please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Popped here the other Sunday after my cricket team had enjoyed a facile win at Knole Paddock, and was suitably impressed. There was decent service, a good choice of ales, an attractive barmaid and a nice ambience. On the down side, Shep Neame beers are hardly cheap but it is pleasant to drink in a neat little boozer rather than a soulless sports club after a game.
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The food & menu need some more effort, but the ale is all top notch. Lovely pub nicely situated for refreshments after a leisurely ramble in Knole Park.
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Been here three times now since the start of the year and each time it�s got progressively worse. While the menu is interesting, the homemade soup very good, the rest is below par and the service a joke.
Long waits as standard and food rarely comes out at the same time if you are in a group. It's often cold when it does. You also feel like you are made to wait just long enough to have to order another drink to go with your meal. Ask for ketchup or vinegar and you get a communal bottle - not very hygienic!
As for price, some items are OK, but others are a bit excessive. Greek salad with half a baguette for �8.50� guessing it was flown in from Greece and the price reflects its airfare!
The staff are friendly enough, but not very switched on. Last time we visited the landlady and barmaid both cleaned the same table within a minute or two of one another!
Not the worst pub in the world, but put off enough that I won�t be going back any time soon.
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Shepherd Neame house set in a lovely location. Tried the Masterbrew & Spitfire both of which were very good. Food was very good but the system was a bit odd ... we were a large group of walkers and we booked in advance saying most people would be having sandwiches / soups type of meals. As a result, they wouldn't let the one or two people who wanted order a roast dinner. Apart from that they were very well organized and helpful. They've got a nice cat too.
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Mr Miles is a tad harsh.I had a lovely lunch up there today a couple of Tonbridge Ales. Lovely sunny day and a super location. The sandwich was lovely and crusty and a decent side salad.
More importantly the beer was as clear as a bell and in tip top condition. Not seen the Rustic too often but its worth a quaff or two anytime.
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Lovely location & without doubt a lot has been done to upgrade the menu choice.
Thats fine if you want main meals.Regrettably not the case with the boring poor value sandwiches that are served on awful White or brown supermarket steamed bread.For �5 a time lets see some decent wholemeal / granary on the menu along with a choice of hot baguettes.Thats what the competition is providing.Suggest new owners take a trip up the road to the Chaser Inn ."Lessons need to be learned"
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Enjoyed a very pleasant lunch indeed here yesterday. Helen, the landlady I gather, is charming and the food we had delicious with very well kept beer. We shall defiantly return and bring our friends and hopefully snuggle up by one of the fires if it ever turns cold.
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Great location and lovely pub inside with open fires. Had lunch here on Saturday and we were all blown away by the amazing food. The best lamb we've had for a very long time! Service was excellent and an extremely jovial atmosphere with very friendly locals. New Chef, formerly head chef at Little Brown Jug is producing some wonderful new dishes. Going back this weekend for Sunday lunch!
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Tidy pub, well presented. But they are giving lessons in charging. A couple of pints, a sandwich and I barely had change out of �20. But it was all very well presented and tasty.
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I would say this is the best pub in the area, Helen always makes everyone feel enormoulsy welcome, great food especially fish. Location and beer garden are great. The other customers are very friendly and the beer is always perfectly kept! Go there and enjoy!
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Lots of cars outside for a Monday but plenty of room inside for lunch. Good food washed down with Sharps Early Spring Hot Ale and Master Brew.
Good pub and made welcome from the landlady Helen.
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Nice location but spoiled by grumpy Chef, indifferent food and slow service. Have these people lost interest.
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Definitely my favorite pub in the area. Helen and her team make new guests feel welcome and the open fireplaces are unbeatable. And above all I love the somehow lonely place the pub is situated at while not being far away from Sevenoaks. Also great to sit outside in front of the pub or in the garden in summer. Whenever I come to Sevenoaks, a visit is a must. Not to forget the very pleasant clientele.
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We have been visiting this pub on and off for five years and rate it as one of the best pubs in the area. The staff have always been welcoming and friendly, and the landlady never forgets a face, even if you are not a regular. We love the food because it is always made from the freshest ingredients and cooked to perfection. Despite having visited many pubs in the area this one still rates as " number one" in our eyes.
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It's a shame this is a Shepher Neame pub because it has character and good food. The beer is typical Shepherd Neame fare and not very good unless you're looking for a cold lager after a long walk or drive!
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We arrived on a walk at the pub at 1.45 looking forward to a pub lunch. Nice looking pub, found a table, ordered drinks. Is there a menu? we asked, but then saw the blackboard. We've stopped doing food now, said the po-faced barman, adding "sir" for effect I suppose.. I must've looked really puzzled, cos he managed to tell us that there was a back up of so many people blah blah. Later one of my friends spoke to the landlady and she was apologetic but by then we'd been put right off. You couldn't care less mate - neither could we. Won't be back.
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It seems to have changed a lot since I was last there (some time ago, I confess). Various parts seem to have been done up and opened out. Decent enough beer for a Sheps pub, but I found the food decidedly ordinary, and quite pricey for what you got.
Pleasant service and a delightful setting. I shan't be going out of my way for a return visit in the near future, but if someone suggests meeting there for a pint or two I shan't object.
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I agree with HHGTTG about this pub.
I'd perhaps go slightly further and say that it is probably the best pub in this area at the moment.
Helen is a welcoming host and the recent addition to the main area (complete with new fireplace) works very well.
This is a pub on the up-and-up.
Now all it needs are a few guest beers and some live music from time to time and I'll increase my rating even more!
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Mid-walk lunch: friendly welcome, well kept beer. We had 2 large fresh whole plaice with a creamy prawn sauce and veg. Reasonably priced but just slightly overcooked. Lovely location. Recommended.
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I have been here again but have not seen Helen recently but instead a chap who seems to get rather flustered and hot under the collar rather too quickly (he says he comes from Corfu).
I am altering my opinion of this pub ever so slightly in that I think that the food, whilst good, is expensive, what with sandwiches averaging out at �6 and a cup of filter coffee at �2.
At the moment it is still preferable, however, to the ailing Padwell Arms not so very far away.
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Nice pub for a quick cycle/walk to from Sevenoaks. Good beer garden.
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Went there, last week, after an absence of almost 18 months and was very pleasantly surprised. Found the lunchtime menu quite adequate and tasty and Helen (landlady?) charming and chatty.
Definately an improvement on another pub, a few miles away, which was once a favourite of mine, but which now seems to be on the decline.
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Pleasant country pub near Knole Park. Serves well kept Shepherd Neame ales. Decor looked comfortable but we stayed outside as the kitched floor was being relaid at the time we called (a couple of weeks ago) - kitchen should have reopened by now
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