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Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub
Meals
Lunch, Drinks
FEATURES
Outdoor Seating, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Live Music
Reviews (193)
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192 results
Traveller rating
108
44
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9
16
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Time of year
LanguageEnglish
Traveller rating
108
44
15
9
16
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All reviews old town great selection of beers fantastic pub the pub welcoming atmosphere sawdust pint boozer landlord amusement patrons twist
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Reviewed 13 July 2023 via mobile

My partner and I visited on a Tuesday when most pubs in Margate were shut! The lady behind the bar was lovely to us and they had some good beers on tap. We really enjoyed the decor; it felt like we were in an old...traditional seaside pub which is what I was searching for, worth a stop by!More

Date of visit: July 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 10 April 2023

We have been in The Lifeboat for previous holidays in Margate and it's a lovely place on the square in the Old Town. It serves beautifully kept German lagers and has a great selection of ciders. The landlord is very friendly and gave out free...cider samplers to my wife. Can't go wrong with a pub that has a ready supply of Scampi Fires either.More

Date of visit: April 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 2 January 2023 via mobile

Absolutely Love It! Friendly & So Welcoming! Sarahs The Best! Accommodating, Warm & Lovely Enviroment. Children & Dogs Both Welcome :)

Date of visit: January 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 30 October 2022

What a fantastic little spit and saw dust pub... Very homely and welcoming.... A proper little boozer.... The wife and me absolutely loved it for both nights we were in Margate 👍

Date of visit: October 2022
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 16 October 2022 via mobile

Went in to escape the rain and enjoy and afternoon beer. Proper spit and sawdust pub (literally sawdust on the floor), good selection of beers from around the south east, dog friendly, people friendly, friendly friendly.

Date of visit: October 2022
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 18 August 2022

Went there and by far out of the Pubs in the immediate area, this was the place which was the most friendliest: (the Bull / Wig and Pen nearby were clearly for the "Locals") more about that at the end! However at the Lifeboat, we...were greeted with a friendly smile and there was a great selection of Beers, Ales and Ciders. Friendly Locals and decent conversations. Added to this, there happened to be a great Live Band, and as the Pub isn't massive, had a great view of this Band. WELL DONE to the Lifeboat! RE: The Bull / Wig and Pen (nearby so-called "Public" Houses): The Wig and Pen: we didn't get even an acknowledgement when waiting at the Bar (not busy). The Bull: we were rudely told by one of the "Patrons" that they were closed (much to the amusement of the packed Bar area) - noting this was around 8pm, and the Bar Staff stared us at blankly and said nothing! So I'd thoroughly recommend the Lifeboat (deserving of custom / business), and steer clear of the Bull / Wig and Pen!More

Date of visit: August 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 20 February 2022

Did not accept paper £20 note despite it being legal tender. The staff blamed this on the management. we stayed for one pint and wont be going back. Also tasbles were dirty.

Date of visit: February 2022
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 30 October 2021 via mobile

Uninformative, disengaged staff. Filthy, including the bar staff’s serving style and especially the loos. I can’t recommend it. Says it’s a cider place but it’s all fruity; I wanted a range of decent cider, not cider as alcopop.

Date of visit: October 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 30 October 2021

This is a super little find with a really nice atmosphere. However toilets have not been cleaned for yonks absolutely filthy on ledges and floors. Bar staff not clearing tables of glasses just standing around talking, as was very quiet at this point, we were...sat at a table with loads of empty glasses circa 8 or so eventually they were collected but table not cleaned with a cloth. Hygiene needs to improve and better training for staff who ‘just did what they had to’More

Date of visit: October 2021
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 6 September 2021 via mobile

looked like a lovely little pub so went in there with some mates. went to the bar as you normally would to buy a pint, was told its table service only and that there would be a long wait. we respected that policy and patiently...waited. it had been 20 mins of watching the 2 bartenders doing NOTHING behind the bar, so I walked over and politely said ‘excuse me’ to get his attention. the bartender with dreadlocks just imitated my female voice very rudely without even looking at me and after 2 mins of waiting for him to answer me he finally came over and shouted in my face just because i asked if i could just get 1 pint because i had been waiting on my table for quite some time. he said “there’s thousands of people waiting for a drink why the f** should i serve you” (there was only around 15-20 people, with nobody at the bar but me) and he got all up in my face swearing at me. i was shocked. I asked if since it was table service if he or his other colleague could please serve my table. he was mocking me and threatened his power of kicking me out of the pub against me, even though i had hardly argued? at that point i said thats fine I’ll just take myself out thanks. cos why should i be at a pub waiting for a bartender behind the bar to NOT pour out any drinks im willing to pay for? it was absurd. he also started giving me some sort of cringey rant about how he hates this job anyway and he’s quit but “still working here” which i didnt quite understand what that’s got to do with me as a customer but I think its disgusting how he is representing this nice pub in such a vile way by being destructive and “not giving a f***.” this person was not nice at all, had a stinking attitude. it wasn’t even like anyone had rubbed him up the wrong way - he was just generally a very rude, stuck up person. Will not be going here again. I hope the owner of this pub sees this review and bars him from this pub, not that he would probably even care about that anyway as he proudly hates his job so much, but it was an absolute disgrace.More

Date of visit: September 2021
Helpful?4  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 2 July 2021 via mobile

Seemed like a great spot. Good range of drinks options and decent staff. Then the encounter with the conspiracy theorist anti vaxxer. Staff who had been fairly robust in enforcing mask wearing then totally switched off at some point. And then they both slipped into...the gents together for 60 seconds at around 11:30. Left me feeling that Margate hasn’t up and come quite as it would like folk to think.More

Date of visit: June 2021
Helpful?3  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 14 June 2021

After a rough few months in London, a mix of post pandemic and post surgery that just culminated kn me being a delightful ball of stress - I decided to come to Margate on a day off. Freddie, Johnny, and Jed took proper care of...me, and made me feel right at home. Half of me writing this is because I have an awful feeling one of my cards messed up and that I didn't pay for a drink, because the aforementioned card vanished during the morning of my day trip, but I very much promise I will make it up to the gorgeous staff of the Lifeboat upon my return. Much love, Jess xxMore

Date of visit: June 2021
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 14 October 2020

Found this little place round the back and was greeted by a lovely barmaid performing her Covid precaution duties! Had 2 hand pulled pumps and one was good the other no so good. Went back a second day so it wasnt that bad! - Barmaid...made the place!! Would go back againMore

Date of visit: October 2020
Helpful?3  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 3 October 2020

This bar looked lovely and my wife and I were drawn to visit. However, we were refused access for not wearing masks because we suffer from hidden disabilities. We challenged the doorman about this breach of the Equality Act but he just replied that it...was his boss's orders. Sounds like a lovely guy.More

Date of visit: October 2020
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 19 September 2020 via mobile

Nice pub with lovely staff that the landlord treats appallingly. Told a barmaid she had to 'be next level' after micromanaging her disinfecting tables! Then snapped that he would send her home 'if she didn't want to work' which she was doing. Absolute swine. Spend...elsewhere.More

Date of visit: September 2020
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Questions & Answers
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Maps670596
18 September 2016|
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Response from 550bobj | Reviewed this property |
Please contact them direct.
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Trish H
7 July 2016|
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Response from PhilM903 | Reviewed this property |
I'm pretty sure they are very relaxed as far as bringing your dog into the bar providing it's not the size of a St. Bernard as the bar is quite small
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THE LIFEBOAT ALE AND CIDER HOUSE, Margate - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about The Lifeboat Ale And Cider House

The Lifeboat Ale And Cider House is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4.5