The Bowl Inn, Ashford

Lovely old-fashioned village pub, hidden away in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Retains a two room layout, with the traditionally furnished bar / dining area on the right-hand side of the entrance, a smaller and plainer Snug Room to the left (with a narrow counter from the central servery) and what would have been a 'bottle and just hatch in the entrance lobby. Also has a couple of benches out front and a rear beer garden. I found a couple of Hopdaemon beers on the three handpumps: Session (£4.00) and Red.

Unfortunately closed at the time I was in the area because of the death of the landlord, Ron Blown, on 12 April 2019. Pub reopened after his funeral.

'Arzonlye, Arzonlye,you be daft and so be I'. People on The Hill are supposed to be odd: I'm not sure about that, but I know that The Bowl is a cracking pub in an isolated village up the hill from Wye in the North Downs. A solid eighteenth century looking whitewashed pub in the centre of the village. To the left of the front door, a games room, with the once universal black benches around the walls. To the right a couple of rooms furnished with tables and chairs:open coal fires,eclectic artifacts. On the bar, keg founts and three active handpumps serving predominantly beer from Kent micros.On my visit on a cold but bright January Saturday lunchtime I enjoyed two Hopdaemon beers-Golden Braid and Skrimshander IPA:also available was The English from Hopfuzz down at Hythe. A very warm welcome from the long standing landlord and his son,who runs regular pop up curry nights. Meals generally are good looking sandwiches and ploughmans at weekends. I was unable to partake, as bread is not a great ally of mine, unfortunately. Dogs are not welcome,as the bar is home to a friendly pub dog, though children and family groups are! A large garden to the rear is haunted by a large owl-perhaps an European Eagle? The isolated location leads to limited hours.