Stitched Up!

Recent visitors to the Conqueror will have noticed a most splendid addition to the decor, in the form of a counted cross-stitch of the PS Conqueror. This was done by Jo Dungey to mark the pub's first anniversary and now hangs in pride of place in the centre of the wall. Watch out for one or two other items of interest which will be going on display soon.

Happy Birthday!

The Conqueror is one year old today. I have a beautiful cake (thanks to Lesley's baking skills and Terry's carrying abilities) and all are welcome to pop in for a slice. I would like to say a big "Thank you" to all the people who have helped and supported me along the way, be they suppliers, customers, friends, relatives...even the ship's cat! Cheers!

Birthday!

This coming Wednesday, the Conqueror will be one year old. There will be cake!

Christmas!

Here are the Conqueror opening hours for the festive period:-

24th December 11.30.am - 2.30pm

25th December Midday - 2pm

26th and 27th December CLOSED

28th – 30th December 11.30am – 2.30pm and 5.30pm – 9.00pm

31st December 11.30am – 2.30pm

1st January Midday – 3pm

2nd January CLOSED

Change of Plan!

I am happy to report that, following some very kind offers of help by some very nice people, the Conqueror will not now be closing for three weeks in January. This means that you can all carry on enjoying the ale and pies while Debs and I are supping Chang and eating red curry in Thailand.

Phones!

After some consideration, I have decided to ban the use of mobile phones in The Conqueror and signs have gone up to this effect. The bar is just too small and I hope everyone understands. On a lighter note, beers this weekend are Abigale Ridgeway (sounds like a soap actress!), Gadds' 5 and Oakleaf IPA, although the IPA may not last into this evening and Nelson Porter will replace it.

Late!

I have a doctor's appointment this morning (16/8) and can't get hold of anyone to open the pub at 11.30. I should be there by midday. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Conqueror!

Conqueror Black IPA from the Windsor & Eton brewery should make an appearance later today, once the Waggler's IPA is finished off. Gadds' 7 and Redemption Hopspur complete the line-up.

Advance Warning!

I'd just like to let everyone know well in advance that The Conqueror will be closed from Monday 16th January to Monday 6th February 2012 inclusive. Apart from a holiday, it will give me a chance to spruce the place up a bit for the new year. For anyone who isn't folking off to Broadstairs this week, Moor Southern Star, Nelson Powder Monkey and Gadds' Dogbolter are available - and not a hey-nonny-nonny in sight!

Success!

As many of you will know by now, the Ramsgate Tunnels bid was successful on Monday night and £53,000 has been secured towards the project. Well done to all involved. For anyone who feels like celebrating, Buxton Moor Top, Waggler's Bitter and Dark Star American Pale Ale are on at the moment, together with Thatcher's Heritage Cider.

Tunnel Vision!

Don't forget to watch Meridian Tonight on ITV1 at 6 o'clock this evening and vote for funding for the Ramsgate Tunnels project. See http://www.ramsgatetunnels.org/ for more details.

Top!

The ever popular Buxton Moor Top returns to the Conqueror today, along with Yates' Golden and Gadds' She Sells Seashells. Hopefully, these summery ales will ward off the awful weather we've been experiencing lately. We have some real goodies waiting in the cellar, too - Abigail Ridgeway plus Wagglers Best and VPA will make their debuts sometime next week. More good news: we've finally got on to Beer in the Evening after seven months of trying.

Silence!

Buntingford Silence, a pale, hoppy ale, weighing in at 5.2% ABV will be available this weekend, replacing the Common Conspiracy. Buxton Moor top should last into this evening when Banks's Mild is lined up to replace it. Abigale Samphire, always a fast mover, wil run out this morning, with Reeve's Ale from Canterbrew waiting on the sub's bench.

Topless!

It looks like I was being slightly over ambitious in my predictions for the weekend. Lagonda is, indeed, up and going well, as is Gadds' 5 but it looks like the Moor Top will have to wait until the middle of the week.

Mild Outlook(3)!

Black Prince has given way to Theakston's Mild at the top of the blackboard, with Old Dairy Red Top selling well and Gadds' Thoroughly Modern Mild not expected to last the lunchtime session. Marble Lagonda should be up by this evening.

Mild Outlook(2)!

Currently available, we have Wantsum Black Prince plus Gadds' Seasider and Thoroughly Modern Mild. Theakstons Mild is waiting impatiently in the wings and another tub of the lovely Buxton Moor Top should be with us for the weekend.

Mild Outlook!

As many of you will know, May is CAMRA's Mild Month and, over the next couple of weeks, The Conqueror will be featuring milds from Gadds', Wantsum, Theakstons and Banks's. A new cooling system was installed last weekend, courtesy of the Ramsgate Brewery and the ales are now coming out in even better nick than before. Current offerings are Moor Top from Buxton (the palest ale I've ever seen and utterly delicious), Canterbury Brewery's Prince's Ale and the ever popular Gadds' Number 3. Watch out for Wantsum 1381 and Old Dairy Blue and Red Top in the near future.

Newcomers!

Buntingford Twitchell, a 3.8% pale ale from Hertfordshire made its debut at the Conqueror yesterday and will line up with Old Dairy Blue Top and Wantsum Hengist over the weekend. Also new, thanks to one of our regulars, are two additions to the Mustard Menu: Schwerter Medium and Schwerter Chili, from an historic mustard mill in Westfalia. Delicious!

