Dog & Bear Hotel, Maidstone

A fine old inn, probably the grandest building in the historic village square, and still operating as a hotel. Although remodelled and refurbished over the years, the main 'L'-shaped bar and two side dining rooms retain a lot of character, with traditional pub furniture, decor and a pool table in the former but a more refined look to the latter (especially the one at the back). As a Shepherd Neame house, Master Brew and Spitfire (£4.20) are normally available from two of the four handpumps.

Official site of Dog & Bear Hotel - www.dogandbearlenham.co.uk

Official site of Dog & Bear Hotel - www.dogandbearlenham.co.uk

A substantial Shep’s pub in a commanding position on the square in Lenham. White painted, with a kind of balcony topped with an impressive Royal Coat of Arms ,belonging, so I believe , to Queen Anne. Inside, a fairly cavernous bar, with various screens and a room off to one side devoted to dining. To the back, a range of rather corporate meeting and letting rooms. I’ve been coming to this pub since the 1970’s, when, perhaps oddly for this brewery, it was a destination pub. This was partly because Shep’s was far less common than now, and the beer was definitely characterful,the second reason was the celebrated landlord, “Squirrel”’ who ran a tight ship. On my visit ,on a cold March Tuesday evening, the welcome was polite, and the beer in good condition,if rather one dimensional. In short, a touch corporate:this is not meant as a criticism of the staff, but a reflection of the way in which certain of the larger regional brewers are directing their business. Somewhere, between the seventies and now, this house lost it’s soul.