Hi Jack - thank you sooooo much for coming to Rochester and supporting our Dickens-Inspired Christmas Market Weekend. As one of those involved in taking the hard decision to cancel the Dickensian Christmas Festival the previous weekend, support from creators like you is very much appreciated. I think you even got me in my hiviz jacket being interviewed by the BBC! 😂 I'll share this on Visit Rochester UK if okay with you. Many thanks once again Shane Waterman Vice-Chair, Rochester City Centre Forum Visit Rochester UK
I’ve lived in Rochester for over 20 years, love it, and we walk our dog every day around all the places you mentioned Yes the Royal Crown is great, and The Eagle, and all the coffee shops are good Glad you enjoyed your visit
I am from Medway born and bread, but now sadly it has gone to the dogs and getting worse each year. Where you were is about the only best part of the Medway. The prices used to be so cheap for everything around Medway, but now it is very much matched with London prices and at the best of times even more expensive.
Medway is not really a place (well it is a river), Medway is just a contrived name the council used to try and get city status for the whole are, hence it used to be called the Medway Towns, which is Rochester, Strood, Gilligham and Chatham. This was partially how they lost Rochester it’s city status.
"I think I'm gonna faint, I'm that excited right now..." (how did I miss this video and your channel all holiday season?!? 🤣🤣🤣) good fun, you...just liked & subscribed...✨🤙🏼✨ Happy Holidays from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA...
Ahh thank you so much for your comment and for subscribing. I’m glad you could appreciate my humour, and didn’t think I had actually been tranquillised 🤪happy holidays!
Absolutely loved it! Your content is always a joy to watch. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, Jack! I can't wait to see even more of your amazing videos in 2025!
Good video, Jack. You make it look alright 😂I'm born n bred 54 yrs Rochester, & I've only been in the castle once, when I was 7. The real Borstal is up the road if you wanna visit there, mte 😆 the village too
Great Christmassy video Jack, have a Merry Christmas 🎄. I’ll venture ‘Ho, Ho, Ho, Who’d Be Turkey At Christmas’ by Elton John as a favourite festive tune 👍
Great video! Looks like an interesting place full of history, seems to have a bit of everything and impressive cathedral! 👍 Much more lively than Tonbridge! Merry Christmas and happy travels in 2025!!🎉 look forward to seeing your videos next year! 😊👋🙏🤶
I live in Rochester and can honestly say that every day is different. Even a seemingly normal Monday 9 - 5 can be as manic as the Christmas market where as a dickens festival can be as quiet as anything so Rochester really can be unpredictable. I also went to school at Gads Hill back in the late 1980’s early 1990’s which is where the Chalet was originally situated. You may also have seen the MEOPHAM WINES STALL ….. I am born and raised in Meopham too. 19:53 don’t be fooled by the calm surface - it’s the undercurrents that get ya ….. The Medway river goes that far in land from the estuary that it transitions from saltwater to fresh water and is fishable at various points with a valid fishing licence. Rochester castle is said to be haunted - I have witnessed some unusual things happening myself.
Thanks so much for your comment and the info, much appreciated. I’m going back to visit the castle properly soon so even more intrigued now I know it’s haunted 😃
I live in Rochester and it is lovely to live here however I'm not keen on the Christmas market 😂 the city is beautiful enough without it and I wish the stalls were so much better. The cafés and shops are a real treat.
This was last Saturday and the castle ground bit was filmed around midday, still very busy but I can only imagine what it was like in the late afternoon / evening!
Many years ago Rochester at Christmas used to be amazing, sadly it’s gone massively downhill over the past 10 to 15 years ,,,,, Your enthusiasm is great to see though . Good on you !
Nice to see my adopted home town here. Next time check out The George Vaults pub ( and go down to the Vaults), check out Cafe Nucleus that uses independent Kent producers for its menu and wines. Baggins second hand bookshop. You xan also check out the other sweet shop which has lots of handmade produce, and the gift shops that are so beautiful (if u like that kind of thing), and Rochester is also famous for it antique shops. Obscure xmas song, 2000 miles by The Pretenders.
