Thursday 14th July 2011

Bob Thompson

The Foundry is new venture located in White Horse Lane, in the city centre. It's a bar, a restaurant and a brewery, and first impressions are good. The building was an old foundry that exported products throughout the world and you will find this reflected in the names of the beers.

The brewing equipment, visible from the lower level of the pub, is a four barrel plant, which makes about 16 nine gallon casks per brew. This is in the capable hands of Tom Sharkey who, on a previous visit, invited us to return and have a look at it. Space is at a premium as the pub's cellar is in the same room.

There are three regular beers at the moment: Foundryman's Gold (4.0%), a bitter golden ale; Canterbury Wheat (4.4%), obviously a wheat beer, but in the American style which makes it more bitter than is normal; finally Torpedo (4.5%), a best bitter with a good balance between malt and hops, with a good bitter aftertaste. More beers are planned and there was a Belgian Wheat beer in the copper when we visited.

The beers are available in the free trade as Canterbury Brewers and in the company's other city pubs, the City Arms and the Beer Cart Arms. The food in the Foundry has already been acclaimed. It is mostly good pub food in style but extremely well cooked by their highly rated chef. Two guest beers from Kent are offered and two Ciders from Simon Reed's Rough Old Wife Cider Co. A vast array of short drinks and wine is available. All of which make it a very worthy addition to the Canterbury scene.

Important Information:

The Foundry, White Horse Lane, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2RU

Open: Daily 12:00-23:00 (or later); Food: 12:00-18:00

Bus station less than 10 mins walk
Canterbury West Station 5-10 mins walk; Canterbury East Station 10 mins walk.