Historical version 20 of Phoenix At Rainham, RM13 9YW (view current version)
- 01708 553 700
- Broadway, RM13 9YW (streetmap) (osm) (gmap) (bingmap) (streetview)
- 11am-11pm Mon-Sat; noon-3pm, 7pm-11pm Sun
Pub in Rainham. It was previously known simply as the Phoenix photo, but was renamed to the Phoenix At Rainham after a closure and change of management around the end of 2018.
It's a reasonably-sized open-plan pub, with a few different spaces and remains of dividing walls suggesting that these were once separate rooms. Decor is traditional, in shades of dark and light brown, and backless stools line the long wooden bar. To the left of the bar is a small space with a dartboard (including oche laid out in front) and a few seats. A larger space to the right has banquette seating, a few freestanding tables, and a door leading out to a large part-patio part-grassed garden.
Kake first visited on a Thursday lunchtime in June 2015. There was one other customer in, sitting at the bar and chatting with the member of staff on duty, and a few more arrived while I was there. No music was playing. The handpumps offered St Austell Tribute, Courage Directors, John Smith's Cask, and Abbot Ale. There were also keg taps for Strongbow, Courage Best, Guinness Extra Cold, and so on. A pint of lime and soda was £1.40.
Kake visited again on a Tuesday lunchtime in February 2019, after the change of management. There were two other customers when I arrived just before 2pm. Music was playing, not too loud, but in some competition with the sports news playing on a flatscreen with the sound on. The handpumps were clipped for Sharp's Doom Bar, Courage Directors, and Greene King Abbot Ale. A half of lime and soda was only 70p despite being made with a bottle rather than the gun.
As of February 2019 they don't do food or take cards, but they hope to start doing both in the near future.
Before the 2018/2019 change of management it also offered accommodation upstairs, but we're not sure if this is due to continue. The garden also used to have five aviaries, but again we're not sure if these are still there.
Accessibility: Step-free at one entrance and no internal steps to bar or seating. However, there is a rather unexpected step down into the ladies', behind the door, and a couple of steps down to the beer garden.
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