please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Cock. Cock, cock. Trainmaaaan.
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oh dear just read its got a 0 star food hygene rating by the council,think ill give this one a miss
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Nice building in a great location and decent beer but something just doesn't work (apathetic staff perhaps). I've been in here on and off for 30 years through loads of changes of management and it's never really worked for some reason. Could be really great but isn't.
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Full steam ahead from trainman. A gallon in the boiler already and puffing along nicely. Parp, clickety-click, clickety-click. Directly to timetable.
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The wife and I travelled out here by car a while ago for Sunday lunch having spotted the pub previously while passing through the area.
Half pub half restaurant with a few friendly locals in the bar area as we entered.
Choice of 3 ales on tap but as I was driving I opted for a soft drink, the wife had a bottle of beer.
This is more of a food review than a pub review. The food was good but not outstanding. Started and main course both at a decent price but I’ve had better / outstanding food for less money. Service was prompt and courteous but again it’s only a pub so it shouldn’t be that difficult to get the service right.
Nice place, decent food but unsure I will ever return as it’s a bit of a trek from home for something I can get better and much closer to home.
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Well spotted by "theinvestigator".
I hate fake reviews.
As you can see, rdriver has just added another one.
A shame, because it's a decent pub, but I'll have to lower my rating to counteract all these false posts.
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Had lunch there today with 3 friends and found the food good value and even better quality then I expected. Nice little touches about the place and it coincided with a dixie jazz band there who are there every month on the 2nd Tuesday. good beer also and nice atmosphere with a good crowd too.
Couldnt fault it.
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A stroke of luck finding this pub set in a small village inbetween Orpington and Sevenoaks. I went there for a drive and decided to stop off for a beer and Sunday lunch. Well kept beer, I know I'm a CAMRA member plus lunch was good and worth the little wait as it was prepared to order. The service was very good and the 2 staff behind the bar were effecient. I'd certainly go back.
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Certainly worth a trip for the food and beer. I stumbled across this the other day when out for a long walk and was made most welcome. Food menu covers most dietary tastes and the beer certainly does aswell. Nice ambience to it and it looks newly decorated. Bar staff polite and would recommend it as I couldnt fault it on my visit with 2 friends.
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I met up with some friends from the village last weekend and had a real good evening in there. My girlfriend and I were really looked after in the restaurant, I had fish & chips, looked good and tasted even better and she had veggie lasagne which I tasted also and was really tastey. The beer is kept well which I love but plenty of choices for wines and lagers. Good atmospshere in the newly decorated bar and plenty going for it. Well done!
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A ususal haunt from a few years ago but recently went downhill now with a new landlady its back to its best and how a village pub should be. Newly decorated inside and out and a decent looking menu even for us over 50s, a special menu @ £8 for 2 courses. The beer is very well kept and service with a smile. The landlady approached me (which is unusual) to find out what I thought and she's keen to make it work. Plenty of ideas ranging from music nights to speical dinners etc. I'll be back as they say 10/10
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A recommendation via a friend took 4 of us to this pub. It's changed hands about 6 months ago and has a lot of TLC added to it since. Decent beer for sure and a surprising wine and champagne list also. we had something to eat from the over 50s menu and a 2 course meal was about £8 and great value for money. Going back for Sunday lunch in a couple of weeks cos a local told us it's worth the journey. Nice friendly face behind the bar and extremely clean look to it after having a recent spring clean. I certainly would recommend this pub in a nice village.
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Second time back as I heard they had a singer performing on Saturday. I got there a bit earlier than normal to hgave something to eat with my wife, we had fish and chips (really tastey and presetned on a wooden block!) and veggie lasagne with a side salad. Both were yummy, no room for a homemade dessert worse luck so we went to the top bar to listen to the singer. Good entertainment but considering how bad the weather was there were quite a few in the bar come 10pm. I like it and will return soon.
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Made a visit to arrange a family get together and was met with a great welcome by the owner (Tina). although the menu looked good she helped me create a menu to suit my needs for 8 of us going there in 3 weeks time. I sampled the beer as I love real ale and it was kept really well. Plenty of choices if you like lager and the wine list was certainly competitive. Nice atmosphere in the top bar where I was. I'll be going back in 3 weeks so I'll let you know how that went.
P.. Sunday lunch is apparently good so a local in there told me.
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A recommended visit there yesterday for Sunday lunch was certainly worthwhile. The restaurant serves a very good traditional Sunday lunch and also a lovely homemade dessert.......especially the strawberry meringue! There was a group of 6 of us and we were looked after very well. decent selection of handpump beers and cosy little bar. I would make another visit in the near future.
We ended up in the sunny garden to make the most of it.
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Recently under new management and the new tenants have at last given it some life. Its a real country pub now being used by locals and others as it should be. I went there with my family to celebrate my Mum's birthday and was treated very well. The food was certainly better than before and they even had a Tapas menu to choose from. Went back for Sunday lunch and even though its traditional it was served in a very quirky and upmarket way.....
