Time for real fires and real ales
When its cold outside but its boring indoors, head
out to one of Kent’s finest pubs, with a log fire, beamed ceilings
and a good ale to keep the winter chill away. Chris Price
reports.
Biddenden: Three Chimneys
Take a pew in one of the cosy rooms at this most Kentish of
pubs, with frayed old books on thick hardwood shelves and hops
lining the low, beamed ceilings. The name comes from the Seven
Years’ War, when up to 3,000 French prisoners were kept at nearby
Sissinghurst Castle. The French seamen were placed on parole in the
area and allowed as far as the pub building, which they recognised
by the junction of three roads, which they called Les Trois
Chemins, which became the Three Chimneys. The building itselfdates
back to 1420 and an extension has kept the traditional themes of
the original half-timbered structure in mind. Serving cask ales, it
won the award for Kent dining pub of the year in the Good Pub Guide
recently. There’s five dining areas to pick from to sample the
rustic food.
Address: Hareplain Road, Biddenden TN27 8LW
Contact: 01580 291472 or www.thethreechimneys.co.uk
Brenchley: Halfway House
The fireplace, beamed ceilings, brick walls and wooden floors
make this pub an ideal winter warmer to enjoy one of its 10 real
ales. The best way to warm up is with a wee dram from the range of
single malt whiskeys served. Built around 1750, the pub also has
three en suite bed and breakfast rooms for those who over-indulge
in this Wealden gem’s hospitality. If you like a decent pint, the
Halfway House really is worth the trek out to.
Address: Horsmonden Road, Brenchley, near Paddock Wood TN12
7AX
Contact: 01892 722526 or www.halfwayhouse-brenchley.co.uk
Brompton: King
George V
Specialising in real ales, Belgian beers and malt whiskies, the
bar is decorated in naval and military memorabilia as a nod to the
Brompton Barracks, the home of the Royal Engineers, which is within
walking distance. Built in 1690, the pub was known as the King of
Prussia until 1914, when the name as the country entered the First
World War. There are four real ales and pizza is available all day
to eat in or takeaway. Other food is served in the evening from
Tuesday to Saturday, with a Sunday roast in the afternoon and a
free cheeseboard on Sunday evening. Above its old oak beams, the
pub has a number of guest rooms including a four-poster overlooking
the green and a family room. It is recognised by Cask Marque,
checking all cask ales for temperature, aroma and taste.
Address: 1 Prospect Row, Brompton, ME7 5AL
Contact: 01634 842418 or www.kgvpub.com
Canterbury: The Dolphin
CAMRA pub of the year for the area, it has five real ale pumps
with beers from Gadds, Hopdaemon, the Old Dairy, Sharps and Timothy
Taylor. A lively venue, popular with students, it has some unusual
but tasty items on the menu, such as the honey-glazed ham and
bubble and squeak with two fried eggs and salad for £10.50. The
Dolphin Goat Quiz on the first Monday of the month is very
competitive, with the quizmaster making up his own questions. The
prize is an Oxfam goat and the prestige of having your team name
added to the trophy. The beer garden is a smashing spot for a pint
in the summer.
Address: 17 St Radigunds Street, Canterbury, CT1
2AA
Contact: 01227 455963 or www.thedolphincanterbury.co.uk
Cobham: The Leather Bottle
Famed for its link to Charles Dickens, who stayed at the 17th
century inn and featured the village in the Pickwick Papers, this
is one of three cosy pubs – along with the Darnley Arms and the
Ship – within a few hundred yards of each other. The half-timbered
building dates to 1629 and took its name about 1720, when a leather
bottle containing gold sovereigns was found on the premises.
Punters can browse through the old-fashioned books on display. and
parking is easy in the 40 space car park. There are four real ales,
one of which is Charles Dickens Ale, made by Shepherd Neame, which
can only be found in this pub. “It’s a good session ale,” said
owner Bryan Treleaven. The restaurant has a gluten-free menu and
the pub has five en suite rooms, one of which is a bridal
suite.
Visitors can also see a piece of Charles Dickens in the flesh at
the Leather Bottle – a piece of hair to be precise.
A single stand belonging to the Victorian author was donated to
the pub last month and is taking pride of place next to his
briefcase, which he left behind after staying there as he wrote the
Pickwick Papers.
The hair was raffled to raise money for the restoration of the
chalet in Rochester where Dickens wrote many of his works.
Tickets were bought from around the world but it was one of the
regulars who won the prize and gave it to the pub.
“We couldn’t believe it was one of the locals who won it,” said
landlord Bryan Treleaven. “We had all the cameras and the mayor
come down. It was a good day out. Dickens used to stay in room two
and wrote a lot of the Pickwick Papers in there.
“But the main reason people come here is the good service and
good, wholesome food, which is all cooked fresh. We serve
everything from pheasant to rabbit, game and steak and chips.”
