BITE user comments - Beamish
Comments by Beamish
Started going in The Portrait on a Friday night a few weeks back having given it two or three chances when it first opened. I say two or three chances because the real ale was a lottery - on occasions it was either badly kept (for which there is no excuse these days) or not on at all! Nowadays the ale seems to be better kept although the choice has tended to be limited. The pub seems to go on forever out the back, so it swallows up punters easily. The majority of staff and a lot of the clientele are easy on the eye and its not hard to strike up a conversation. There was some trouble in there on our first visit but it was well handled by the landlord. Being non-smokers, we limit our visits there but that will change next summer - having experienced smoke-free pubs in Ireland, we can't wait! Oh and the soundproofing of the ceiling was well documented in the local press when The Portrait first opened, it was known by other than the staff past or present. I can't vouch for the food but prefer to eat where its not so smoky anyway - hopefully this will soon be the case!
3 May 2006 14:26
The Alma is my local and is always a pleasurable experience, providing a nice pint - usually Youngs or Courage with guest appearances by Spitfire or London Pride and friendly service. The absence of music is a positive bonus and from next year the absence of smoke will eliminate one of its minus points - with a fairly low ceiling, it quickly turns into an atmosphere commonly suffered by herrings or mackerel in Arbroath. On occasions, this has forced myself and my streaming-eyed drinking partners to depart for pastures new. Legend has it that John, the long term landlord will not allow anyone to be served if they are wearing a hat. Well at least, as has been observed, this keeps the burberry brigade at bay.
3 May 2006 14:00
The Bulls Head, Pratt's Bottom
We had originally planned to stop at The Bulls Head for lunch during a walk last Sunday, but when a phone call revealed that they only catered for Sunday Roast customers and then only after 1 pm, we changed to The Blacksmiths Arms at Cudham and visited here later on for a drink.
We were pleased we had changed our plans because, whilst the ales provided a reasonable and well-kept choice (London Pride, Spitfire and two others), the pub itself lacked any spark. Leaving the food issue aside, The Bulls Head struck us as a pub which enjoys a monopoly in the village, indeed for a distance around it, and feels it needn't try very hard - therefore it doesn't. The furbishment is jaded, worn, and in some instances torn or stained, the staff were adequate but in our opinion did nothing to make us feel welcome (although the service was relatively prompt) and our overall feeling was one of disappointment. Given that other comments reveal there has been no continuity of landlord, this is perhaps an unfair assessment and once the long-awaited smoking ban comes into play, then it would be worthwhile giving The Bulls Head a makeover without the risk of it becoming begrimed and smelling like an old ashtray in no time at all. The building and the beer garden have a lot of potential to be a great hostelry. As we didn't eat there, I can't comment on the food, but I would sooner not have eaten inside anyway.
3 May 2006 13:47
We stumbled across The Blacksmiths Arms whilst out on a walk last Sunday since our planned stop did not do bar food on a Sunday - a later visit there proved we made an excellent decision by stopping here for lunch (see Bulls Head at Pratts Bottom). As we went into the Blacksmiths from the sports fields at the rear, we didn't know its name at first, but it scored immediate points with a huge double beer garden providing plenty of seating and Adnams Bitter & Broadside on offer at the bar, with two other hand pumps on show. Although the main fare was aimed at Sunday Roast outings, we noted other imaginative and tasty options on the board as well as salads and baguettes, which we opted for and which proved very good value. If there was one thing slightly irksome it was that no bar menus were offered and in looking at the board, we lost the chance to order drinks and food at the same visit. When we went back to order food, some of the staff were delivering food and we had a fair wait to be served again, but this is a minor point, everything else about the pub was good and we left with a very high opinion of it as a venue to be visited again. In fairness, you don't always see a pub at its best during a busy Sunday or Bank Holiday lunchtime, and I suspect a weekday visit would provide an even more pleasurable experience.
3 May 2006 13:25
This is another of our top 5 pubs, having first gone there for a gorgeous evening meal with friends and later for a weekday lunch. On both occasions, it was very well attended - unsurprisingly, for here is a hostelry which very nearly has it all, only the size of its car park being a possible minus - though not an issue if you're walking! The menu is imaginative and the food very well presented, the rival of any gastro pub I can think of. The staff are friendly, courteous and extremely efficient, really making you feel welcome and special. The ale is very well kept althoug it is restricted to Shepherd Neame - no bad thing in itself, but guest ales are always an added dimension. The building itself is quintessentially Kent, a treat in itself and a huge log fire in winter with leather sofas adjacent are worth heading for if they're unnoccupied. All in all this is quite a place, justifiably popular so book ahead if you're planning to go at peak times.
