We're please to announce we'll be starting our 2026 Thirst Thursday Season on Thursday, 5th February in Dover.

It's the ideal start to each month - visiting some of our great real ale pubs that feature in the 2026 edition of the Good Beer Guide.

This year we're taking things a little easier by having seven sessions, usually of two pubs each. So, we'll have ample time at each pub to sample its real ales. As the name suggests each outing will take place on the first Thursday of each month, starting on Thursday, 5th February.

The times of day vary to fit in with opening times, and some of our pubs are not so easy to get to, so completing the whole course is always a bit of a challenge. But one intrepid drinker - apart from myself - did manage to complete the whole course, so it can be done. There was a close runner-up too, so why not give it a try?

The schedule for this year's events are:

• 5th February. Dover: 1.00pm: Hoptimist. 2.15pm: Eight Bells.
• 5th March: 1.00pm. Deal: Just Reproach. 2.30pm: Smuggler's Record Shop. 3.45pm: Ship Inn.
• 2nd April. Dover: Staggered Inn & Breakwater Taproom.
• 7th May. Walmer: Freed Man & Berry.
• 4th June: Jackdaw Inn, Denton.
• 2nd July: Fox Inn, Temple Ewell & Carpenter's Arms, Coldred (This will involve a walk of around 4 miles).
• 6th August: Five Bells, Eastry & Red Cow, Sandwich.

Details of each event will be published, on our website and Facebook page, a few weeks before the event.