The First & Last

You'll find this place tucked away on Bower Place, where it's been pulling pints and serving up straightforward pub fare to Maidstone regulars for years. Walk in and you're greeted with the kind of warm, unpretentious atmosphere that makes you want to linger over a pint—exposed beams, worn wood, the sort of place where locals actually outnumber the tourists. The food's solid rather than showy: proper Sunday roasts, pies that don't mess about, and a drinks list that leans into real ales. It's the pub that works equally well for a quick weekday drink after work or settling in for a leisurely weekend session.