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Detail Pages
The Vine, Cranbrook
Goudhurst
Postal town: Cranbrook
TN17 1AG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Vine
Attractive village-centre pub in a prominent position on the crossroads, and thankfully reopened again by new foody owners since November 2021 after several intermittent attempts by others over recent years. Quite compact inside, it still retains the same layout I found on my previous visit in 2014, with the old main entrance leading to the slightly raised dining areas, the current main entrance at the left-hand side leading to a plain bar and another small area in between which is the main service point. The small rear terrace beer garden can be a sheltered sun trap for most of the day, but wooden tables at the front are popular later on as they catch the evening sun. With all four handpumps in use, I found the inevitable Harvey's (£4.60), local Cellar Head Session Pale, Courage Directors and a Charringtons cider.
On 4th July 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
. Wittenden left this review about The Vine
An attractive white painted pub at the centre of the village, across the road from the village pond. A venerable olive tree in a substantial planter sits in a grassed area at the front: a suntrap for future summer days. Inside, the pub has been extensively redecorated in a bare boards, Farrow and Ball sort of way. A room to the right, a bar to the left, and a further drinking area further on, opening to the bar.
On our visit on a March Saturday lunchtime, most of the eclectic mix of tables were occupied by diners: indeed, the girl who served us said that many people thought that it was a restaurant. A fair comment: our meal was perhaps larger than we would normally expect for lunch. Well presented and good. However, I would argue that the Vine is indeed a pub, and I don’t think I’d have felt out of place if we’d just come in for a drink.
In keeping with the localism ethos of the business, the beer board stated the distance from the brewery of the beers available.All Kent or Sussex micros. On our visit,Dark Star’s Hophead was joined by Genesis from Goody Ales, together with a couple of favourites from Old Dairy.I didn’t note what kegs were on offer.The wine list looked interesting, with some from local producers.
Upstairs, we were told, were rooms for fine and private dining, and I think letting rooms, but don’t quote me on that. Recently reopened after a period of closure and Thai restauranthood, this is an asset to this attractive village.I last used this pub back in the 1970s, when it was a Charrington pub that sold real ale.
31st March 2018
Early Easter Saturday afternoon:most pubs in the area were completely rammed with families enjoying a bit of sun.Quieter here, perhaps due to the lack of obvious parking.After the visit aluded to above, this pub went into a decline, and was shut for over a year,reopening sometime in 2016.The lay-out is much as before, though I think the "fine dining" facility upstairs is now a grill-room, and th e little parlour to the right of the front door is dedicated to the new phenomenon of cocktails.I'm glad to see the public bar flourishing. Dog friendly,keen landlord, personable staff, decent beer:pity about the fish 'n' chips.
On 18th April 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 283 recommendations about 282 pubs]