What better way to spend a summer's evening than sipping on a homebrewed pint with a wood-fired pizza?

KentOnline reporter Chantal Weller ventured to Hukins Hops in St Michaels, near Tenterden, to test out the venue's new taproom inside the old oast house...

It was a stunning Saturday night. The air was warm and, after a long day, nothing sounded better than a cold pint and a pizza.

After visiting Hukins Hops earlier this year and seeing the site under construction, I was excited to see the finished product and, more importantly, try out the home brews from McCann’s Brewery.

After a short journey down the narrow Bugglesden Road, we reached the car park where we were greeted with beautiful views of the tranquil environment.

The outdoor seating area was packed with families and couples, showing the site was clearly proving popular despite its location off the beaten track.

We went inside the rustic venue where golden lights were draped from the wood-beamed ceiling.

Black and white pictures decorated the walls – possibly snaps taken over the years at the hop farm. There were seven wooden picnic-style tables, and the bar was at the back of the room.

The menu of homebrewed drinks was displayed on an old cinema-style board. Alcohol bottles were perched on shelves on the tiled wall behind the bar.

We were greeted by two lovely members of staff, one of whom was quick to ask what they could get for us. I thought it was only right to try a McCann's Indian pale ale called Bombay Social which was on tap.

At the moment, there are only three options for pizzas until the kitchen officially opens. They are pepperoni, margarita and vegetarian. I opted for the veggie, and my fiance went for the pepperoni.

We paid at the bar for everything and took our seats and a sip of our drinks. Now, this is what I was excited about. I do not usually opt for beer but this one was brilliant.

It had depth and was bursting with flavour which was incredibly refreshing at the end of the day. It went down a treat and tasted even better knowing it had been brewed onsite.

It was not long until we could smell our pizzas being cooked on the wood fire in the corner of the outdoor seating area. They took about 15 minutes to arrive, transported via takeaway pizza box – possibly a temporary measure until the kitchen opens. I opened it up to find a rustic-looking and delicious-smelling pizza.

The cheese was perfectly melted and the veggies were soft yet slightly crunchy and bursting with flavour. Toppings included mushrooms, onions, peppers and pesto.

Although it didn’t fill the box, it certainly filled my stomach. It was a medium crust which was thicker around the edges. The portion was generous in regards to both the size and number of toppings.

The two pizzas were £21 which I think is respectable given the fact they are made onsite in a wood fire.

The price of a pint was £5 and a half pint was £2.50, which you cannot argue with these days.

Overall, the experience was lovely and I would definitely go back. The atmosphere was relaxed, the staff were friendly and the environment peaceful, offering stunning views of the hop farm.

It is the perfect evening out for couples and families and I cannot wait to come back once the kitchen is fully open.