The beer is good quality and certainly plenty of ciders to choose from, bottled and draught.
Would I recommend it...........yep.
I'm going back there in August as they have a jazz afternoon on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and I'm told its really good.
ggrey - 26 Jul 2013 10:20 |
Drove all the way from London to find it had changed hands and no food was available the first Sunday in may. Had a good pint in the garden but seemed run down.
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My first visit and I was impressed. Nice country feel in the front bar and the harveys was good. The back bar was showing live football but the sound didn't spread into the front bar. Good bar food too
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Scores out of 5
Beers on offer 4 - Beer quality 5 - Full pint? 5 - Service 4 - Clientele 3
Garden & view 4 - Welcome & staff 4 - Parking 5 - Toilets 3 - Comfort 4
TOTAL 41 out of 50 OVERALL RATING 41 to 45 = 9
Comment: Lovely pint of Harvey�s and well kept bar with lots of knick knacks to look at when the conversation dries up. Nice garden, nice beer.
Returnability: 3
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Cosy pub, good quality ale, friendly staff and..................pickled eggs.
Looks like Hoppyal chose the wrong pub!
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Rather splendid "small" breakfast washed down with an excellent Harvey's..lively with plenty of entertainments advertised on the board. Some might think the appearance of the Pratts Bottom and Halstead Brownies slightly curious if not, possibly, illegal but hey-be open-minded! Landlord kindly offered me a taste of the Titanic "Night to Remember" 4.3% which ironically turned out to be unmemorable. Several standard brown ales...the usual suspects... but this clean and professionally run pub would be improved by a well chosen craft-brewed local beer, if allowed that is.
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Nice friendly village pub - some good improvements being made to the garden, excellent sandwiches and good beer
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First time in this pub absolutely brilliant . Chose haddock from the menu .first class meal. Met Andy the chef he obviously has some great ideas for the place. Returned to bar had a very good pint of harveys and watched the rugby on an amazing screen superb definition very busy but surprisingly roomy so quite a pleasant atmosphere .Attractive upper bar. Will return to try Sunday roast and also the jazz afternoon. Halstead has redeemed itself! I know which pub to go to now.
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Great friendly service. menu reasonabley priced and excellent portions.
Recommend the chicken and mushroom pie.
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I have been to The Cock Inn a couple times for dinner, drinks and most recently the Jazz Lunch. Great food and a wonderful local crowd who make you feel very welcome. A real hidden treasure in Kent. Looking forward to their next themed event and getting back to enjoy a few beers with my new found friends.
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Not being a "Halstead Villager" myself, I travelled to try this pub a couple of weeks ago. I have a passion for food and I think I met my match! The food was definately worth the travel expense. I would recommend the TRADITIONAL steak and kidney pie! with quinelled mash - presentation is key! and my wife would recommend the home-made curry. Great prices also. The service was fantastic and very welcoming, I can't say I tasted the local beers as I'm a San Miguel man myself. As a whole, this pub needs to be tried and if the rumours are correct that the pub has only been under new management for 3-4 months WOW they have done a fantastic job. I will be returning for the legendary Sunday Roast!.
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the food was top quality i went there last year and felt disgusted but thought i would try again and was very impressed saw that the owners and chef had changed. couldn't of asked for anything better recommend this pub to any one. definantly best in the area. must be tried.
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Been here a number of times over the years (great sunsets from the front window in spring and autumn) but the fact that I've never bothered to rate it sums up my general apathy towards this place in the past.
However, having followed the Halstead soap opera here on Bite, yesterday it was time to see how the now legendary Bob is doing.
In the reverse to the �Cheers� mantra, I like pubs where nobody knows my name, Bob doesn't know mine, but we nod in recognition of each other.
Harveys full measure at �2.80 (Rose & Crown are doing lower taxed 3.4 Larkin's at �3), today's papers, spot light at bar to illuminate my paper, nice atmosphere, it's a 9.
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Visited on Saturday afternoon.
Tried Harveys and London pride, both were in excellent condition.
The other beer on was Bombardier, but didn't try that.
First time I've been in this pub in years, really good all round and the locals were friendly.
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Shame that Mark & Jo decided to sell. Nice people who worked very hard at building up the business from nothing. Probably one of the best homemade pub grub pubs in the area while they were running it. Certainly not that anymore!! Had a roast there a few weeks after they left...at least I think it was a roast!!! Won't be eating there again.....Pub is now full of "Halstead villagers". Think of "The Slaughtered Lamb" in the film "American Werewolf in London"!!!! The kind of people that Mark couldn't stand!!!!
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Not all pubs are Free Houses. Surely what matters is that the beer/lager/cider on offer is well kept and served ?
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Lovely pub with a nice atmosphere and very friendly staff and customers.
My only complaint is the less than exciting range of draught drinks:
Wrongbow
Carling
Carlsberg
San Miguel
Becks
Bombadier
London Pride
Harveys
Maybe it's a bit unfair to single out this pub for limited choice, as I've experienced the same problem in many London and Kent pubs.