Thank you so much for the recommendations, really is appreciated! Will be going back very soon. I love that song, the music video used to really scare me as a child 😅🤣
I have max bygraves album vinyl 😂😂😂😂and many more,,love a good LP,,i worked in Rochester some 15-20 years ago,,,there is a hospice up the hill abit,,i built the 6 house out the front of it ,, lovely place Rochester
Only here because it’s my town and was recommended by local Rochester FB page!! You missed the best pub out… The Two Brewers half way along the high street. Proper pub 👍🏻 Many locals including myself avoid the high street when the Xmas market is on, too busy. It’s much more enjoyable the rest of the year.
Yep same here - I walked through the highstreet on the day they cancelled the market owing to the weather. I didnt visit the market - I find it seems to be there to draw the tourists in, and I just hope it keeps the local businesses in pocket, while those of us who have lived here for years avoid the highstreet.
So glad you liked my favourite place..Charles Dickens based his stories on local areas ,often wonder if he based characters on ancestors...My family are from the small villages ,on the small penninsula..over the river..My maternal family go back a few 100 yrs...He wrote his books in the wooden chalet ..He has a great part of his life and history here .We have the Dickens festival twice a year..Many of the Dickens characters appear in the parades ..Our local shops are named after his books.Gads hill his former home ,became a girls school..Rochester has two Dickens festivals a year...The branch president is Gerald Dickens, the great-great grandson of Charles Dickens...I live just over the river now ...Not too keen on the changes made inside Eastgate house ..My daughters father had a lot to do with the modern refurbishment..Not keen..The castle wall next to the car park was found after the old maths school was demolished..A lovely upload ❤ almost next to the loos is my friends tea room Tiny Tim's...Oh and been a Donny osmond fan over 56 yrs ..Johnny Osmond dare you 😂😂
Thanks very much for the comment and the info Michelle, it’s appreciated. I’ll be sure to go back to Tiny Tim’s! I’m a big fan of the Osmonds really, Love me for a Reason is my favourite 😆
@jackryanmiller I'll let you off ..My friends Terry & Denise ran Tiny Tim's together..Sadly he passed away in recent years ....Me and my daughter enjoyed your upload ..So of course subbed 👍
I live in Chatham the other end Gillingham is across the road but my favourite pub in Rochester is the arrow if it still there haven't been the Rochester high st in years except passing though on the train
If I didn't already live in rochester. After you dipping your toe into rochester, id be moving there. There is alot more to rochester. We have some talented artist, Dameon Priestly is first to hand and some great musicians, JTQ.
@@jackryanmiller Haha usually only encounter plastic cups at gigs, maybe they had some especially clumsy new bar staff like Moss in IT Crowd and have no glasses left
Most castles have a Portcullis, Rochester has a Portaloo. That sums it up really as the castle is degrading. It should be a gem and it should be bought back to its former glory. Come on English Heritage!
Merry Christmas to you ALL! 🎅 while you’re here please do give the video a thumbs up, and also if you’re not already please subscribe to the channel!
Hi Jack - thank you sooooo much for coming to Rochester and supporting our Dickens-Inspired Christmas Market Weekend. As one of those involved in taking the hard decision to cancel the Dickensian Christmas Festival the previous weekend, support from creators like you is very much appreciated. I think you even got me in my hiviz jacket being interviewed by the BBC! 😂 I'll share this on Visit Rochester UK if okay with you.
