Beefeater The Woodlands, Gravesend

The Woodlands is a large Harvester pub adjacent to a Premier Inn, so it is used as the hotel’s dining facility. I stay in a lot of Premier Inns and I am always pleased to find the attached pub is a Harvester rather than a Brewer’s Fayre because the food quality is better. Most of the interior is assigned for dining, but I was asked to sit in the bar area during a late Tuesday evening visit. I obviously didn’t mind. In this bar area is a plasma screen that was showing muted rolling news and there was some low background music playing. One of the two handpumps was unused leaving Shepherd Neame’s Spitfire as the lone cask ale choice in amongst the standard keg. I found the barman to be miserable as sin, but the waitresses were all friendly. Outside it was unsurprising to find a large car park and a beer garden lined with picnic tables out the back. I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit here just for a drink because it is a Harvester, but as a hotel bar and dining area it serves its purpose.

A good quality good sized pub / restaurant. You can drop in for a drink or visit for generally good quaity food. Food can vary a bit depending on the staff but most of the time it is very good. Their trade is helped by the hotel behind it. Can get very busy at the weekends.