Wonky shop in Rochester High Street to become Wolfe and Castle micropub and bottle shop
05:00, 26 January 2022
updated: 14:24, 26 January 2022
You may be forgiven for thinking you've had one too many if you pop along to Medway's newest drinking hole.
The 'wonky' building, so called because it leans to one side, in Rochester High Street is to be turned into a micropub and bottle shop.
The new owner, Paul Dixon, will be specialising in a range of craft beers and serving bar snacks at the historic Grade II-listed premises.
Paul, a self-confessed 'ale geek', said: "I'm passionate about them and could talk for hours about different beers.
"It will be somewhere for people to meet and talk about breweries, hops and brewing styles as well as enjoying the product."
Paul and partner Fran moved from London to Rochester in January last year to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
While they love the area and their youngest child has settled at a new school, they miss one thing – somewhere nearby to have a good beer.
'I love the 'wonky shop'. It's got bags of character and I'm looking forward to getting involved with the community in the High Street.'
Paul gave up his high-profile sales job working for The Guardian in the capital and is now preparing to open the Wolfe and Castle as soon as his licensing permit is rubber-stamped.
The father-of-three said: "I could see there was a gap in the market. We hope to bring something different to Rochester, a unique and valuable addition to the High Street."
He also hopes to set up an online store selling beers from brewers such as Floc, Deya, Cloudwater and Verdant, as well as alcohol-free beers.
He said: "Customers might come in for a couple of small beers and, because of the drink-driving rules, buy a couple of cans to take home.
"I love the 'wonky shop'. It's got bags of character and I'm looking forward to getting involved with the community in the High Street.
Partner Fran, 41, still commutes to her job in London, but will be helping out if they get very busy.
The couple have three children – Lea, 18, Emily, 14 and Jude, five – and live in St Margaret's Street.
Over the years, the building, which dates back 500 years, has changed hands on numerous occasions and at one time was used as a brothel.
The last owners of Food Glorious Food – who both said they thought the place was haunted – took over less than a year ago and it has remained empty for several months.
It has also been a cafe and memorabilia shop in recent years.
It's the second micropub to open in the historic section of the High Street.
Three Sheets to the Wind, an anglo-Austrian themed family-run business, opened at the Star Hill end last April.