Many thanks once again
Shane Waterman
Vice-Chair, Rochester City Centre Forum
Visit Rochester UK
@ thanks very much Shane, I appreciate you sharing the video to your page too. Have a great Christmas
I’ve lived in Rochester for over 20 years, love it, and we walk our dog every day around all the places you mentioned
Yes the Royal Crown is great, and The Eagle, and all the coffee shops are good
Glad you enjoyed your visit
Thanks a lot, it looks a fantastic place to live. I’m thinking to go back to the royal crown soon to try one of their Sunday roasts 😄
It's good to see that Rochester gets busy at Christmas time. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas Jack, it's be great watching your vlogs.
Thanks so much for the support Ryan, have a very merry Christmas 🎅
Baggins Bookshop is a must! Cheese room does lovely food - the one on the high street - all sandwiches and goodies full of cheese!
Thanks Yvonne, I must say I was tempted by The Cheese Room 😄
I am from Medway born and bread, but now sadly it has gone to the dogs and getting worse each year. Where you were is about the only best part of the Medway. The prices used to be so cheap for everything around Medway, but now it is very much matched with London prices and at the best of times even more expensive.
Many thanks for your comment 🙏
Medway is not really a place (well it is a river), Medway is just a contrived name the council used to try and get city status for the whole are, hence it used to be called the Medway Towns, which is Rochester, Strood, Gilligham and Chatham. This was partially how they lost Rochester it’s city status.
Always a good day when there is a new Jack Miller video!
Yesss cheers Colin and happy Christmas to you 🧑🎄
"I think I'm gonna faint, I'm that excited right now..." (how did I miss this video and your channel all holiday season?!? 🤣🤣🤣) good fun, you...just liked & subscribed...✨🤙🏼✨ Happy Holidays from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA...
"Aaron's had to tranquilize me, I was getting that overwhelmed..." 🤣🤣🤣
(PM's "Mull of Kintyre" & The Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping", also...2 killer tunes...
Ahh thank you so much for your comment and for subscribing. I’m glad you could appreciate my humour, and didn’t think I had actually been tranquillised 🤪happy holidays!
Merry Christmas Jack! Keep up the good vibes next year ❤
Cheers Lin and merry Christmas
Merry Christmas Jack. So good to see another video. Here's hoping 2025 will bring many more. Thank you.
Thanks so much and a very merry Christmas to you too! 🎅
raised in Rochester, my son has a flat just off the high street, thanks for this video. shared and subbed.. appee xmas mate
Thanks so much for subscribing mate. Have a great Christmas 🎅
Absolutely loved it! Your content is always a joy to watch. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, Jack! I can't wait to see even more of your amazing videos in 2025!
Ah that comments made my day, thanks so much. A very merry Christmas to you too 🎅
Another great video Jack!
Merry Christmas!!
The best ever Christmas song for me is Run DMC - Christmas in Hollis! 🙂
Thanks very much mate and a merry Christmas to you too! I love that song! I hadn’t heard it until I saw the film ‘The Night Before’ 🤣🎅
@jackryanmiller it's also in Die Hard! 😅
I live on rochester High Street. I moved from London 6 years ago. I love it here. Merry xmas
That’s amazing it looks a fantastic place to live. Merry Christmas to you too 🎅
Merry Christmas Jack and happy adventures in the new year 🤠
Thank you and a merry Christmas to you too 🎅
Good video, Jack. You make it look alright 😂I'm born n bred 54 yrs Rochester, & I've only been in the castle once, when I was 7. The real Borstal is up the road if you wanna visit there, mte 😆 the village too
Thanks very much mate, appreciated 🤪
Hi there from Finland! 🇫🇮❄ Just subscribed! 🎥💖 I’ve been enjoying your content so much. Keep creating awesome videos! 💪✨
Hey thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Have a great Christmas
Great Christmassy video Jack, have a Merry Christmas 🎄. I’ll venture ‘Ho, Ho, Ho, Who’d Be Turkey At Christmas’ by Elton John as a favourite festive tune 👍
Yessss a great choice, the b side to Step into Christmas 🎅☝️
@@jackryanmiller You certainly know your Christmas tunes ☃️
Great video! Looks like an interesting place full of history, seems to have a bit of everything and impressive cathedral! 👍 Much more lively than Tonbridge! Merry Christmas and happy travels in 2025!!🎉 look forward to seeing your videos next year! 😊👋🙏🤶
Thanks Sandra and a very merry Christmas to you! Thanks for the support 🎅
Merry Christmas jack love your vids 🎄😊
Thanks so much! Have a very merry Christmas 🎅
Happy Christmas Jack and all the best for 2025.
