please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This pub is closed.
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April 2012. The Hook and Hatchet has been under new management since 23.January 2012 . Much refurbishment has taken place and the menu has seen extensive additions. The food is top rate and the service friendly and welcoming. There is a log fire for cold winters or summers nights. Dogs and children are welcome. There is a daytime and evening menu. Food is not served on a Monday, but drinks are available, along with tea coffee and sumptious cake and snacks. There are various bands booked in for Sunday afternoons, which will be extended to Friday's as the warmer weather hahaha sets in. We look forward to seeing new customers as well as the regular clientelle.
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Not sure if this pub has changed hands again but up until a few months ago I would have happily recommended this out of the way pub.
Went back last Sunday for a late lunch to find the place unusually empty except for 3 or 4 couples. We was informed "no Sunday roasts - only serving food off the limited main blackboards" OK it was 5.00pm so may have sold out, even if so few people in.
Ordered beef burgers & chips & pint of Whit stable Bay Organic. The beer was flat & tepid, not nice at all. Whist sitting outside waiting (along time) for our meals we noticed some tables had still not been cleared & remained that way for our whole stay, this despite the place was very quite.
Also the whole place now looks discernly grubby & unkempt.
Ordered a pint of Spitfire in place of the horrible W.B.O. Wrong move, this was even worst! This was one of the few times I have walked out of a pub leaving a near full glass.
To be fair the homemade beef burger & chips was quite good (even if it did take a while) but we won't be coming back.
Wot a shame because this is a nice pub (if remote) but it needs good beer, good food and good service if it is too survive and on this showing, it won't.
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Nestling in the green folds of the North Downs.A picturesque tile and weatherboarded 'restaurant'!
Ideal for walkers and horse people requiring sustinance but as a pub.....I'll let you decide for yourselves!
All Shep's ale off on my visit...MB/Spitfire and Oyster!
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My wife and myself went to this pub on a trip down memory lane as i used to work here many years ago we took our young daughter on a saturday night to eat it was fairly busy but not packed we spoke to the landlord and after a discerning look said we could eat with our toddler not sure whether kids are still allowed after 7.30 they always used to be and she is very well behaved and would have probably slept through the evening anyway we sat down and half an hour later the landlord comes over and explains that at just gone 8 on a saturday night that his chef (who i was unaware was from flaming henrys makes sense now) had ran out of food now i'm no chef but surely this is unlikely i mean what was he going to do sunday? very disappointing shame used to be great
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Excellent hospitality and a friendly service! Food was excellent, by far the best pub food I have had in a long time. Everything cooked to perfection, and great value for money. Well worth a visit.
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Only joking with you "petanalfiedog" i think it"s a good thing that people care about their pubs and are prepared to fight their corner and air their views
whether they are right or wrong :O()
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not sure how we survive without the reccommendations from winchesterclub.
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Well if you are,throw the hand painted sign through them! :O()
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get down there winchesterclub.could do with a hand and to make sure im not looking through rose coloured glasses.
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Can"t wait for the second chapter petenalfiedog!! :O()
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just revisited this pub.what a differnce!!!!!!.my son and i walked our dogs around the estate and went in for abit of lunch.i had a very clear cool pint of master brew.very well kept and a pleasure to drink.we ordered abit of lunch which included a tuna and mozzerella melt.the tuna was moist and tasted of una,unlike some you get in pubs which are dry and only taste of the salty water its kept in while in the tin.i ordered sardines,what a joy.these were fresh sardines which had been headed and tailed and!! boned.there was a perfect marinade of recurrants a brilliant foil for the oily richness of the fish.the fish itself was moist.the dish was dressed with fresh redcurrants.both small plate dishes had a garnish of well dress salad which was in proportion to the main ingredient.i was that impressed to go and order another cpl of small plates.i insisted my son have another one so i could have a look.he ordered the deep fried brie.it looked home coated and again the dish was dressed really well.i had the mushroom and stilton pate,served with excellent quality bread and butter and a really pleasing onion compote.again with just the rite amount of salad.its good to see that the landlord has stuck to individual pots of coffee.served to you hot,theres just something nice about the ritual of pouring your own coffee for yourself and whoever your with.i eyed the wines available.theres a chat-pap and a good grand cru as wines of the month,i also saw laurent perrier in the fridge,our fav fizz,not sure if this is sold by the glass???this is a small detail,but the salt on the table is sea salt.this demonstrates an eye for detail and to me shows appreciation for food,theres nothing worse than putting processed pouring salt over good food.when i visited this place at one point the garden area had rusting old bar-b-cues strewn about and abandoned.the gardens now have been all ptruned back and there is evidence that there is going to be fresh planting.we sat outside and its easy to see how pleasant this will be in bloom.the staff were very good.very friendly on approach to the bar,interested in explaining the menu.there was 4 dishes which were not available but the visit was on a weds lunchtime,but hopefully thats not a habit.the staff wereattentive when serving the food.theres one thing dan,plz reconsider allowing dogs in a small part of the pub,the hook is the only one locally that doesnt allow dogs and theres so much walking space behind.the landlord here is backing himself.im not sure if the road sign outside nottcutts is still there,but ive seen investment in an advertisement in the "verve" freebie mag.well done dan,word will get round.my rating for this pub has gone from a 4 to a cautious 7.i say that because i would like to have main meals at a busy time,and will do soon.try it again polomint,i appreciate what happened should not have happened and believe an invite should have been sent to you here by dan.a sandwich on them would be really good customer care?
