please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Three of us plus the dog went here on Friday 6th June at 8.30pm. The pub has been refurbished with the heritage pastel shade exterior paint finish with stencilled detailing. The interior has had similar redecoration treatment and consists of a separate restaurant eating area, which we didn't go into, and the Library Bar. This has a wooden floor and appropriate decor for socialising with tables and chairs and bar stools. Dogs are welcome here. The pool table I seemed to recall has gone. It appears the entrance lobby has an area for muddy boots so walkers are probably still welcome. Both the areas had a few people in. There were three Real Ales on. I had to ask which was the weakest because the clips had no information apart from the name. Biddenden Cider was also on Draught and the bar staff were pleasant and friendly. A pint of Hare Bitter,Pint and a half of Biddenden Cider,packet of crisps and two portions of nuts came to £15.55 . The nuts were a mixture of salted nuts and cashews served in a small pot on a napkin on a saucer. There were no tear off the display and rip open packet nuts here as well as no dry roasted nuts. I was surprised at the cost of this modest round however the beer was very good. The toilets are near the entrance door and were very clean and tidy and the garden is level accessed through the well lit car park. There are picnic benches with parasols in a paved area set in attractive planting. The pub is very smart and I feel that one is paying for it with these prices. The phrase 'style over content' comes to mind when I am served a handful of nuts in this manner. This is quite a lucrative way to sell peanuts. We probably won't be going back here as it's not a village pub anymore. It is more like a select/ designer restaurant and drinking hole. My wallet is still recovering in therapy. Check the opening hours as I think it is closed on Mondays.
The rating I have given this establishment is based on the experience as a pub rather than a restaurant which is what I think people will come here for.
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This pub is now called The Kentish Hare.
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Popped in here New Years Day for a quick pint whilst walking the dog.Wooden floors in Village bar wellington friendly.Dog friendly.Friendly Landlord serving Harveys Best Bitter which was good.Newspapers on the bar.Pub was fairly empty when i arrived but filled up suddenly when a couple of large family groups of walkers came in.I'll pop in again.
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Closed at the beginning of March according to its website and still closed today when I drove through this village.
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Nice pub, friendly staff, child friendly pub, but the garden is small unfortunately.
Lovely fresh food and great choice. Reasonably priced, and good ales and wine.
A definate recommendation!
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Glad to see that in the nearly two years since my last visit they have stopped chilling the Harveys (and presumably the other bitters) to freezing point. That was my only complaint before so all is now good. There was a good mixed crowd on the Saturday evening I was there and though busy the service way good and friendly and we had a very pleasant evening. A good pub.
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Called in here one weekday lunchtime recently and thought it would make a great local. Reasonably priced menu and good beer - Doom Bar, Harveys, Youngs and one other as reported below. �3.10 a pint is a tad pricey but a sign of the times I think - with a letter explaining that the responsibility lies with the Chancellor posted on the wall.
Several connected rooms laid out around the central bar, varying from stained board floor to tiles to carpet. A couple of flat screens on the wall, pub games & friut machines in one area, a number of sofas in another and cottage style tables in another set for lunches.
Very friendly bar staff and customers. It was quietish when I was there but got the impression it could get quite busy in the evenings. A good local trade judging by the newspaper headline cuttings on the wall, supposedly referring to certain regulars.
I could definitely get quite comfortable here - a proper pub.
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Highly rated since taken over by South African Landlord about a year ago. Good food,with budget or gourmet options,friendly bar staff and well kept beer. Youngs,Harveys and Doombar are especially good at the moment,I am told ,however I am a Stella drinker.
Great juke box. Friday,Sat anbd Sunday afternoon are quite busy but supportable even for an old fart like me. Presently rated best pub ( for me) in the Tonbridge area. Good mix of drinkers and upmarket locals.
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Busy but friendly on Saturday evening. The staff were attentive and helpful and all was good. The one question I have is: Why are they chilling the real ales? I was warned that the Harveys was as cold as a lager. The barman gave me a taste of the Finchcocks. It was icy too so I went fot the Harveys. When it had warmed up a bit it was good but it was a bit offputting.
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After the long awaited return of a decent manager who cares about the pub and knows what he's doing the pub is on a full turnaround to becoming well liked and loved again by the local villagers. The chefs have changed again and now with a strong team of professionals running the show the food is better than it has been in these past years and the offerings on the bar are good and taste great everytime. With fantasic partys, live music and team events often the talk of discussion it's well worth popping in to support this traditional village pub abd restaurant. Sundays are great for a home cooked roast with all the trimmings and lunches are quick and easy with two courses available at a good price. Lets just hope if and when new ownership is in place that this team stays the same and is driven forward by more of what we all like, good fresh food, great events, friendly laid back atmosphere with the house moto being "eat drink and be merry!!" Keep a close eye out for new and forthcoming events or you might just miss out!
anonymous - 2 Oct 2007 14:19 |
H&H ROCKS BRUV!DNT DISS IT!the foods pretty gd,the chefs r wicked,the bar staff r the best(if i do say so myself!)n everyones friendly...its like one BIG family!dnt knock it....!
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I wanted to take issue with Anonymous' posting.
The pub IS overpriced and remains so. The food is poor and has been since the landlord decided that profiteering was better than offering good quality at a decent price.
If you look back at my review of the Chaser at Shipbourne you'll find that I gave it an excellent review. Sadly, a number of the other pubs I've tried which were excellent aren't listed on this site so I can't review them, including the Carpenter's Arms at Hadlow and the George and Dragon at Speldhurst.
Perhaps you should, like me, be prepared to stand up and say who you are, Mr Anonymous.
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Iam always amazed at some people, Soddball for one, I use this site often (though till now have not posted a comment) and appreciate honest opinions, however I will disagree with Soddball, it appears that he had a dislike for the pub back in June but then his parents eat there recently, sounds like they listen to you??!! I know its not the cleanest pub and the food is having some issues at this time but it is honest, friendly and not over priced, i did also note from Soddballs comments on other establishments that he has not made a positive comment ever, sounds like you should stay at home or tell us where to go?
anonymous - 22 Nov 2006 15:04 |
Sadly, the previous owner is now back in control of the Hare and Hounds after the new owners went bust. The chef has left and it's back on the slide. Give it a miss until he moves on. My parents ate there last week and my dad had food poisoning from the wing of skate. Hopefully this village pub will improve but at present the attitude is 'it's a rich area so people will pay high prices for rubbish'. Sorry mate, you're wrong. Rich people are just as fussy with their cash as poor people. That's why they're rich.
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The Hare and Hounds has recently changed hands after a couple of years of pretty poor management. The assumption was that no matter how poor the food or service, it was a 'rich area' so the prices could be sky-high. Amazingly, rich people are just as discerning as poor people and turned away from the pub in droves.
However, new management is in place and things may change.
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Can think of worse pubs in the area I can also think better pubs
juzza - 31 May 2006 12:47 |
agree with stevie g, it is good. the pint of sussex is especially good
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This place has become a firm favourite for me in the Tunbridge Wells area. So much so that I even walked for over an hour to get here the other Saturday. It has both a really nice interior and garden. A good selection of well kept ales (Sussex bitter, Harvey's porter and very nice Abbot Ale) and the food is extremely good too. There is a dining room to the rear, a pleasant sort of wine bar to the side and a semi games room on entry, which has pool table, darts and a juke box. However, if you are going for a quiet pint you will not be bothered by the games room in anyway, such is the layout. The landlord is also an extremely friendly gentleman. Highly recommended.
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