It was absolutely packed out for a Tuesday lunchtime in the Rock Rose and when I asked the barman why it was so popular he said it’s because so many other places in Whitfield have either closed or are complete rubbish.

Well, whatever its secret is, dozens of silver-haired bargain hunters and a gaggle of office workers on a quick break can’t all be wrong.

Drinks and food ordering takes place at the bar and our order went in at 13.26, exactly nine minutes later a pair of burgers were delivered to join us and our drinks at table 35 in a very busy dining room.

Although, to be fair, just about everywhere is set up for dining and, inside and out. I couldn’t even begin to guess how many tables there are?

I’d gone for a Pedigree bitter as it was the only beer available with the deal, but it didn’t really matter as it was the only beer available at all. Mrs SD’s choices saw her having to select a £5.05 Chardonnay, which she turned her nose up at, but I thought was okay.

I opted for a barbecue chicken burger, which came with a drink for £9.95 – I was tempted to try the ultimate southern fried chicken burger, normally £12.60 but again reduced to £9.95, but the barman looked at me and said it would be ‘too challenging’.

Mrs SD chose the Cowboy Burger version for an extra 20p, but when they arrived they looked identical anyway and both were served in exactly the same sort of metal dish we use to serve water to the SD hound.

The Rock Rose is part of the Marston’s wider family and the place doesn’t have an incredibly long history, although our waitress did say she’d been working here for 12 years and started when the pub was only six months old.

In fact, there were two locals who have displayed even greater longevity and claimed to have been regular visitors since day one, so much so two chairs with plaques pay homage to the loyalty of Lord Wayne and Sir Paddy. Apparently anyone can get their name on a chair here, just visit most days, every week for over 12 years.

There were two gigantic fruit machines, both delivering an impressive light display - no-one is saving any leccie here.

A big screen was delivering Sky News at One on silent, there’s a dartboard in an alcove area at the front of the bar and there’s a decent sized play area at the back left of the pub for younger kids, complete with a grabber machine.

But, despite the attractions, there’s no doubting this is a budget food boozer and everywhere is geared up for shipping diners in and out as quickly as possible.

So much so that the multi-coloured carvery section dominates all and even the high tables in the little ‘bar area’ were set out for eating.

Lord Wayne left his allocated seating area just long enough to insert a wedge of cash into one of the monster fruities but then returned to his chair without waiting to see if he’d won or lost – the machine obediently operated until the cash had all been eaten up.

I left my allocated seat to visit the gents and can report they are pretty much as you’d expect, not bad, fairly clean but with enough whiff to let you know where you are.

There was also an old fashioned vending machine on the wall to cater for a man’s needs – a pair of colourful pills (£3), protection for the same price and a pack of breath-freshening mints a pound cheaper.

I’d say 25% of the people in the Rock Rose were workers enjoying an hour's break from the daily grind, the other 75% have been retired long enough not to even remember what work is like – I pointed out to Mrs SD the split on our personal table was 50/50.

Both the drink and the food was about as average as it’s possible to be and this is something Marston’s seems able to achieve on a consistent basis. It would be entirely unfair to either run it down or praise it.

There is no doubt these kind of money-saving offers will be sought out and welcomed by a number of folks in today’s economic climate, particularly given that this place was well lit and amply heated, but the off-the-shelf convenience on offer here won’t be welcomed by everyone.

As they say, you pays your money…

The Rock Rose, Gordon Road, Whitfield, Dover CT16 2ES

Decor: Like the food and the drink, the furniture and decorations have been set up, and created, to do the job. It is functional and well maintained but there is very little, apart from a giant carvery sign, which stands out. **

Drink: I don’t have many memories of Pedigree, despite having drunk quite a few pints – which probably says it all. It's a dullish red in colour with slightly more aroma than taste. I’m reliably informed the wine was ‘extremely average’. **

Price: A pint of Pedigree costs £4.40 and a glass of Chardonnay £5.05, but the drinks were included in our ‘meal deals’. The BBQ chicken burger is usually £10.90 and Mrs SD’s Cowboy burger a fraction more at £11.20, but our deal of £9.95 each meant the whole bill was under £20. ****

Staff: Our barman seemed resigned to his fate, though we were served quickly and although it was just a matter of relaying the various offers available he did this politely and efficiently. ***

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