They couldn't have realised that they were seeing their home town in its finest period in modern history

The years passed by, things changed and evolved. 

The culteral shift away from a bucket and spade holiday to cheap flights to the Med decimated seaside towns. 

Margate suffered huge losses. 

One by one the pubs closed to be repurposed, or torn down.  

This is one of the few that survived the cull. 

Formerly the Lounge Bars of the Royal Albion Hotel, Barnacles has been Barnacles since the early 80's, and throughout these years it has managed to retain its relative authenticity. 

I'm trying to think of the Margate town pubs which remain in their vaguely original state, I guessed I could count them on one hand, now I am really thinking about it, the only one I can think of remotely still standing is The Bulls Head which is closed and being referbished.. 

I took a walk past The Bulls Head the other day and thought what a fine looking original public house it looks, I hope they do it justice, it needs loads of work, I hope they could retain what is left (if any) of the original features, I was last in there about a year ago, it was dire. 

But what an amazing rough diamond, I digress.. 

Barnacles is the best Margate has got now... 

The point is that Barnacles is old, but I suspect it as original as triggers broom

The exterior has undergone a bit of a make over, a fresh new look for Thorley Taverns (who is the owner operating company) from their usual and well worn look. 

The new exterior paint job is in vogue with the retro vibe of the regenerated old town Margate. 

I can't help feeling It's all a bit Sriracha, all the new kids are putting on their plate, so they did too. 

Step inside and you will find wood panelling, pictures depicting historical Margate landscapes and curiosities, pub art adorns the walls... It has fruit machines and a pool table, It feels like a proper pub.

In almost every way possible it is, but I can't help feeling that there is something missing. 

My problem is that they are very unoriginal in how they present themselves as a destination. 

If Margate is a destination, then where is the destination pub? It should be Barnacles, but its not. 

I imagine this pub in a busy tourist area.. music, cheer, atmosphere.. Its why people love proper pubs, but it is created by pubs that celebrate their heritage not just relying on passing seasonal trade. 

It's time to stop resting on its laurels as a sunshine pub. 

I guarantee the landlord will draw on his 30 years experience of running the pub and tell you it's just the way it is.. 

In the words of Paddy McGuinness... No sun lightly.... 

Take away the outside seating and it becomes a small quaint boozer, no sun, no fun, a stop gap. 

It's a bus stop with beer. 

I have to wonder what would it be like in another operators hands. 

I'm not saying the highly admired and respected manager of 30 years is at fault, indeed everything I see and hear about him is confirmation that Barnacles is in the hands of proper pub landlord. 

That said, I have to be controversial and say that Barnacles has literally got barnacles stuck to it, because the owners didn't move quick enough to keep up with the changing tide. 

It's a sunshine pub. That's it. . 

Im afraid my review isnt a review at all, its a lot of writing about one simple thing. 

Barnacles should be the one pub that is the pub. 

I picked this picture because I wanted to say something positive, how the position is fantastic and the summer evening sunsets are spectacular. 

Indeed, this is why Margate has a exhibition center in Turners honour across the road from here, a man who fell in love with Margate for its sunsets. 

What's wrong with this picture? It has no customers to appreciate this one. 

HOW DOES IT SCORE

1) Is it to the expected standard. Clearly Barnacles is a pub of quality and standards, that point I have to conceed. My problem is that I should be able to award a bonus star, but I cant.. ONE STAR

2) Does it do something that you have always wanted to try? Is it THE go to pub in Margate. No, and it should be. This is why it gets a NO POINT. 

3) Is it fairly priced? This is a Thorley pub. It will be expensive, but there is always choice.. ONE STAR. 

4) Cleanliness, including customer toilets. Being a Thorley Tavern it is always going to be an excellent standard ONE STAR. 

5) Service. Friendly staff, brilliant manager, but nothing more than what you would expect ONE STAR

CONTRIBUTING EVIDENCE  

A) Does it have a clear and relevant identity? The freshly styled exterior is a wise nod to the retro revolution, it shouts old fashioned pub, but really it is just any old pub. 

B) Does it stand out for quality and standards? It doesnt really stand out, its not a bad pub in my measure, its quality is there, its just not memorable. 

C) Is there areas of the business that someone else does better? This is not a question of being better, its about being more than just a stop gap and a few pick nic tables. 

D) Does it diversify? It doesnt appear to, and this is the crux of this review. 

E) Will customers return without hesitation? It maybe on someones list of places to pop into, but without the sun its very very quiet. 

BARNACLES is featured on its operators website. 

1 King St, Margate CT9 1DD