Star & Eagle Hotel, Cranbrook

This is a lovely old world Inn next to the church in Goudhurst, an elevated village in the High Weald. Timber framed, with much exposed woodwork and venerable lath and plaster it is perhaps inevitably more oriented to food rather than the wet trade. This isn’t a criticism, as I find it rather appealing that it functions as a hotel: indeed ,as we were enjoying our Grasshopper, a number of guests made their way into the inn, laden with anticipatory baggage. We had heard that the Star had changed hands, and standards had dropped(we hadn’t been in for a couple of years): as we were in the village meeting my cousins we decided to give the pub a try. I’m not sure if it has changed hands-it certainly still has a certain Iberian quality-but service and quality are as we remember them. It was a hot day, and for one reason or another, our son and his friend were defeated by the long cycle ride. Once we realised that they weren’t going to make it,and miss some decent beer, the kitchen very kindly wrapped up their baguettes, which were devoured at home. Despite it being hot, I enjoyed ham’n’eggs: other meals were equally well received. On the beer front the aforementioned Grasshopper form my favourite Westerham Brewery was a revelation: a dry hoppy dark, dare I say brown? bitter.Largely hopped with Targets grown in this parish, I would defy anyone to call this beer dull. Also on offer, but untried, were Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitter and Adnams Bitter.The barman thoughtfully offered me a taster of the Grasshopper saying it was an acquired taste. Our faith in this pub is reinforced, thankfully.