Whilst staying in Rye and walking to “Webbe’s at the Fish Cafe”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/restaurant/209645 for dinner, we spotted an interesting looking, fairy lit bar on the corner of Rope Walk and Tower Street. The following day we’d had a long hike and, then having walked up the tower at “St Mary’s Church”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/attraction/209667, we needed refreshment.

The “Waterworks Micropub’s”:https://www.ryewaterworks.co.uk/ small terrace at the front was packed, as were the chairs lined in a row on the pavement down the side of Rope Walk. On entering, it was hard to miss the huge chalk board detailing their range of 10 local ales, with interesting names like Hopfuzz American and Gun Chummy Bluster, and 14 local ciders: local gins were also available. The ciders ranged from 4.2% to a hangover inducing 8.4% and were priced between £4 and £5. The fruit ciders were 4% and £5 a pint.

We chose a pint of Tenterden, a medium dry cider at 5.5 %, and from the fruit ciders, a half pint of Sicilian Lemon. Both were poured from demijohns and were the flat kind of cider. I really liked the lemon, although I’m not sure I could have drunk a pint. Roy said his was fine, but he really preferred a bit of fizz in his drink. A sign behind the bar advertised scotch eggs and pork pies (£3). All the furniture and other items were for sale and had price tags on them. As it was busy outside, we luckily found a space at a long table with a group of four.

The larger-than-life manager welcomed everyone loudly with the same greeting “find a seat, sit on it and say hello to the people next to you – micropubs are for sharing”. After a while, it began to really irritate, and we only stayed for the one drink without saying hello to anyone!