It was a case of bad news and good news as I went in search of a drinker’s paradise on Edenbridge High Street.

First the bad news, the King & Queen has closed permanently with a planning notice in the window to confirm it will become three new dwellings – a Halloween disco was still advertised on a chalkboard so I presume it bolted its doors fairly recently.

Whilst it’s sad to see any pub lose its battle to survive, judged by my only previous visit, it had become a soulless, male-dominated sports bar that won’t be a great loss.

I faced further disappointment down the road as I passed the closed sign informing me the town’s first micro pub, the Secret Cask, doesn’t open until 4pm.

But, the good news is, after just a few hundred yards more I arrived at Eden, or more accurately, the Old Eden.

You can’t fail to be intrigued as you approach this 15th century building but it’s even more impressive inside with a full-height ceiling at one end, roaring fires and beams wherever you look.

I took a seat by the fire on the left, in front of the pool table, and, this being Eden, started with a pint of Holy Grail.

This tribute to the boys from Monty Python was created by the Black Sheep Brewery in 1999 to commemorate 30 years of the legendary comedy team.

The ale is still going strong 23 years later, though unfortunately the light golden beer itself doesn’t have much strength to it. Weakly carbonated, without much flavour, this isn’t a pint I’d rush back to, which is a shame as I’d become settled in front of the open fire.

Instead I moved across to join locals sitting on stools at the copper covered bar and, ignoring the invitation to sample ‘free water’ from the bottle at the end, I took barmaid Kym’s advice to play it safe with a Stella.

It was the day of the Christmas quiz and there was a flurry of activity in this family-run free house to be ready for the evening session.

There had also been a lunchtime festive party on the mezzanine floor and, as the revellers had now departed, Kym was busy clearing up. Chairs from upstairs were required for the quiz tables so I did the decent thing and helped carry them down – aptly M People’s Moving On Up joined the playlist.

Having done my good deed I returned to the bar where landlady Linda was busy setting up tables and taking calls from folk cancelling at the last minute or quiz captains wanting to add an extra player to their team.

When you witness it at first hand you realise just how challenging it is to make sure such wonderful pubs not only survive, but thrive.

After popping out to buy a packet of fags (to repay Kym for all those he cadged) the landlord added a few more logs and I complimented him on his fire stoking. Candidly he admitted keeping two fires roaring had nothing to do with maintaining warmth and everything to do with creating the ambient atmosphere required to lure people in.

So, when Oasis’ wonderful track Wonderwall ended and some nonsense from Phil Collins began playing, I respectfully suggested that if ambience is so important he should review his musical selections!

I took a toilet break to avoid the Easy Lover and am pleased to report the gents is far more modern than anywhere else here – fresh and well-maintained, the facilities are looked after equally as well as everywhere else.

When I returned, barmaid Amber had started her shift following Kym’s departure and her outfit was being assessed by Linda and the locals sitting in central position at the bar.

Already wearing a Yo, Ho, Ho dress, she had also tied tinsel in her hair but Linda assured her she had a Christmas hat upstairs that would complete the look.

We all know it takes more than Christmas decorations, strings of horse brasses, blazing fires and ‘Duck or Grouse’ signs to create a great pub.

The key to success is the relationship created between bosses, their staff and the all-important regulars – and, the signs here are that they’ve got this right.

Hopefully the Christmas quiz was a great success and all the contestants were comfortably seated, but for any fact fans who missed it, the End of Year Quiz is on December 29.

Old Eden, 121 High Street, Edenbridge TN8 5AX

Decor: The history of this building is wonderfully evident wherever you look and all the furnishings look completely at home. Any nick-nacks are the real thing and not those dreadful faux pub ‘antiques’. *****

Drink: I wasn’t a great fan of the 4% Holy Grail from the Black Sheep Brewery but it’s good to see guest ales available. The recommended Stella was exactly what you’d expect. ***

Price: The Monty Python inspired bitter wasn’t too expensive at £4 but £5.65 for a pint of Stella Artois is a touch too far the wrong side of a fiver. **

Staff: Linda the landlady was approachable and keen to chat. Barmaid Kym was efficient and friendly with a hard-working attitude. A proper family-run pub with loyal staff. ****

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