Thanks for your support this year John, have a great Christmas 🎄
I live in Rochester and can honestly say that every day is different. Even a seemingly normal Monday 9 - 5 can be as manic as the Christmas market where as a dickens festival can be as quiet as anything so Rochester really can be unpredictable. I also went to school at Gads Hill back in the late 1980’s early 1990’s which is where the Chalet was originally situated.
You may also have seen the MEOPHAM WINES STALL ….. I am born and raised in Meopham too.
19:53 don’t be fooled by the calm surface - it’s the undercurrents that get ya …..
The Medway river goes that far in land from the estuary that it transitions from saltwater to fresh water and is fishable at various points with a valid fishing licence.
Rochester castle is said to be haunted - I have witnessed some unusual things happening myself.
Thanks so much for your comment and the info, much appreciated. I’m going back to visit the castle properly soon so even more intrigued now I know it’s haunted 😃
Looks beautiful 🎄
It’s an amazing place. Very festive 🎅
“The postman posting something” 😂 🥲
Ha ha it sounds stupid but at that moment it was like a classic old England scene 🤣
I live in Rochester and it is lovely to live here however I'm not keen on the Christmas market 😂 the city is beautiful enough without it and I wish the stalls were so much better. The cafés and shops are a real treat.
Coopers arms, cafe nucleas and quills are great, as is the cheese room
Thanks very much, I’m looking forward to going back and visiting the castle properly after Christmas, so will try out some other cafes and pubs then 😃
Does Rochester still have the fudge shop?
@taraelizabethdensley9475 yes it does
@@taraelizabethdensley9475 Yep - just opposite the Deaf Cat Cafe. Been there for many decades.
this must have been during morning, when it got into the afternoon you could barely move around the castle ground :l
This was last Saturday and the castle ground bit was filmed around midday, still very busy but I can only imagine what it was like in the late afternoon / evening!
Many years ago Rochester at Christmas used to be amazing, sadly it’s gone massively downhill over the past 10 to 15 years ,,,,,
Your enthusiasm is great to see though . Good on you !
That is very sad to hear, I guess it’s the same with a lot of places though 😟
if rochesters good for something its always the christmas market, sad i was ill and couldnt go this time🥺 merry christmas & all that
Oh no I’m sorry to hear that, hope you’re better now and merry Christmas !
Nice to see my adopted home town here. Next time check out The George Vaults pub ( and go down to the Vaults), check out Cafe Nucleus that uses independent Kent producers for its menu and wines. Baggins second hand bookshop. You xan also check out the other sweet shop which has lots of handmade produce, and the gift shops that are so beautiful (if u like that kind of thing), and Rochester is also famous for it antique shops. Obscure xmas song, 2000 miles by The Pretenders.
Thank you so much for the recommendations, really is appreciated! Will be going back very soon.
I love that song, the music video used to really scare me as a child 😅🤣
I have max bygraves album vinyl 😂😂😂😂and many more,,love a good LP,,i worked in Rochester some 15-20 years ago,,,there is a hospice up the hill abit,,i built the 6 house out the front of it ,, lovely place Rochester
Ah that’s amazing! Thanks very much for sharing. A fellow Max Bygraves fan! 😄
New subscriber merry Christmas live near Rochester recommend the coopers arms pub in Rochester up the road buy castle very old 11th century 😮
Thanks Ian I really appreciate that mate. Will defo try the Coopers Arms on my next visit cheers
@jackryanmiller thay do food and dog friendly opposite the kings college
cool :)
Only here because it’s my town and was recommended by local Rochester FB page!! You missed the best pub out… The Two Brewers half way along the high street. Proper pub 👍🏻
Many locals including myself avoid the high street when the Xmas market is on, too busy. It’s much more enjoyable the rest of the year.
