The Kings Arms

You're walking down High Street in Upper Upnor, past the old converted warehouses and boat repair yards, when The Kings Arms appears—right there on the water's edge with the Medway stretching out in front of you. It's the kind of place that works year-round: summer drinks on the terrace watching the river traffic, winter evenings huddled inside with a pint of something local. The crowd's proper mixed—families, regulars who've been coming for years, people who've sailed down the river and decided to moor up for a few hours. Food's straightforward pub fare done well, ales are taken seriously, and the staff actually seem pleased you're there.