The Kentish Cricketers underwent the biggest change of all when it was refitted and renovated in 1997.
Before the change, it was the most extreme form of "old-man's-pub", with a big sign on the door saying "no trainers, no jeans". It might as well have said "no one who can't remember the Boer War".
Then Shepherd Neame, the owners, realised this was just a stupid concept for a pub in this part of town, and kicked out the oldies, bought loads of orange and blue paint and turned the place into the accessible-to-all Oranges Bar Cafe, making it one of the most popular Shepherd Neame pubs in town. And so it stayed for just over six years, until something of a u-turn, at least as far as naming conventions go, with the pub nearly going full circle to become the Cricketers
(not county-specific). It hasn't changed much inside since it was Oranges, an in fact there were still the stylised pictures of oranges on the door to the toilets when we visited last.
It looks much more like a traditional pub now, and the oldies never returned
(unless we keep going for the next 30 years!).
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