It's Here!

A brand new beer is available today, exclusive to the Conqueror. Gadds' Smooth, a nitro-keg version of Gadds' Number 4 is the brewery's first attempt at pressurised beer. Using German Erstenavril malt, Chinese hop pellets and water from St Jude's well on the Isle of Sheppey, brewer Eddie Gadd has created a beer to rival even the great John Smith's Smooth. Gadds' Smooth has a flowery aroma with a sweet bitterness and a finish reminiscent of Czech dates. Ten pence for every pint ordered will go to The Conqueror's chosen charity, the Medway Queen Preservation Society.

New Beer Update!

Gadds' No 7, Hawkshead Brodie's Prime and the apostrophe free but gorgeously alliterative Ascot Aardvark are on offer today - so the exciting new beer will now be available all day tomorrow.

New Beer!

Currently on the stillage, we have Wantsum More's Head, Canterbury Reeve's Ale and Hawkshead Brodie's Prime. I suppose you could call it an apostrophe fest. There's an interesting new beer in the cellar which should be on tomorrow and will replace the Reeve's. Watch this space for more details.

Conspiracies Abound!

Canterbury Brewery's Wife of Bath, Gadds' Dark Conspiracy and Titanic Nine-Tenths Below will kick off the week, with Common Conspiracy waiting to take over from its stable-mate, along with beers from Abigale, Ascot and Wantsum. I now have bone-china plates for the pork pies - there's posh.

Certified!

I'm pleased to announce that The Conqueror has won the "Best Newcomer" category in the Thanet Times Pub Oscars. I get a nice certificate to put on the wall and there will be a picture in Tuesday's paper. Many thanks to all who voted. This week's line up will be Hawkshead Bitter, Old Dairy Red Top and Brentwood Lumberjack, with Wantsum, Gadds' and Dark Star on the subs' bench.

Cry Wolf!

Wantsum Brewery's Ravening Wolf (5.9), Abigale Samphire (4.1) and Canterbury Wife of Bath (3.9) make up this weekend's line-up, with treats from Gadds', Brentwood, Hawkshead and Wold Top waiting in the wings.

Re-opening!

Let joy be unconfined! The Conqueror will re-open tomorrow at 11.30am.

Update 3!

I'm afraid that the re-opening date of Tuesday 15th must now be regarded as PROVISIONAL. Athough there is improvement, I am not sure I'll be well enough by tomorrow. I'm now looking at Friday lunchtime, to ensure there are no more false dawns. Sorry folks!

Update 2!

The Conqueror will re-open on Tuesday 15th February at 11.30am. I am really sorry for the inconvenience but I have a nasty chest infection which has really knocked me for six. A few days rest, along with some antibiotics, should sort it all out.
Cheers!

Update 1!

I have won the 11am appointment in the telephone lottery at the doctor's surgery. The Conqueror will remain closed for today, at least. Plans are in hand to call in the cavalry but I need to hear what the doc says first.

Dreaded Lurgy!

I'm afraid The Conqueror will be closed today (Thursday 10th Feb) due to illness. I hope to be well enough to open up tomorrow. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Weekend Ales!

Hophead, Oakham White Dwarf and Old Dairy Blue Top look to be with us for the weekend unless there is a rush but with most sensible folk heading for the Dover Winter Ale Festival, it looks like I may have a quiet day - please prove me wrong!

Losing my marbles!

Marble Brewery's wonderful Lagonda came on at around 7 o'clock last night and by the time I closed at 9, half the barrel had gone and there were lots of happy customers. Miller's Mirth and Bishop's farewell should be replaced shortly by Hophead and Voyageur respectively.

What's On!

Current line up is Wantsum Miller's Mirth, Oakham Bishop's Farewell and Wantsum Hengist, soon to be replaced (probably tomorrow) with Marble Lagonda IPA. This weekend should see Gadds' Voyageur on at some point.

Burns Night!

The Conqueror will be a Burns free zone for the next few days. Anyone suffering from "Burn-out" can find refuge in some fine English ales. Today starts with Wantsum More's Head, Potbelly Beijing Black and Gadd's Dark Conspiracy. West Berkshire Good Old Boy, Gadds' Voyageur and Wantsum Hengist are on standby.

Beer!

Currently on offer at the Conqueror are Wantsum More's Head, Old Dairy Blue Top and Gadds' Dark Conspiracy. Expect offerings from Marble, West Berkshire, Potbelly, Gadds', Wantsum and Oakham over the weekend and beyond.

Stout!

Following Bellowhead's all too brief sojourn in the Conqueror, we now have the return of Old Dairy Silver Top Cream Stout, which only lasted a couple of sessions last time. On the horizon this week are offerings from Gadds', Old Dairy, Potbelly and Wantsum.

Next!

There's a definite Gadds' look to the weekend, with No 7 and Dogbolter on offer. Thornbridge's Lord Marples should go early tomorrow, leaving the way clear for Bellowhead Hedonism from the Potbelly Brewery. And don't forget the Broomfield Cider and Apple Juice, wine in all three colours and, just in, fizzy Buxton Water for all those New Year de-toxers.