Duke of Marlborough

Head down Union Street towards the town centre and you'll find the Duke doing what it does best — being exactly the kind of pub Maidstone needs. It's the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself talk, where the staff remember your order, and where the mix of ages suggests it's been pulling in the same crowd for years. The bar's got character without trying too hard, and there's a real sense that people come here because they want to, not because it's Instagram-friendly. Whether you're after a proper pint after work or settling in for the evening with mates, this is proper, unpretentious boozing.