24 Apr 2006 15:26
We've become instant and avid fans of The Spotted Dog, which has gone straight into our top five!. Having been recommended it several times over the years, we incorporated Smarts Hill into one of our walks in February and again in April, both times being on a Saturday (the second time we rang ahead to be sure of a table). I will happily go there again for as long as it maintains its high standards of friendliness, excellent food (as stated elsewhere, the rival of any gastro-pub) and well-kept ales (Larkins and Sussex). We have yet to dine on the terraces although we could have on the last occasion - that added pleasure is yet to come. I can well imagine the experience would be entirely different if the pub were jam-packed, but this is true of any popular hostelry. I can thoroughly recommend the scallops and the excellent, excellent local bread!
24 Apr 2006 15:13
The White Rock will need no introduction to walkers who frequent this part of the world. We first went there for a family birthday party and were immediately impressed with the friendly banter of the staff and the quality of the (Finchcocks) ale. The restaurant food was good too, so my wife and I included it in our next walk. This is where, in the main (read on) it excelled! We rang the previous evening to reserve a table - sadly all were gone, but we were told a marquee covered area to the rear would be available, which is was. This suited us fine, and again we were impressed with the friendliness and banter of the staff. Again the beer was excellent and the food was nothing short of sensational - a plaited roll with fresh prawns and trimmings was beautifully prepared and scrumptious. One patron unconnected with us insisted on eating his own food (despite signs, perfectly reasonably requesting us not too) but then he was wearing an inordinately strange hat. His loss the food, not the hat).
If there's one thing this pub fell down on slightly, it is that the bar serving area is small for the capacity and popularity of the pub and one or two locals were taking up a lot of the available counter area. This occasioned one or two other patrons to be disproportionately less than courteous or considerate when ordering their drinks or food (and in one case asking for a thermos to be filled with hot water....). However this is picky, is largely beyond the pub's control and was more than made up for by its plus points. Highly recommended but either check/book in advance or avoid more popular times such as Sunday lunch and Bank Holidays
24 Apr 2006 15:00
We stopped here for lunch during a walk and were rewarded with a friendly atmosphere, beutifully prepared fresh sandwiches at a very reasonable price, and one of the finest ales in the land in Timothy Taylor Landlord (Harvey's and Courage were also on offer). There was no quibble about our keeping our boots on and the levels of cleanliness and courtesy were exemplorary. This is one of the less 'obvious' pubs in Eynsford and whilst it fronts directly onto the street at the front, we congratulated ourselves on choosing it.
24 Apr 2006 14:39
We stopped at the Four Elms for lunch during a walk, having rung ahead to check a table would be available. The lady on the phone was bright and cheerful but I was hard put to identify her at first, since there was a dirth of such bonne amie coiming across the bar! The decor has seen better days and a little more imagination coupled with a cash injection would see a very good hostelry take shape. The food was adequate, but a little disappointing - first time I've had a ploughman's served with a (disposable plastic) pot of spread rather than butter. Still, the beer was nice, London Pride & Abbott being nicely served and voluntarily topped up! And the landlord largely redeemed himself in our eyes by entering into a good natured conversation about our walk as we were leaving.
24 Apr 2006 14:32
The Hare and Hounds, Lingfield
Visited the Hare & Hounds for lunch during a 15 mile walk on Good Friday. Yes the outside is not promising, but this place has gone straight into our top ten! The decor is disparate & eclectic, but it works! The staff are young, efficient & really friendly, we were made to feel welcome as if we were locals, even friends! The beer is well kept (London Pride & Abbot I can vouch for) and the food was sensational - imaginative, well presented and good value. Well worth a visit but save a table for us!
18 Apr 2006 10:25
The Bell and Jorrocks, Frittenden
We went in the Bell & Jorrocks during an Easter Saturday walk having phoned ahead first. The new owners had only moved in the previous Thursday but were already running a comfortable and pleasing pub with potentiual to be a great watering hole. We were told the previous owners had not been doing food at the end of their stint so good job we went when we did because Rosie's home roast ham & brie ploughman's was delicious! The Adnams bitter & Broadside were extremely well kept and set us up perfectly for our afternoon's 9 miles!
18 Apr 2006 10:12
The White Rock, Underriver
Quick update - went there again on Bank Holiday Monday, arrived early and the absence of heavy patronage at that time proved what a good pub this is. I was served virtually immediately (sadly the Finchcocks wasn't on due to heavy demand the previous evening) and enjoyed another excellent prawn plaited roll, my wife having the smoked salmon & cream cheese version. I forgot to mention previously that the rolls come with salad, a lemon quarter, nachos and a pot of salsa, which is delicious!
3 May 2006 14:36