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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Detail Pages
The Padwell Arms, Sevenoaks
Stone Street
Postal town: Sevenoaks
TN15 0LQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Padwell
A delightful and rather quirky pub in a fairly isolated location. The small front area has the bar with distressed floorboards and a rather tired rug, an old stove in a hearth looks unused but a real log fire was blazing away at the other end of the room. Various things in frames, an old Younger's lantern, copper pans and bowls hang from a ceiling beam while pewter tankards and antique items such as a mincing machine and a set of large keys hang elsewhere, horse brasses too. The Royal Coat of Arms features in the entrance lobby, there is a piano with all sorts of peculiar items on top and bulbs of garlic hanging from an adjacent wall plus a shelf of board games nearby. A separate side room contains a working dartboard and a partitioned off much larger area to the rear looks like it might be a restaurant. Outdoor seating on a raised terrace to the front with glorious rural views, seating also outside to the rear where there is a sizeable car park.
I had a bit of a nose around and turned up a copy of the 1975 Alka-Seltzer guide to the Pubs of Kent which has the pub in it in a former guise as a Watney's pub, with the nickname "The Doll's House".
Obviously a pub like this has mostly traditional seating apart from an armchair by the fire, tables had little posies of bluebells in various containers.
Five pumps, four on with a local flavour, Tonbridge Countryman, Larkin's Traditional, Cottage Golden Arrow and Bexley Redhouse Premium Ale. A cider (keg) from Stowford Press.
Food served, a few specials were listed on a board, simple stuff like lamb cutlets with spuds and veg.
A fascinating spot full of warmth and character and a friendly welcome, friendly locals too, I liked it here a great deal.
On 30th April 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Merrills left this review about The Padwell
made the trip back to The Padwell for the first time in a few weeks for Sunday lunch, and the progress is remarkable. Wider range of ales on offer, with another half dozen or so added to the list since last visit. Tried Incubus, Skrimshander and Devil's Dyke - all well kept, but the last seemed to go with lunch best, so had a couple of those (maybe three) ! Food - has to be said - was just excellent - and loads of it, too, which is a nice change. Roast Beef from a farm just down the road was particularly nice, and the cheeseboard to finish was a meal in its own right, so big lumps of cheese and fresh bread ferreted away for later in the day. Looks like the initial rush under the new owners is showing no signs of abating - all sorts of social things being planned by all accounts. This'll be worth a regular visit at this rate...
On 16th October 2011
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Merrills left this review about The Padwell Arms
Well - there seem to be big changes afoot at The Padwell, and all for the better so far (they've dropped the "Arms" from the name, too).
Was in there a couple of times over the last week in July 2011, and there are clearly new management in control; Doug and Jayne are out of the picture, and instead we have Maria and Ray - very personable, locally based and full of enthusiasm for what they hope to do with the place.
Can't comment on the food, or state of the kitchen, as the entire dining area and food prep area are being completely revamped with a view to being up and running shortly with a new chef on board and - by all accounts - what's going to be the "simple but bloody good" approach to things, which IMHO is what pub food should be all about
Well kept, serviceable ales on tap - all local stuff, plenty of cheerful folk in the bars and outside, and a really upbeat feel about the place, although they've clearly got a real job on their hands and it's still very much a work in progress.
Also delighted to say that they're repeating their Harvest Beer Festival in September - fantastic last year, with morris dancers, drummers and reduced prices on beer, which can't be a bad thing !
I can only give a 7/10 rating on what's there so far, but I'll be making a point of going back to see how they're getting on, and reckon that a much higher mark will be due then - very promising start
On 30th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Dawn greenway left this review about The Padwell Arms
hi this pub now 6 out of 10.. There is new managers in there and the food is cooked by a masterchef... well worth a trip out there
On 10th January 2008
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mick Rooney left this review about The Padwell Arms
good selection of real ales with the s.p. displayed on a board. Visited Nov 04, it now has an extension restaurant which spoils the look of the pub. Thats progress!
On 1st November 2004
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8 recommendations about 8 pubs]