More country drinking

I know this is a bit off track but I really  like the Swan on the Green and I went there for lunch a few weeks ago and thought it was too good not to put in the blog.  It’s down in Kent not that far from London.  It has a classic pub spot right on the village green next to the church opposite some Oast Houses.  Such a brilliant setting and it gets better.  The pub has its own micro brewery and brews some good micro brew beers.  A list of their beers is available on their website here.  They also have good hearty home made food, real fires and a homely relaxed feel.  

The Swan on the Green

A pub worth visiting if you can get down to West Peckham. 

Beauty

Research

I took a holiday with my lovely girlfriend and whilst away did a bit of pub research.  I thought I’d check out some of the Good Pub Guide pubs that are over in the Cotswolds.  Having had a look in the little maps provided in the middle of the book I realised to my delight that the Cotswolds had to have the highest density of GPG pubs anywhere in the country.  Every other little village seemed to have a pub that was listed.  They must be doing something right then and also there must be some fierce competition and high standards.  

I was not let down.... Apart from the fact the Cotswolds are a beautiful part of the country with very picturesque villages they also had quality pubs to match.  The first I visited was The Eight Bells Inn in Chipping Camden.  A typical honey coloured stone Cotswold building.  They had three wood fires burning inside keeping the rooms warm.  Good beer on tap too, Purity Brewery (Mad Goose), Wye Valley Brewery (HPA), and Hook Norton.  I really enjoyed sitting for a few hours on the Sunday, Monday and Thursday nights.  They do really good food as well which changed every night I was there and was locally sourced.  I had a really good fish and chips there and a good steak too.  

Cotswolds Village

So the Eight Bells seemed to sum up for me what a good pub should be.  It was the type of pub that locals could be comfortable in and have a chat to Neil the bar man and also was good for visitors to sit by the fire and have a good meal.  

Eight Bells Inn

The next pub I went to was in Bretforton.  The Fleece Inn is owned by the National Trust and is over 600 years old.  A pub has been on the site since 1848.  I entered the pub into the small bar area at the entrance and was greeted by several large bearded men.  The beers were good although not numerous.  The pub is a genuine backcountry pub with dark low beamed ceilings and a big fire place.  This is not a posh nosh gastro pub with modern designs and airly feel to the pub.  This felt like a mans pub, the kind of place you’d go after a hard day in the fields.  The locals had the fire place covered and so they should in my opinion, it’s their pub after all.  I did like this pub though, it had great nooks to sit in and relax.  The locals were friendly and service was good.  I really like the sense of history, the old beams and worn floor seemed to ooze history.  I loved it!  This is a totally different type of pub to the eight bells, it is all about the character and feel of the place.   

The Fleece Inn

Another pub, on the way home just to finish off the holiday was a must.  We stopped off at The Plough in Kingham.  Again a totally different pub than the last two pubs, this pub is a more modern light airy design.  Daffodils in the windows added to the light spring atmosphere.  The focus at this pub is on food.  The beers were local and well kept.  They make a real effort with the food at this pub and it is truly excellent!  They make everything at the pub, even the bread.  The food we had was so tasty.  What a perfect end to the holiday.  

The Plough

I was so lucky with the pubs I went to on this trip that really gave quality spectrum of top notch English pubs.  The comfortable relaxed atmosphere of the Eight Bells, the character of The Fleece Inn and the great food of The Plough.  I have seen a lot which I will be able to take back to London with me to help me decide on the best pub in London. 

Little Bo Peep

Little Bo Peep lost her sheep - But found them again, added a yorksire pudding and some veg, and had a very nice meal! 

Pub number two on the journey to visit all 59 Good Pub Guide Pubs in London, took me to the Bo Peep, which is in the South London section of the GPG, despite it feeling very much like a countryside pub.

Feeling and looking very much like a country pub was a very pleasant experience from my usual city life.  The slight glimmer of the docklands sky scrapers was still visible over fields in the distance, but all around is countryside.  The pub is not far from the M25 and would be a good stop off for anyone not from London, on their way somewhere.  I went along for Sunday lunch with some friends, and luckily I had booked a table because it was packed.

The food was good, we had lamb and beef roasts, and fish pie, and they were all well prepared.  The ladies serving were pretty switched on, service was good.  They even went the extra mile and made us extra apple and rhubard crumble.

The Bo Peep - Chelsfield

What can I grumble about...not much, the only minor thing is only three ales on tap, but that is just being really picky.  They were serving very well kept Harveys Bitter, Adnams and Courage Best.  They were also doing wine, but I wont profess to know at all what is good and what is not when it comes to wine.

I think my biggest gripe during the visit, was the world crushing news that there were no pork scratchings.  How can a pub hold its proverbial head high in the competitive world of pubs without getting its bar snacks in order? 

The bar was certainly bustling with customers,  I'd like to have the chance one day to go there for a quiet pint by the real wood fire they have.  The low beamed ceilings of the main bar and the views over fields would make this a great spot for a chilled out beer any winter evening.  In the summer the pub garden would be good too, I'd imagine.  Whether I'll make it back this year or not we shall see, but overall, if you live nearby, I'd say it's worth a visit to get out of 'London' and feel a bit of that country pub atmosphere for a while.

For a 'London' pub, or a pub that close to London (only 30 minutes drive from my house in Greenwich) to have that atmosphere and decor, was really nice.  I would say however, that if you were to venture only a little further out into Kent then you be able to visit some better (my opinion) 'country style' pubs like the Swan in West Peckham or the Spotted Dog near Penshurst.