please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
First time back since the re-furb and I have mixed feelings. The quirkiness of all the artifacts has gone which leaves it feeling a bit souless. It is now very much the stock country pub with a large wine list.
It does stock Westerham and Harveys ales both of which are properly looked after. Had a meal with my wife which was excellently cooked and presented; no change out of £50 there.
Overall impression is that it is 'very naice' with pricey gastro-pub food.
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Drank here Saturday evening couple of pints and bottle of wine, decor and garden nicely refurbed. sadly went to get another bottle and was asked to leave the table as it needed to be laid!!
Went up the road for food!!
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Open again now. Westerham beers on the pumps. Good atmosphere, huge garden and very well kept beer.
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Yes, this pub is now up for sale. About £700,000 if anyone is interested?
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We were nearby this pub on Friday evening 21st June and wanted to stop off for a quick drink on our way home.Our previous visit was not brilliant three years ago.We drove past and noticed a lack of cars in the carpark and the area unkempt with weeds growing.The doors were shut with no sign of life.I think the pub has closed.
We turned off the main road and made our way to The Rock near Chiddingstone Hoath.
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Terrible place. The food was ghastly. I assualted the chef as a result - a strong left-hook to the chops, for daring to serve me up this diabolical disaster on a plate. Wife ('missus' in common parlance) can't stomach frozen food, how dare they.... Meat was stringy, whatever that means, kind of like a vegetable. But it was meat. Stringy meat.
Had to read the menu off a chalk board, to my surprise it was written in Gaelic. I questioned the landlady on what it meant in English and she shrugged her shoulders and threw clover at me and replied "this is an Irish pub you know!!"
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Lovely looking building. Got inside and after purchasing some good quality beer we asked for a menu only to be told that the menu is written on a huge chalk board for everyone to stand around and decide what they want. Very strange. Anyway, we ordered two roast beefs and then made our way to the beer garden. We found a bench and sat on it. We hadn't been talking 5 minutes when the food came over. Alarm bells start ringing in my head. The food was absolutely the WORST I had ever come across from a pub. To say the meat was stringy doesn't even come close. I could have picked it up, pulled it apart and it would've snapped. Utterly inedible. My wife didn't eat any of hers, because she physically couldn't. Boiled frozen peas and carrots accompanied this and it wasn't cheap either. £14.95 each as I recall. Some food makes you want to complain. Some food is so bad, you want to punch the chef. Then there's this.
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Although this was the last pub on our cycle route from Ashford to Edenbridge, and by this time was feeling rather tipsy, we found this place very charming and welcoming. The ales were very well kept and there was a good selection and the Stowford's cider kept the missus happy! A beautiful exterior is almost replicated inside, and although it was expensive, I wasn't expecting it to be cheap given its location. walked in covered in twigs and mud, but no one battered an eyelid which was nice considering I was rather nervous about upsetting the more well-to-do locals.
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Really disappointing...... Visited the Wheatsheaf on Saturday 30 June 2012 at lunchtime. Whilst the location is good, the staff were friendly and my pint of Harveys was reasonable, my party of four was left feeling disappointed and ripped off by the poor quality and extremely high price of the food.
Also the pub garden looks tired and in need of some TLC.
When we questioned the extortionate bill the girl behind the bar replied "this is an expensive pub you know!".
Sorry Wheatsheaf, you need to get it together if you want to compete with the likes of the Little Brown Jug or the Old Eden.
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Charming beer garden and friendly staff... beer is perhaps a little pricey but it is well kept - the Westerham ales were good and the Harveys was decent. Worth heading out to while the sun's out.
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I hadn't visited this pub for probably more than 20 years before I did so again quite recently. It was curiously different from how I'd remembered it, but very pleasant all the same, close to one's image of what your 'traditional pub' ought to look like. In fact like a lot of 'traditional pubs' (the ones that haven't closed) it's a lot more food focused than they 'traditionally' used to be. Nevertheless, this is still a real pub, and not just a restaurant pretending to be one. They had very drinkable Harvey's and a Westerham beer on when I was there, and the food itself was actually very good.Worth a try.
