Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
New pub visits 2024 with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Bull, Dartford
Horton Kirby
Postal town: Dartford
DA4 9DF
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Bull
This well renowned pub has changed ownership since the last batch of reviews but I’m pleased to report that it is still a fine place to enjoy some excellent beer. The pub’s layout is simple and functional, with a single U-shaped room served by a bar located opposite the front entrance. There is a fair amount of exposed brickwork, scrubbed floorboards and dark wooden beams, giving a typically traditional rural pub feel to the interior. To the right of the servery there is a nice, cosy carpeted space with a few formal table and chair arrangements and a large bookcase next to a brick fireplace. A couple more tables have been positioned at the front of the pub opposite the bar and there were a number of old 1930’s reference books propped up on a window sill. The left hand side of the room extends a little further back, past another fireplace and a dartboard, eventually reaching the back door which gives way to the beer garden. There was quiet background music playing during my lunchtime visit, but annoyingly this was competing with a blaring radio which was on in the kitchen. This was enough for me to decide to enjoy the sun out in the garden, which is on a slope and gives fine views across the valley towards the rest of the village. I also spotted a BBQ pit in the garden, although I’m not sure how much use it gets.
I think I counted eight hand pumps, although only half of them were being used. Even so, there was a tricky choice to be made from a selection of Fyne Jarl (£3.30), Hop Back Summer Lightning, Kent Spring Wheat and an as yet unnamed house beer, also from the Kent Brewery. The Jarl was in top condition and flew down in the baking sunshine. Simple sandwich menus were stood on most tables whilst a more detailed pub grub list was written on a large blackboard.
I never visited this pub under its former stewardship, so I can’t make a comparison to its previous incarnation. However, based on this visit, this is still a pub that is well worth seeking out for its fine beer and pleasant surrounds. Assuming that the problems that led to the previous incumbents’ departure have now been resolved, I would hope and expect the pub to go from strength to strength.
On 11th September 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Bull
One -bar village pub located on the outskirts of Dartford. Kent CAMTA Pub of the Year 2009 which meant we had to call in (and our incoming coach tour ran into another from Kingston CAMRA!). There were seven handpumps plus a further beer on gravity and many ciders too. Ales on my visit included a number from Kent Brewery, with Dark Star and Oakham also getting a pump each. Delicious! The interior is a fairly basic affair, with a central bar and some pine tables that don’t really fit in. As Roger notes below, some extra ‘stuff’ would go a long way. To the rear is an impressive garden with a lovely view (so I’m told – it was quite dark) over the Darenth Valley. Regular brewery showcases and beer festivals are held. Dart board available, as is good value food. I enjoyed my visit even if the interior left a little to be desired and it’s worth seeking out for the beer.
On 1st December 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Bull
This highly acclaimed pub has won multiple awards and is the current CAMRA Kent Pub of the Year. The original Bull dates from at least 1848 but was situated a hundred yards or so down the road from the present building that probably dates from the 1900’s (no one seems to know precisely).
Occupying a corner spot in a quiet village, there is no immediate reason to think that the Bull is particularly special but it thrives thanks to the current owner’s enthusiasm for good food and excellent ales. The ales in particular attract people from far and wide with the 8 hand pumps (and occasionally others on gravity) often showcasing local microbreweries as well as those from further afield. The quality is always top notch and prices pretty reasonable for a pub with such a high reputation. Regular beer festivals are held where extra racks of casks are available on top of the usual offerings. I have not eaten here (apart from a wonderful Shepherds Pie conjured up to feed our visiting quiz team) but it has a good reputation. My last visit saw a few people tucking into various Sunday roasts (price around £8/9) and there is also a Tuesday curry and a pint deal (£6).
The interior is generally no thrills, with a central bar and exposed timbers and brickwork. The ceilings look a bit bare and could maybe do with a few pots, pans and dangly bits. One corner contains a library of second hand books that can be bought for a charitable donation.
The locals are generally a chatty bunch, especially if you show some enthusiasm for the beers, and the place is also very dog friendly (one of the pub dogs will inevitably fall asleep on your foot under your table given half a chance) although children are a not encouraged. There are occasional live blues/jazz/acoustic nights although the pub layout isn’t really suited for such events.
To the rear is a large well kept garden with views of the surrounding countryside which is ideal in the warmer months.
One of the biggest prolems is that the pub is a bit isolated and you really need a car to get there (and parking is a squeeze in the village) but if the weather is fine, you can always do the mile hike from Farningham Road station. Any thirst that you build up on the way will soon disappear upon arrival.