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not been again,just an awnser to dan.good for you.but i must say again that hand written signs are not the way forward,it is tacky sorry.lets see you big yourself up in the local press.i will honestly sing anyones praises whose making a go of it.i really hope the chef is making use of the huge amount of fresh produce rite on his doorstep and not just taking a delivery from brakes brothers.youve also got the huge estate rite behind you.its a shame you are not letting in well behaved dogs? youve got a sep area from the resturant? youve got a cracker there and i will be back,sadly without alf.the food was good at both flaming henrys and the oak on the green,if the chef can do the same flying solo from a big company youve got it sussed.i sence a english pub with modern english food screaming there.your place was buzzing once with just word of mouth,and you sound a determined bloke.good luck with it.
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With Reference to to a previous comment. I am the Licensee of the Hook & Hatchet. I would just like to point out the errors in your message. Firstly I do not need to 'check out' the competition in Bearsted. I am well aware what other pubs are doing in the village. The Head Chef has been in place since July. So it is not the same chef as with the previous owner. The Chef was previously HC at Oak on the Green & Flaming Henrys. With regard to my 'handpainted' signs which you think smacks of desperation. What is wrong in advertising Live Music at the Pub at Notcutts Roundabout? As you well know the Hook & Hatchet is not the easiest pub to find, or indeed with the footfall of other pubs - I am trying to make a success of the pub and re build what previous occupiers destroyed - This is not desperation.
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have only been to this pub once but once was enough admitedly it was a year ago but service was very bad tried to order food was told it would be awhile about 15minutes later told food ordered not available reordered waitress then informe us coach party had arrived which they had forgotten about so no food would be available for us we left disgusted by our treatment
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recently seen the licensee in bearsted checking out the competion??? hand painted signs on roundabouts outside nottcuts smacks of desparate.this place was once full on word of mouth custom.checked it out again.left beer and pub.still same chef.still not good sorry!! i will try again undertaker,as ive said on another of my postings i dont give up on such a nice place.but a fire isnt enough.
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interesting to note that the inside of this pub has been 100% dog-free for 5 months since the current licencees took over, so the rotweiler days are long gone. Seems like a relaxed friendly place to spend some time in front of the fire.
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can only agree with the previous reviewer,what a crying shame.this was a free house until recently.was a fabulous place for a ride out.grt out door seating which allowed alfresco eating of really good food.the owners were friendly and cared.sadly its now in the hands of a sheperd neame tenant.when we visited a few monthes ago a rottwieller was loose in the bar and instantly took a leak on the bar floor having seen our dogs.the dog was put away but the wee remained.it was down hill from there.i think its been taken over again and think it may have improved but the obviously need to change the chef.we looked at the menu and it didnt inspire.again,this is a pub and not a resturant and the beers are of good quality.i would be very happy buying the kitchen from the owner,it could be a gold mine.if you do visit with your own dog,dont forget to take a mop
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I had the misfortune to visit this pub recently. We arrived as a family orderded a starter and main course each My "Tiger Prawns In garlic butter" arrived as follows: four bone dry small prawns(less than one centimetre in length)on four slices of cucumber and a handful of iceberg lettuce. when I pointed this out to the Manager he replied "You are lucky! we gave you prawn cocktail prawns....you have got a result".
anonymous - 10 Aug 2007 14:57 |
Yes I've been out of town on the booze! This place is fab, recently refurbed, masses of outside drinking space. Even spots to park yer horse! Bood range of beers, modern feel inside but not too modern. Really nice reclaimed tiles on the roof above the veranda. Friendly landlord on a fine easter afternoon it was bliss!
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