The Salehurst Halt, Robertsbridge

The Salehurst Halt has an L-shaped interior with fixtures and décor that one would expect in any self-respecting country local. To the right of the entrance is a fireplace and some seating, but most of the seating is down the left-hand wall, faced by the bar that is bedecked with hops. During a recent Saturday afternoon visit there was some low background music playing for the ten or so locals at the bar. I didn’t spot a television, but the Rugby World Cup is advertised. I imagine that the television only goes on for very special occasions. Out the back is a large patio that is shielded from the sun by a large vine canopy. Steps from the patio lead down to a grass beer garden with picnic tables. There were no free tables in the garden during my visit, which is understandable as the views across the countryside are very good. Available from the bar was a standard keg range alongside Leffe and Blue Moon Wheat Beer. The four hand pumps were drawing Shepherd Neame’s Whitstable IPA, Harveys Best, Burning Sky Brewery’s Summertime and Biddenden Bushels cider. Opening Times: Monday Closed; Tuesday-Saturday midday - 23:00; Sunday midday - 22.30. Food is available for lunch and dinner and there is a sandwich menu available all day. This is a decent pub well worthy of a detour off the A21.

We picked this one out for a lunchtime stop on the way down to the south coast as it is a short detour off the A21. A fine single roomed traditional village pub with an absolutely fabulous tiered external garden to the back which affords superb views over the Sussex countryside. All four pumps were in operation with three ales and a cider available. Two ales from Harveys including a very passable Best and another locale which I failed to note. There is quite a focus on the food menu which is understandable in a small off the track community pub such as this one and we enjoyed a couple of decent prawn sandwiches to go with the Harveys ale. It is a dog friendly pub and there were a couple in complementing the locals taking up the bar stools on our visit. This is good to see , but unfortunately in this case there was an air of flatulent dog (and possibly owner too) that the staff and locals had clearly gone noseblind to. But fortunately we had a fine weather day and were able to utilise the superb garden.