Address: 54-56 The Street, Cobham DA12 3BZ
Contact: 01474 814327 or www.theleatherbottle.co.uk
Dartford: The Wat Tyler
An ale house visited by travellers for centuries, named after
the leader of the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, who stopped at the
tavern to quench his thirst with his troupe on their way to London,
or so the story goes. Serving five real ales, the pub carries a
historical feel at every corner, thanks to its various nooks and
crannies. With a friendly atmosphere, this is one of the few town
centre pubs around that puts the locals first.
Address: 80 High Street, Dartford DA1 1DE
Contact: 01322 272546
Eastry: The Five Bells
A pub well known for its petanque, al fresco dining and
barbecues in the summer, when winter comes it brings a burning log
fire and homecooked meals served all day. Food is reasonably
priced, with a three-course Sunday roast for £12.50. At the heart
of the village, the pub has been running since 1675 and has been
revamped in the last five years, without losing its rustic flavour.
There are also three bed and breakfast rooms.
Address: The Five Bells, The Cross, Lower Street, Eastry
CT13 0HX
Contact: 01304 611188 or www.thefivebellseastry.com
Faversham: The Phoenix Tavern
A Cask Marque pub which many readers of the CAMRA Good Beer
Guide will have stumbled upon. Snuggle up on the comfy couches next
to the inglenook fireplace with a real ale or one of the pub’s
notable selection of single malt whiskeys. A charity quiz night
takes place on the first and third Monday of the month and a poetry
club meets every second Tuesday.
Address: Abbey Street, Faversham ME13 7BH
Contact: 01795 591462 or www.thephoenixtavernfaversham.co.uk
Folkestone: The Firkin Ale House
A micropub which used to be a hairdressers. There’s no
television, no fruit machines, no jukebox, no food, no spirits and
no lager. Oh, and mobile phones are also banned. A complete
rejection of the big chain philosophy, what punters do get is a
friendly atmosphere and fine real ales, brewed only by
microbreweries. Tipples to try include Hythe’s Hop Fuzz Brewery,
Canterbury’s Wantsum Brewery and Chatham’s Nelson Brewery. A simple
way to enjoy a pint. Closed on Mondays.
Anyone caught using their phone in the Firkin Alehouse in
Folkestone gets short shrift from the guv’nor.
“We have got a charity pot and if a phone goes off or you answer
it there is a minimum £1 fine,” said landlord Neil King, pictured,
who launched the micropub in November.
“It promotes conversation, as opposed to people chatting on the
phone to people who are not in the room. It also makes for a better
drinking experience as there is no one tapping away on their
phone.”
Money from the pot goes to Shepway-based learning disabilities
charity HFT.
Address: 18 Cheriton Place, Folkestone CT20 2AZ
Contact: 07894 068432 or www.firkinalehouse.co.uk
Hollingbourne: The Windmill
A gastropub taken over by celebrity chef Richard Phillips last
summer, who also runs Thackeray’s in Tunbridge Wells and the
Hengist in Aylesford. The pub area is comfy but sharp, and after
sampling the real ales and new world wines, it will be hard to
resist the temptation of the ambitious menus, divided into a la
carte and a set three-course winter menu for £29.50. One main to
look out for is the whole-roasted breast of Birley Estate pheasant,
stuffed with marinated port prunes, roasted pumpkin, chanterelle
mushroom and a celeriac fondant. Wow. A great stopping point for
anyone visiting Leeds Castle.
Address: 32 Eyhorne Street, Hollingbourne, Maidstone ME17
1TR
Contact: 01622 889000 or www.thewindmillbyrichardphillips.co.uk
Hucking: Hook and Hatchet
Hidden in the back roads close to the Showground at Detling,
near Maidstone, the work of Kent artists grace the walls, with
original 15th century floors and fireplaces. Under new management
for nearly a year now, Hook and Hatchett at Hucking (don’t try
saying that after one too many) has had a new lick of paint and is
right next to the Woodland Trust’s Hucking Estate, with 560 acres
of countryside open to the public. A Shepherd Neame pub, serving
the Faversham-based brewery’s ales.
Address: Church Road, Hucking, Maidstone ME17 1QT
Phone: 01622 880399 or www.shepherdneame.co.uk
Margate: The Lifeboat Ale and Cider House
An informal, slightly eccentric real ale and cider lovers’
drinking hole, ideal for a quick pint. Punters often play classic
pub games like dominoes and draughts next to the warm fireplace.
Regular beers are Goachers from Maidstone, Whitstable Brewery,
Westerham Brewery as well as ciders from Rough Old Wife and
Biddenden. The pub always serves food and has just launched a
revised menu, serving every single Kent cheese in existence. “We
have got a very laid back, relaxed approach to things,” said
founder and owner Julian Newick, who grew up in Margate and opened
the pub three years ago. “It’s a very pleasant place to be with the
fire going.” But lager lovers beware, you will not find it
here.
