History of the King George V

Lunch 12.00 - 14.00 Monday to Saturday

Sunday roast 13.00 - 16.00

All-day 12" pizza to eat in or takaway

Live acoustic music on the last Sunday of each month

A dark mild always available

Free cheese board on Sunday evening

Big selection of rum

Kentish Cider on tap

Four real ales on hand pump

Dinner 18.30 - 20.30 Tuesday to Saturday

More than 40 bottled Belgium beers

Four superb letting rooms

More than 30 single malts

Monthly special £5 hot dish and drink deal

Friendly atmosphere

Beer festivals held regularly

The King George V in Brompton is one of the oldest pubs in Medway and is continuing the tradition of being an ale house.

It was build in 1690 as two cottages which were knocked into one to make the present building. The address is 1 Prospect Row but the back bar, kitchen and toilets are what used to be 8 Garden Street.

Documents in the Medway archives show that in the 16th Century the property was known as the Prince of Orange. Sometime at the end of that century or the beginning of the next one it was changed to the King of Prussia which it remained until the start of the First World War.

The first licencee on record was Thomas White in 1758 and he traded on the site for nine years.

In 1851 the pub was run by Richard Brook who paid an annual rent of £32.

The place has had a chequered past. In 1860 Daniel Buckley – who was said to be a dirty looking man – was a waiter at the King of Prussia. He appeared before the local bench charged with having a pair of regimental boots in his possession – he not being the owner. The case was proved and the bench fined him seven shillings which included costs.

Again in 1860 Mary Ann Cooper was charged with stealing a copper tea kettle from the pub. She was sent for trial but it’s unclear what happened to her.

Still in the same year, Joseph Coppin was convicted of having his ale house open for the sale of beer before 1230 on a Sunday. It was 0745 and he was fined ten shillings with another ten shillings costs. Two months later he repeated the offence but this time he was fined 40 shillings with eight shillings costs. A witness was paid one shilling and six pence out of public funds.

In 1872 the pub moved into the hands of Thomas Winch – part of the Maidstone Style and Winch brewing family.

However, only a year later the licence was forfeited when William Baker was convicted of permitting the premises to be used as a brothel. Before it could open again, the next licencee had to satisfy the magistrates that the house would be properly run.

It was in 1914 that the pub changed its name for the last time. It was seen as unpatriotic to be called the King of Prussia because we were at war with the Prussians and it’s said by the locals that the windows were stoned.

At one time there were more than 40 pubs in Brompton – now there are just five.

The King George V has a strong feel of the military connections around the area. The walls are decorated with memorabilia from the former naval dockyard and the various army barracks nearby.

It was always known as the pub the officers used – and they still do to this day.

It’s a simple yet attractive pub with old oak beams and a charm from another era. Nothing much has changed inside for many years.