As a local I totally agree with you. I passed on the market this year. Thankfully ✌️
Thanks for the recommendation mate 👍
Yep same here - I walked through the highstreet on the day they cancelled the market owing to the weather. I didnt visit the market - I find it seems to be there to draw the tourists in, and I just hope it keeps the local businesses in pocket, while those of us who have lived here for years avoid the highstreet.
So glad you liked my favourite place..Charles Dickens based his stories on local areas ,often wonder if he based characters on ancestors...My family are from the small villages ,on the small penninsula..over the river..My maternal family go back a few 100 yrs...He wrote his books in the wooden chalet ..He has a great part of his life and history here .We have the Dickens festival twice a year..Many of the Dickens characters appear in the parades ..Our local shops are named after his books.Gads hill his former home ,became a girls school..Rochester has two Dickens festivals a year...The branch president is Gerald Dickens, the great-great grandson of Charles Dickens...I live just over the river now ...Not too keen on the changes made inside Eastgate house ..My daughters father had a lot to do with the modern refurbishment..Not keen..The castle wall next to the car park was found after the old maths school was demolished..A lovely upload ❤ almost next to the loos is my friends tea room Tiny Tim's...Oh and been a Donny osmond fan over 56 yrs ..Johnny Osmond dare you 😂😂
Thanks very much for the comment and the info Michelle, it’s appreciated. I’ll be sure to go back to Tiny Tim’s! I’m a big fan of the Osmonds really, Love me for a Reason is my favourite 😆
@jackryanmiller I'll let you off ..My friends Terry & Denise ran Tiny Tim's together..Sadly he passed away in recent years ....Me and my daughter enjoyed your upload ..So of course subbed 👍
I live in Chatham the other end Gillingham is across the road but my favourite pub in Rochester is the arrow if it still there haven't been the Rochester high st in years except passing though on the train
Nice one thanks a lot, I think the Arrow is still there, I went in there when I filmed this but no where to sit!
😎
Merry Christmas Geoffrey !
If I didn't already live in rochester. After you dipping your toe into rochester, id be moving there. There is alot more to rochester. We have some talented artist, Dameon Priestly is first to hand and some great musicians, JTQ.
That is very kind of you to say, thanks a lot. I’ll be visiting a lot more regularly now
If a pub tried serving me a pint in a plastic cup I'd walk straight out
Ha ha maybe because it was the busiest weekend of the year they were trying to stop glasses being nicked
@@jackryanmiller Haha usually only encounter plastic cups at gigs, maybe they had some especially clumsy new bar staff like Moss in IT Crowd and have no glasses left
Amazing how he captured the moment that a postman was posting an actual letter, this place is lost in time.😂😂
I couldn’t believe it!! 🤪
Most castles have a Portcullis, Rochester has a Portaloo. That sums it up really as the castle is degrading. It should be a gem and it should be bought back to its former glory. Come on English Heritage!
Ha ha portaloo, that made me laugh
The weekend before was a different story…everyone getting blown down the high street like leaves in autumn
Oh yes that was the weekend I was originally supposed to visit !
Hello rochester is lovely all year around you should try the tickets festival not just at Christmas
Thanks Julie, looking forward to visiting again already
I’ve lived in the area for 20 years - believe me Rochester is absolutely not as nice as it used to be.
Ah that is sad to hear
It’s a bit different at night
I can imagine
Not busy though. Only a few people about.
You’re right, it was like that film 28 Days Later
Don’t do Christmas
That’s fair enough
Started the video opposite my house
Nice one, it looks a great place to live