Address: 1 Market Street, Margate, Kent, CT9 1EU
Contact: 07837 024259 or www.thelifeboat-margate.com
Milstead: Red Lion
A few miles outside Sittingbourne is this fantastic country pub,
featured in the Michelin Pub Guide. There’s a blackboard
highlighting the European-style dishes that change with the seasons
and are served from noon to 2.30pm and then from 6.45pm to 9.30pm.
“People come back because of our 30 years of experience in the
area,” said landlord Patrick Coevoet, 48, who moved to Kent from
northern France, aged 21, to take a job at the now closed Hounds
Eating House on Faversham’s West Street. “We work hard and use
local produce which changes throughout the seasons.” There is a
large patio and garden for the summer months. The pub closes from
3.30pm to 6.30pm and is only open Tuesday to Saturday.
Address: Rawling Street, Milstead, ME9 0RT
Contact: 01795 830279 or www.theredlionmilstead.co.uk
Northfleet: The Six Bells
Originally a coaching inn, dating back to about 1760, the Six
Bells prides itself on its food, with curry nights every Friday and
a well-renowned homemade steak and ale pie available daily. The pub
is divided between the modern restaurant and two beamed bars,
serving some decent ales and plenty of lager. A huge family beer
garden is a great selling point for milder days.
Address: Old Perry Street, Northfleet DA11 8BT
Contact: 01474 567309 or www.thesixbells.info
Rochester: The Coopers Arms
A stone’s throw from the cathedral and castle sits this 12th
century pub, reputed to be haunted by the ghost of a monk who was
bricked up and left to die nearby. Do not fear, though, as the
phantom apparently only appears once every November. Tucked away
from the tourist driven High Street, this friendly and authentic
Kentish drinking hole always has about six good beers on tap.
Address: 10 St Margaret’s Street, Rochester ME1 1TL
Contact: 01634 404298
Sandwich: The George and Dragon
First opened in 1446, this Cask Marque alehouse is hidden in the
back streets of the town. Beamed ceilings and a log-burning fire
provide a comfy setting for sampling the guest ales but a modern
twist comes from the traditional food served, such as the grilled
pork chop with apple and bacon colcannon and mustard cream sauce
for £13.
Address: 24 Fisher Street, Sandwich CT13 9EJ
Contact: 01304 613106 or www.georgeanddragon-sandwich.co.uk
Stalisfield Green: The Plough
Nestling at the top of the North Downs is this proper country
pub, built sometime between 1350 and 1450. The pub’s philosophy is
to support Kent food and drink, with four hand pumps serving an
ever changing array of ales from the county’s breweries. They also
stock Kentish bottled water, fruit juices from Challock and always
have Biddenden Bushells cider on draught. Ingredients come from the
likes of Hinxton Farm Dairy, Griggs of Hythe and Cheesemakers of
Cantebury. Set the sat nav and put The Plough on your 2013 must
visit list, it’s well worth the effort.
Address: Stalisfield Green, near Charing ME13 0HY
Contact: 01795 890256 or www.stalisfieldgreen.co.uk
Tenterden: The Vine Inn
In the heart of the former Cinque Port, this Sheps pub is warm
and bright. The food is a big factor in its high return rate, with
specials on the blackboard and a Sunday roast with freshly-made
Yorkshires and seasonal vegetables. Eat in the restaurant, the
conservatory bar or, on warmer days, in the garden. The pub
couldn’t be better placed for a visit to the Kent and East Sussex
Railway.
Address: 76 High Street, Tenterden TN30 6AU
Phone: 01580 762718 or www.shepherdneame.co.uk
West Malling: The Joiners Arms
There are plenty of places to enjoy a drink in West Malling, but
the Joiners certainly ticks all the right boxes. Cracking, no
nonsense food, good beer, plenty of banter and a hearty welcome,
the Joiners has been getting it right since the early 1700s. But
it’s a pub that’s certainly not stuck in the past. A substantial
investment has been lavished on the Grade II listed building in
recent times – improving the bars, courtyard and, most impressively
of all, the accommodation above the pub that now boasts four
designer, boutique bedrooms. In a prime location, bang on the High
Street, the pub is well worth checking out – especially for the
roaring fire on a damp January afternoon.
Address: 64 High Street, West Malling ME19 6LU
Contact: 01732 840723 or www.no64thejoiners.co.uk
Whitstable: Pearson’s Arms
Another of celebrity chef Richard Phillips’ establishments,
serving real ales, fine wines and wholesome food. Facing out across
the beach, the stressed wood decor inside is painted in lots of
blues, nodding to the fishing trade and the colourful beach huts
along the seafront. The finish is much cleaner than some “pubby”
pubs. The main dining area is upstairs and the food is what you
would expect from a man who was head chef for Marco Pierre White at
the Criterion, Mirabelle and Les Saveurs. If that was not reason
enough to check it out, on Sundays children under seven eat
free.
Address: Horsebridge Road, Whitstable CT5 1BT
Contact: 01227 773133 or www.pearsonsarmsbyrichardphillips.co.uk
02/01/13
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