On 24th November 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Bull
Just shows what you can do with a bit of effort - every village could have a pub like this, but without a knowledgable landlord/landlady, hard-working staff and proper customer focus so many fail to achieve the heights (or just fail). Six of the eight handpumps in use, offering unusual beers in a full range of styles from a 'real' lager to porter via the 'Two Kents' festival beer from Shepherd Neame. Opted for a quick pint of the light and tasty Hophead from Dark Star, but could happily have stayed all afternoon if I wasn't driving. Only minor gripe relates to the interior decor which felt a bit cold as the pub was quiet mid-way through a weekday afternoon, but I doubt you'd notice this at the weekend. Well worth seeking out.
On 1st December 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
train man left this review about The Bull at Horton Kirby
Over here Sat for the Pictish showcase. Naturally, the lucky locals had drunk all the Pictish Brewers Gold on Friday, but there was still some Alchemist, Galeda, & Staddlestone, also Darkstar Hophead, Sunburst, Extra Stout & Best, later Newby Wyke Summer Session, two scary ciders were Port Wine of Glastonbury & Gwynt y Draig Haymaker (both 6.5%), & Broad Oak Perry (7.5%).
Lynne identified me, yikes!, to point out that she had taken on board an earlier comment in which I mentioned that an afternoon grub option would have been good, and that they now serve rolls & sandwiches to supplement the main menu when not available. As it was, we stayed until food service resumed (18:00) and chose from the specials of Spicy Beef wi Dumplings, Mutton Curry wi rice or roti (quite hot, you need the rice), Faggots Mash Peas Gravy, or Steak&Ale Pie wi veg, all £6.50, smashing! And Garrett was his usual friendly beer-enthusiastic self. Top stuff!
9 February 2009
Enjoyed another visit Saturday when I was expecting the periodic guest brewery promotion to feature Pictish. Turned out to be Thornbridge, but none the worse for that, albeit some very strong beers in the range. No notes, but recall the stills included Lord Marples, Kipling, Ashford, the deadly Saint Petersburg and the wonderful, but also dangerous Jaipur IPA. Non-Thornbridge handpumps at bar featured Hophead, Oakham JHB & Inferno, & Newby Wyke White Squall. Always a friendly welcome, and the homemade dishes (chilli con carne, corned beef hash, & other tempting pub dishes) were all just £5, pity food service finished at 14:30; could have done with some later to soak up the beer. They even put the early footy on for me (muted), thanks folks, if I can't get over again beforehand I'll be checking London Drinker for the next brewery bash date.
11 July 2008
'intersected by The Street' - should read, 'by Bull Hill', as correctly named on streetmap.
11 July 2008
Red Squirrel Organic Blonde, Darkstar Sunburst, Newby Wyke HMS Revenge, Fenland Smokestack Lightning, all served in very good condition. The blackboard to the rt of bar listed these, and also the ‘coming soon' notice included Rebellion Overthrow, Springfield IPA(5.4%), Hophead, Hopdaemon Incubus, Summer Sovereign(?), fff Pressed Rat & Warthog. Blackboard to the left had listed 2 real ciders, Hecks Port Wine of Canterbury(6.5%) & Pitts Kingston Black(5.5%), also Gwatkins Oldfield Perry(7.5%), but the ciders had been drunk and the guv was on his way out to collect more stock – you've gotta love the freedom (& relative unshackled simplicity) of a proper freehouse business. Attractive semi-island bar faces the door surrounded by light wood furniture & a few barstools. Large plasma on left-hd wall (barmaid was kind enough switch on to allow me to quietly watch my dosh go down the pan at Newmarket), further down a dartboard, past this to glass french doors leading to large grassy beer garden with picnic sets & lovely view over fields beyond (not quite visible on photo above). To the right is a new veg garden which thay hope can source some produce for the pub grub (food miles = 20yards!). Sarnies & baguettes from £3.50, chilli chips £2, mains £7/8, eg large faggots with pork gravy, or ‘old fashioned bacon pudding'. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon visit, will definitely return. nb open all day weekdays, also nb the att'd map links are currently slightly wrong – pub sits at the corner where Lombard St & Forge Ln are intersected by The Street.
On 10th September 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 412 recommendations about 411 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Bull
Legendary pub! Enthusiastic landlord, terrific beer from top breweries, frequent festivals, curry night, quizzes, beer garden.
You really should visit, you know.
On 3rd June 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]