please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Part of the fun of visiting this rural pub is getting there. I took the R8 TFL bus that winds its way through narrow lanes and quaint villages, occasionally having problems with cars coming the other way. The bus even had to stop for cyclists, given how narrow the lanes are. The pub is quaint inside and out. Locals who weren't particularly friendly congregated around the bar, whilst there were diners scattered around. All tables were laid out for dining. However, most customers were in the large garden at the rear and side. One solitary ale was on during my Saturday visit. That was Westerham Summer Perle. I had just over 15 minutes before the return bus back to civilisation. Otherwise, it was another 90 minute wait for the next. But, the bus does drop off and picks up directly outside the pub. Worth a visit, but probably not for the beer or service.
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A favouite of mine some 10yrs ago
Visited this week Oh dear whats gone wrong?
It may have looked like the picture about 10yrs ago not any more Badly needs some TLC inside & out .
The baguette I was served looked as if it had been defrosted in the micro & not even seen the oven to give it some colour .Made staff aware of problem Nobody returned to discuss
Looked in the kitchen I'm wondering how many "Stars" Bromley awarded the kitchen !!!
AVOID
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Wonderful little country pub, all low beams and traditional decor. I had a couple of great pints of Harvey's Sussex while walking around the area. Like many of the pubs in the area it's a bit of a regular's haunt where everyone seems to know each other, but it's a good atmosphere. I'll have to return for lunch here soon.
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Always being an early bird at lunchtime, we see many tables that have been reseved for much later in the period. It's a pity you can't have these tables, if they are reserved for much later, providing you are told this and wil vacate them when necessary. It's stupid having tables empty for, say, one and a half hours, if you arrive just before midday.
Of course all this presupposes that he kitchen staff can get the food out promptly like they do at the nearby Blacksmith's Arms.
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Seems like a popular pub, but at 12:30pm on a recent Saturday all tables were reserved and few people sitting at them. What's that all about?
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Went here for the first time a few weeks back. Very nice place - food and drink very good. Same pub featured in a recent Battle of Britain documentary. A chap at the bar trying to order food was not happy though, as the kitchen couldn't accommodate his order. This tallies with a friend's remark that the kitchen should have been extended when they modified this place.
If you can be bothered to wait for the R8 bus which is obviously not a frequent service, you will avoid the near-death experiences as you walk down the pavementless Jail Lane.
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Visited 20 Sep 09. Excellent pint of Harvey's Best, beer festival quality. Very attentive and helpful barman. Large beer garden, with an adventure playground which didn't detract from the main business of enjoying a quiet pint or three.
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Dropped in on a Thursday evening. Very busy with a good atmosphere thanks in large part I think to the real mix of different customers. Food was also very good and unlike some of the other reviews not slow in coming. However the staff did look quite pushed so I could imagine if the garden had been full as well it would have been slower.
Although they are obviously trying to push the food it hasn't got to the point of some pubs where you wouldn't feel comfortable just popping in for a pint. I realise rural pubs like this have to do food to survive so hopefully they'll manage to keep the balance right.
Also worth knowing is that the R8 bus to Orpington station goes past. It's 'hail & ride' so it will pick you up right next to the car park.
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Lovely old place to enjoy a drink, but not the same since it became a restaurant/pub. Good pint of Sussex to be had, as well as London Pride, and in general the beer is kept well here. Spacious beer garden, nice in the summer months. Food is very good for a pub, but over-priced considerably.
Such a shame that pub's like this need to become restaurants to survive, but if it stays open, then that's fantastic.
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Oh Dear Something has gone wrong here.Took some friends on a Saturday Lunch couple of weeks back.No food available.Kitchen unable to cope.
No umbrellas for tables outside.
Car Park is the "pits".Time for a new management team
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Whoever owns this pub, really aught to spend some money on the kitchen, as it appears that it is not always capable of meeting the demands made upon it. It would be such a shame if the clientele were kept waiting, for long periods of time, for food ordered, especially when very busy - as this deservedly popular place can get.
In all other respects this is an excellent pub.
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This is a lovely old timber and tile building with lots of atmosphere. In addition to Harveys and Spitfire, Deuchars IPA is now on the pump. With a car park and large garden it is well worth a visit. Food can be a bit slow to arrive at busy times as it is freshly prepared and the kitchen is quite small.
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popped in with a friend for a lunch on the 5 May.
Great to see same happy faces behind the bar & doing the catering.All very attentive.
Still good well kept ales namely Spitfire & the incredible Harveys
We both enjoyed sizzling hot flavoursome lasagne with salad & baguettes.as well as a rib eye baguette with salad.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK ITS APPRECIATED
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Though it was a nice enough looking boozer, as it was Easter Bank Holiday I was rather sad to see that many of the lagers I ordered were not in stock.
Having eved dropped on the foul taste of the food from other customers, we were a bit weirey of ordering food. But we did & though it wasn't bad in wasn't what I would call good pub grub.
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Went to The old Jail for my birthday in March Rib eye cooked as usual to perfection.Friends had Sizzling chicken finished off with bread & butter pudding ,crumble & Ice cream .All washed down with copious amounts of Harveys.Even the coffee at the end was excellent.
Service from all staff tops.
