The Timber Batts, Ashford

A real treasure, hidden away in a hamlet deep in the eastern part of the Kent Downs AONB, and you would very unlikely to find it by chance. It looks appealing from a distance, but as you approach you start to see a range of distinctly odd features along the frontage and in the side beer garden. This proves to be just the start, because the two side rooms turn out to be a museum of curiosities, with all sorts of memorabilia, ephemera and paraphernalia, many implausibly labelled as being 'Straight Outta Bodsham'. That said, the small bar area and side dining room are very traditional. Despite these strange coronavirus times, this is a self-proclaimed alehouse, and we were glad to find three of the four handpumps in use, offering two Hopdaemon beers - Red (£4.00) and Incubus - and Henderson's Spectacular Rhubarb Cider. Well worth a detour, provided you have got a good map...