The Great House, Gills Green, Cranbrook

A white weatherboarded,timber framed pub,previously known as the Wellington, and intriguingly as the Staymakers,on the outskirts of Hawkhurst. Part of the local Elitepubs chain,it is largely given over to dining,but it maintains a sizeable bar where drinkers are made welcome. Our visit,on a July Saturday evening, just before the great heat,was enjoyable, but not to such an extent that we would go out of our way to return. The beer,from Harveys and Tonbridge,was adequate but not epic,and I found myself eyeing the Curious Brew tap. However the staff, albeit charming, were transient and untrained in the art of acknowledging the waiting drinker at the bar. we saw no one obviously in charge, and we left while asking ourselves if it is actually a pub.