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Beers are normally Harveys Best (superb,) Spitfire and Greene King IPA (can't really vouch for the latter two as the Harveys is so good that I don't tend to try the others!
Also not a bad wine list
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Can anyone advise what the ale line up is like in this place? I notice someone mentioned Harvey's in a post over a year ago but most of the reviews go on about the food.
Should I expect the omnipresent Greene King & Courage or are we looking at something more exciting along the lines of the local Westerham Brewery or a frequent rotation from small microbreweries?
anonymous - 16 Oct 2006 18:44 |
I would have to agree that the annonymous review is not the Old Jail I know (and my last review did find fault with the speed of service.)
Went there again last week and again the food was of a superb quality as were the beers. Am also pleased to say that the spped of service had picked up.
All in all a great family pub.
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Went to this pub two weeks ago to eat for someone's birthday. It was excellent, staff were really friendly and the food was some of the best all of us had had. We are going there again tonight for my birthday and we can't wait! Superb.
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I too am surprised at the critical review posted by anonymous. I eat at this pub all the time. The food is really good, freshly cooked and well presented. The staff have always been really friendly. There is a huge garden with childrens play equipment and the pub is really olde worlde with beams, very characterful. Easily the best in the area.
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It is shocking to read such an attacking review of one of the best pubs in the area. i am a regular user and have had some amazing times in the pub with the food being beautiful and the service equally as brilliant. The staff are always extremely helpfull, pleasant and polite which i find adds to the whole experience of dining in at the jail. Keep up the high standards please
anonymous - 19 Aug 2006 15:59 |
It is difficult to believe that this is the same pub described in the other reviews! I visited with my mother for lunch today (Wednesday) and had a dreadful experience. My mother ordered goats cheese on mushroom and I ordered a jacket potato with cheese and beans. The goats cheese was stone cold. My jacket potato had very few baked beans and the salad garnish was gritty. My mother asked whether her meal was supposed to be cold. The waitress said it wasn't and asked whether she would like another one, pointing out that I would have finished my potato before it returned. I asked if it would be possible to have a few more baked beans. A server informed me that I had been given what they considered an adequate portion of baked beans and said that they had a budget to stick to. He said that if I wanted any more we would have to pay 50 pence! My mother's original dish returned having been heated up (it was not replaced as they had offered). We asked to speak to the the manager, but were informed that the owner was at the cash and carry and he was the most senior person on duty. He said he was powerless to do anything other than give us the owner's name should we wish to try and contact her at the pub at another time. Although the food was very disappointing, it was the utter disdain in which we were treated by two members of staff which was truly insulting. They showed no insight into their inadequacies, they offered no apology and showed a complete disregard towards us. Our mistake was to pay up front!
anonymous - 16 Aug 2006 22:35 |
This is a fantastic pub, well kept beer and very good food, but my one complaint is that it seems to be a victim of its own (deserved,) sucess.
Went recently for Sunday lunch with friends and assorted children. As they were busy got a late (in the day as opposed to last minute,) booking but was asked (as we have been on a number of occasions,) to 'reserve,' the sunday roasts we wanted. Was more than happy to do this but despite the fact that the staff knew 1.) what we were having and 2.) When we were sitting down the meals still took 50 minutes to arrive. By this time everyone was starving. When it did arrive the food was of it usual high standards (easily the best in the area,) but come on guys if you know what people are having and when we want it then it should not be rocket science to plan ahead and get fod to table within a decent timescale.
Oh and it took so long that by the time we were ready to order desert the cheese option, which I had been looking forward to (and it was my birthday treat!) had sold out!
Despite this still a great pub. Beer and staff 9 but food knocked down to 6 as it takes so bloody long!
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my husband and i have visited this pub several times and we have always had a meal. The food is very good and have recommended this place to many friends. My only complaint, which wouldn't be a complaint to most other people is that the portions are to big and i have to send a plate back with loads of food and the chef probably thinks i didnt like it.
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This establishment just gets better & better.
Rib eye steaks cooked to perfection
Beautiful roast beef for a Sunday lunch as well as traditional puddings to die for.
Even a basic lunch of warm peppered breast of chicken with sliced new potatoes mixed salad leaves with fresh tomatoes and cucumber not forgetting french bread & butter was so hearty I had to go to the swimming pool to burn off the excess energy.Of course none of this would be possible without the service provided by the excellent team of staff.Long may it continue to thrive.
Robert
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Turned up on spec for a meal tonight. Table was found in a relatively smoke-free area. Landlady explained that there might be a short delay as there was a largish party in the main dining room. When questioned as to the anticipated delay, she enquired and established that it would be half an hour or so. She asked us to chose from the clearly displayed menu. The food we chose was served cooked to perfection and adorned with sundry vegetables. The wine and real ale consumed was of a high quality and beautifully kept. The bitter, Harveys, was a treat! Clear and just the right temperature.
I recommend this pub for honest drink and a high standard of food served.
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On a Sunday lunchtime, all tables were reserved except for one. I was told I couldn't sit at the vacant table which was not reserved as the pub didn't have enough seats for it. I take a dim view of having to sit at the bar to eat my meal, but at least the beer was good.
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Lovely country pub. Real Ale and good food.
Ken Dryden - 7 Sep 2004 11:57 |