I've only been to the rival pub (Rose and Crown) once, but I'm pretty sure it had similar options.
Unusual not to have Stella or Kronenberg.
And just why is Wrongbow so popular in British pubs ... WHY?? ... WHY!?!?
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Just been to the Quiz night at the Cock. It was in aid of a local group called 'The Monday Club'. The pub was packed (we had luckily booked our team table in advance). We had a most enjoyable evening and will try to get back for next month's quiz. The London Pride was well kept, and Bob and his staff made us feel very welcome. Thank you Bob !
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Bob Baker has taken over The Cock, many know him as the previous manager of The Rose & Crown, the pub around the corner, which since his departure has gone downhill. I personally think Bob is happier at The Cock at the moment as he isn't always stuck in the kitchen, which he previously has been. Although Bob's cooking is great, the new chef is almost as good! The roasts are still lovely although they aren't doing mini, midi and maxi sizes like Bob did at the R&C. There is a lovely atmosphere and you feel very welcomed from the moment you set food in the place. It is also nice as there is a huge range of customers, from young 18 year olds right up the slightly older generation. There is a tv screen in the back bar and also a projector for a wall sized screen, which is great when there are big football games and other sports on, this is obviously only put down on rare occasions as the smaller screen is most often on instead. There is a dart board which is regularly used and it is a pleasure to see people enjoying it. The restaurant is also lovely, it is quite small with around 6 tables, it has pictures of the history of the village on the walls which are great to look at whilst waiting for food. The service is very good as well and you always get 'service with a smile' here! Bob has some of his previous team here including Linda, Sophie, Fiona and Norman, as well as new faces. It is a lovely pub at the very heart of a beautiful village. I would recommend going here, it definitely has something special about it! Well done Bob and his team, you've made this a great place to have a pint, or two!
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Bob is doing a fantastic job. Nice relaxed atmosphere, friendly locals and great fodder/beer at reasonable prices. Good to see that some of his team from the Rose and Crown have joined him too. Best pub in Halstead now.
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I was recommended this pub by a friend who told me it has new owners since November and the new chef serves up a good variety of food. He certainly wasnt wrong. The meals were well presented, decently priced and the friendly face behind the bar (Sophie) was very helpful. It has had a facelift and the open fire adds a great atmosphere. The beer is certainly well kept and I understand Bob has won awards in his previous pub for them, it wont be long before he attains another award, great Bombardier. Pricewise, the meals worked out about �15 for a 3 course meal and we were lucky to be there on a New Orleans jazz style afternoon which happens every 2nd Tuesday afternoon in each month...they are great entertainment. I see there are a few positive comments for The Cock Inn over the past couple of months and I can see why now. 'll be back for sure as they have a few special evenings lined up in the near future.
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Thank you Bob & his staff for taking over this pub. It is much cleaner & brighter then it used to. It looks like the locals have followed Bob from the Rose & Crown to his new pub and i can see why. Good luck Bob
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Now its 3.8 - tit
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Oh dear; I rated this pub 8 but now notice it relegated to 4, meaning that one of the more moronic users of this site has allocated 0/10 without, of course, bothering to leave a comment.
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Harveys Best, Pride, plus changing guest, yesterday being Titanic Lifeboat, �3. I missed this last time I visited the area, maybe because its location is listed as Orpington, rather than Halstead? Anyway, I�m glad I found it this time, a rather charming pub with the air of a country inn, two bar rooms, and quaint (& popular) restaurant area to one side. Front bar has huge inglenook, low beams, hanging tankards, open access to rear bar room with wood burning fires at each end � this place must be blazingly welcoming in winter! Large plasma showing golf, dartboard (you�d need to rearrange tables to use), very nicely furnished with solid tables, dark wood chairs, bench settles, stools. I didn�t really take sufficient note of the little restaurant room, but it deffo had the feel of somewhere I�d like to sit down for a meal, and the friendly young guv was at pains to advise that their food was homemade, as opposed to home �cooked�. On the large blackboard in front bar a good choice included cod, chips, peas �10.50 (fresh fish daily); cottage pie �7.95; whole sea bream �11.95; burger with �pint of chips� �7.95; sarnies ~�5. I really liked it, & returned for another beer before the bus, from outside, back to the Knockholt stn � be warned, they run (Sat) at .14 past the hour, until 6pm, then 18:23, then, oh, that�s it. We turned up for the 19:14! Ah well, it was downhill walking back.
Oh! I haven�t told you about the garden; really lovely outside area, part-paved, part-grassed, picnic sets, some umbrellas, surrounded by tall hedges, shrubbed borders, picket fence to country lane, beyond this to gravelled pub car-park. Local cricket pitch is other side of pub, sadly not visible from here (or there), but that�s the sort of spot it is. Pub has 3 pumps in each bar, so maybe could try 2 guests (if thrupull allowed) but definitely recommended if you happen to be over this way.
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