The Bull, Maidstone

Historic inn, but altered and extended almost beyond recognition. Run by Greene King under the Flaming Grill sub-brand, so very much food and family orientated. Various seating areas, with corporate furniture / decor and menus. Patio seating area overlooking the heath at the front, and a grass beer garden to the rear. The beer offering from five handpumps was better than I expected, with IPA and Abbot supplemented by the seasonal Old Nutty Hen plus Wainwright and Brighton Bier The Fall Guy (£3.35) as guests.

A historic village pub, now rather trivialised by turning it into a family-style eatery which sells beer, while the village element has been subsumed into Maidstone's northern residential area. It was popular as somewhere to go when executions took place on the Heath (the last public hanging there was an arsonist called John Dyke on Christmas Eve 1830,by the way), but now cricket is the spectator sport of choice. Three large bar/eating areas, a mix of carpets and flagstones, uninspiring decor and cheap, unappetising food are complemented by a choice of 3 GK beers. I had the IPA which, somewhat predictably, was drinkable but nothing special. There is a small amount of outdoor seating, and a reasonable amount fo parking. It's ok for refreshments when passing by or exercising on what's left of the Heath.

Official Bull Inn pages at a Greene King site - www.gkpubs.co.uk

Official Bull Inn pages at a Greene King site - www.gkpubs.co.uk