The Red Lion, Ashford

Much as described below,this pub has a merited air of antiquity and warmth to it.I remember it from the early 1970s, when it was a noted source of Whitbread/Fremlins beers direct from the casks stillaged in the area that is now the public bar. More open now, as the front saloon bar has spread into a couple of pleasantly beamed rooms with comfortable furniture, a woodstove and tables laid up for dining.It does have a reputation for cliqueyness,but everyone seemed welcoming enough on my midweek early evening visit.

To be found in one of the many historic buildings lining the High Street, this one is unusual in that it is set back from the pavement by enough to allow a few wooden benches on a compact patio beer garden. Once inside, you find a very traditional saloon bar and side dining room which look a picture, and there is also a plainer public bar at the back housing the pool table (but not otherwise in regular use by the look of things). Given the current strange times, it was no surprise to find just the ever reliable Harvey's (£4.20) available from the pair of handpumps.

I liked this pub more than I thought that I would judging by a previous reviewer’s experience. This struck me as an archetypal country pub. It’s set in the very attractive Biddenden High Street, with its Tudor style flower bedecked shopfronts and traditional church. Inside it has the trademark low beams, nooks and crannies, brick fireplace and miscellaneous paraphernalia on the walls that you would expect in a well-maintained pub in the heart of Kent. Seating is traditional and comfortable. It looks as if the pub has been extended into an adjoining building at some point, which seems to be mainly used as a dining area. It’s not immediately apparent from the main bar, but there’s a separate public bar at the back containing a pool table. There were two ales on – Masterbrew and the excellent Harvey’s Best Bitter. I had the latter, which was served perhaps a liitle too cold, but not really a problem when sitting outside the front of the pub on a very warm September day. When I was in at about 2.30 PM on Friday there were a few diners finishing their meals, and although I noticed a chalkboard menu on one of the walls, I failed to make a note of any details. The service in here was friendly and welcoming, and we enjoyed our visit. I’m not likely to be visiting Biddenden again any time soon, but if I did I would be delighted to pay a return visit to this lovely pub.

Pleasant enough pub. However they seem to put far more emphasis on the food side of the business than on the pub side. Two very average ales on the hand pump. It's not a bad pub, I'd go back. But there are better pubs withing five minutes drive.