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I thought I at least knew of every pub in the East Surrey/West Kent universe, even if I am yet to visit them all in person. But it appears this is an exception. I had neither heard of nor noticed the Wheatsheaf before, despite having certainly driven past it. A rare occasion of concentrating on the driven rather than drinking possibilities perhaps?!
In any case, I found myself here with various friends; one of whom had received a recommendation for this place as it provided quality for discerning adults whilst still catering adequately for children - of which my peers now have many, so it was imperative they were accommodated.
It was a glorious sunny Springtime Sunday and so perhaps understandably the pub and particularly its generous garden at the side was pack-jammed. Any fears that it would be too 'family-orientated' were soon allayed as a mixture of seemingly quite well-heeled folk were enjoying its wares, not all with unruly nippers.
No wonder at the socio-economic background, as the Wheatsheaf is set in an affluent district and its price strategy matches: there was an excellent menu and one could almost think of a dish and find it on the board, but none of it came cheap! Still, one is prepared to pay if the quality is good, and overall, we all enjoyed our respective meals which came in generous portions and used sound ingredients. Any amount of meat and fish and vegetarian options were available, including a modest children's menu. Food was phenomenally popular and whilst I can see why, I overheard a couple being told at 2:45PM that there'd be up to a 45-minute wait for their orders - amazingly they remained steadfast. I would have given in. Victims of their own success maybe?
Ale-wise, 5 handpumps were available, with only 3 occupied. Not the most diverse array of options, but the Westerham Grasshopper proved a well-conditioned staple for the afternoon's entertainment. Harvey's Best, and Bushels cider also featured on cask this day. Clearly not a GBG favourite, but not to be dismissed on this basis alone.
The building is charming - as the photo on this site betrays - and its interior is focused on a rather baronial, wood-panelled central hall leading to the bar area, which is awash with numerous nick-nacks and artefacts. Most though not all are pub/brewery/drink-orientated. Of particular note was the empty bottle of 'Cripplecock' cider.... A good night was had by someone for sure....
In the round, this pub is not exceptional. Nevertheless, it has much to draw the above-average punter in. On a beaufitul sunny day, with or without your loved ones and little ones, it could be the perfect lunchtime option - but beware the crowds; booking ahead is probably advisable.
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Returned to visit this pub after a break of a few months. Reason being last time we visited it wasn't as good as before and it seems like our break was justified. We arrived at about 4:30 pm on a Saturday and the place was only about a quarter full. We ordered drinks - �7.90 for a rum and coke and pint of Stwford Press cider - and then ordered food. Food took ages to arrive and when it did it looked okay. I had Liver and Bacon which was �13.95 so not cheap and frankly I found it too salty, but myabe just not to my taste. Nobody at anytime during eating ask if our meals were okay and not did they at the end. Maybe this was just a glitch in service, but none of the bar staff were the same as last time we visited so maybe this lot are just not as good. We won't visit again in a hurry while there are much better value pubs nearby.
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We've been to The Wheatsheaf twice in the last six months and found it delightful pub.
There's a leaflet with all sorts of interesting facts about the pub; the staff are very friendly, the food excellent, the service timely and not fussy, good beer, lovely garden, wonnderful creaky floorboards and furniture that has a natural lived-in feel.
Sitting in the garden propping up the NHS, we were just surprized how busy the road was, but you soon get used to it and you wouldn't notice it at all inside.
We woudl rate this near the top of the scale.
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I have very occasionally used this pub for nearly 25 years.Last nights visit (23/04/10,8.30-11.30 pm)left me thinking that for non drinkers or drivers the soft drink prices were extortionate.The service was slow and confused even though the pub was not busy.The soft drinks were served from individual bottles which always makes them more expensive and not from a dispensing gun.The pint of Westerham Ales Grasshopper Bitter was very nice and my friend's Biddenden Cider was too.This was a small consolation to those in my party who were drinking soft drinks.Because of this we will find another pub to meet at in future.
