BITE user comments - Britpopper
Comments by Britpopper
Its several months since we last visited and commented on this lovely old pub in the pretty village of Smarden. Unfortunately I have to report that the only changes have not been for the best.
After collecting my husband from the station he suggested we call in for a drink and bite to eat. It was surprisingly busy when we arrived given it was 7.30pm on a Monday. We asked the young man serving if we could be seated in the right hand room (What was the �red room�) as the bar area was full of workmen. We were told that this was not possible and shown to a table in the main bar area.
The food was good, the wine fare. The situation in the bar was intolerable. High spirits I enjoy, laughter can be infectious, but the torrent of obscenities, profanity and sheer obnoxious behaviour from some of the customers was enough to prevent a return visit. We did ask the young man serving if we could be moved as we felt uncomfortable, only to be told it was �Farmers night�.
Nice pub, lovely building, badly managed. Not the place to go for a civilised evening.
22 Jun 2010 16:54
The �Village Pub� in the true sense of the word. Its home to the local football teams, cricket teams, bell ringers as well as having a quiz team and darts. The food is not fancy but always good. It now carries a good selection of wines which suites me and traditional beers which my husband enjoys.
A recent facelift has if anything further added to the character of the pub. The landlady who now runs the pub on her own following the departure of her often legless ex husband is doing a superb job. Four years ago we hardly ever set foot in the �Flyer� preferring the atmosphere of the Chequers around the corner with its good food and tasteful fixtures and fittings, unfortunately they have now long gone. Now the situation is reversed, and when we do come into the village we tend to frequent the Flying horse.
Mrs B
3 Nov 2009 14:52
I have been using this pub for over twenty years since I and my husband moved to the area. in that time we have seen landlords come and go, and the pub have a number of "lives".
The last couple who had the pub did it no favours at all. The new owners have been in for a couple of years and are a nice family. The daughter is hard working and polite (and according to my husband a bit of a babe). The son is pleasant but painfully shy and ill suited to bar work. The father and mother are rarely in the main bar area but seem pleasant enough if a bit quiet.
They provide a good range of beers and wines and have recently introduced a much improved menu. Unfortunately our favourite dining room has been decorated and no longer feels as cosy as it did, while the main dining room is often catering to noisy and often foul mouthed drinkers until mid evening.
It is a wonderful old building in a beautiful village full of charm, but if lacks a traditional welcome and the atmosphere it had a few years ago. As i mentioned the previous owners took a thriving Country Inn and ruined it by fitting appalling fitted furniture and 1970�s style carpet to replace wonderful antique pieces and rugs.
I think until the current owners address these basics and put things back as they were they will continue to find it hard work.
Mrs B
3 Nov 2009 10:40
Flying Horse, Smarden
The Flying Horse has just changed tenants following the departure of Gaynor who had run the pub brilliantly for the last few years. The new Landlord has a lot to live up to. However our first encounters have been extremely favourable. We were greeted on a snowy evening by a roaring log fire in the large inglenook fireplace and a warm smile from the girl behind the bar.
The new sign outside says a lot when it say �Pub and Dinning Room� The new menu is fantastic, just what good pub food is all about. High quality tasty food sold at sensible prices. My husband thought the beer pricey, but that might stop him drinking as much and then snoring!
As usual the pub was busy with a nice social mix all getting along together, and none of the bad language and uncouth behaviour that has so marred the other village centre pub of late. The place was scrupulously clean as you would expect when it has just been taken over. We in the past had always preferred the other village pub, regarding the Flying Horse as a bit of a boozer. How times have changed! Now you really need to book on busy night to ensure a table, where as around to corner more often than not the only diners are the Landlord and his family.
13 Jan 2011 12:18