Blog ≫ 2026 ≫ Rochester Sweeps Festival
Day out in Rochester was great yesterday. Bit of a pain to get to, no easy trains, had to drive. The drive itself OK but as we got close we saw signs for a park and ride for the festival, and realised our original plan to park in the centre (not really knowing about the festiva) was probably not a goer. We parked at the park and ride, a temporary thing at the university campus by Chatham Dockyard and got the free bus in Rochester.
Rochester very busy, looks an interesting place anyway, much nicer than expected. The sweeps festival is a thing they do every May Day bank holiday. Lots of live music everywhere, lots of morris dancers, a fair, a record fair, all sorts. We had a bimble around and headed into the castle, our original plan. English Heritage see, so free for us. Doesn't take long to do the castle keep.
I found the record fair too intimidating, too much choice, so didn't look properly.
We went to a micropub looking place that looked great, The Wolfe and Castle.
Wife liked it a lot, lots of choice of craft beers. But not so much for me, no actual real ale, all cans and keg. We did find another one just out of town that was good, The Nag's Head, it had beer and a pool table, we played lots of pool. The one beer they had was so so, an Iron Pier hazy IPA, I did not love it. It was not a beer day for me luckily as I had to drive anyway. Then back to the centre of Rochester for a restaurant we had booked, Amore, Italian.
Best rated place in Rochester, and it was very nice indeed. Pasta and bread and olives and salad for everyone, very good, very tasty. Then back to the bus, to the car, the long drive home, and a bit of TV. A great bank holiday.
Light cloud and a moderate breeze, 8 - 14℃.