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Great country visit old style hostelry, which was quite packed on a Summers day visit
Sat in the extensive beer garden, which has many nooks surrounded by shrubbery
Inside, it is a decent size, but the bar area is quite small and may demand a small wait. Beer selection decent as well
Well worth visiting
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We have been regular users of this pub, the staff are always polite and helpful - but the standard of food has been declining and price's getting higher for very basic fare. The pub has not been updated or refurbished in the last ten years - its really in need of some tender care. The only update is a smoking area at the front of the premise's.
it's a great shame, as its a lovely old pub, but not at gastro pub standard,
would love to see it back to it's old standard of it's earlier years as i have enjoyed many good evenings in the past there.
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Very attractive old pub, blazing Inglenook fire, decent draught ciders, local ales from Westerham, and Harveys, if a tad pricey. Young friendly staff so a pretty good stop off. The food is more of a challenge if you are looking for real high quality country cooking, then it needs to sharpen up it's act. More local fresh food and less of the Brake Bros factory food delivery van please. Pubs these days are fighting for survival and the best will always do well no matter where the location, the poor one's will go to the wall, even in the best locations. The Wheatsheaf looks fine for the moment, good location, lovely interior, but in an increasingly quality oriented pub food culture...it needs to wake up to the opportunity for a high quality food offering.
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A wonderful pub. Brilliant atmosphere, fantastic food, lovely people, good beer.
Great for dinner out, but you can just prop up the bar (if you can find space!) if you'd rather, and enjoy v good ale.
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Nice pub in a charming bit of the Weald.
Tiny little bar but smart service. The beer is good. Couldn't comment on food but the garden is charming.
The Wheatsheaf is worth a visit.
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Very nice pub. Friendly bar staff, excellent food and unhealthy puddings ;-) Near some decent walks in Penshurst, so great for a Sunday outing.
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What a great pub! Good beer and cider and the food is excellent, but not the cheapest. Well worth a visit.
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Had our evening meal in this pub today, the food was very good, if a little on the expensive side. The wait seemed a little long. And it was not that busy. It still could do with clean. Staff friendly and very helpful. Probably won't go back for another meal. We plan to try another pub in the area.
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Had lunch in this pub today, a little disappointed that it did not look like its picture, maybe its the time of year, little or no ivy! Parking was a problem we ended up in a field about fifty meters behind it. However, the food was good, not to long to wait as it was very busy. I agree with the last comment could be a bit cleaner. Staff friendly and very helpful. We will be going back for an evening meal so will post a comment again.
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Called in with a client after a meeting. Good food and friendly staff. One downer was I felt it could have been a bit cleaner but it might have been the fact there was a hale storm outside making the pub very dark inside. Quaint pub with lots of history. Might return if I'm in the area as the garden looked welcoming.
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Was going for a late Sunday afternoon drive and saw this gorgeous pub, decided to see if they were serving some food and they were! The menu was excellent, I am veggie but my parter is not, there was plenty of choice. The puddings were delicious and the service fantastic.
The bar is split into a child friendly area and area for adults only, so the best of both worlds. I am pregnant, so enjoyed a peaceful meal, but when my little one is born will go back to this friendly pub knowing we will all be welcome. Might try the chestnuts then too.
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What has happened to this place? A year ago the food was sensational. Been a couple of times in the last few months and it has been dire. They're serving 'Pukka' pies for gods sake!! Not seen anything like this since the mid eighties. Beers good though.
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This is a great pub. Really atmospheric inside, with very high beamed ceilings, mounted animal heads, old paintings, candlelit tables and large inglenooks. If you get one of the tables for 2 by the fire you can even roast chestnuts in winter. It doesn't get any better than this. The food is always good, service friendly and the beer in top condition. They serve food all day which is a big plus too. One of the best that I have visited.
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I am an Aussie and I worked in this magnificent pub 2 years ago. The owners are great, atmosphere awesome and especially in summer time the beer garden is a great place to dine. Surrounded by greenery and plenty of picnic tables for everyone. Be sure to book though as they tend to be packed!!
Sarah Arthur - 15 Jan 2007 07:39 |
A truly great pub. Been going there for years. Great food, very interesting historical artefacts. Lovely garden and local walks. Very handy hor Hever Castle which in itself is a gem. A very friendly and welcoming Landlady, who prides herself on the quality of service and food.
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A wonderful country pub. Some parts of the building date to mid 16thC. Large selection of real ales and great food. Lots of interesting artifacts all around the pub.
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