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Detail Pages
The Dering Arms, Ashford
Pluckley
Postal town: Ashford
TN27 0RR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Dering Arms
Impressive former hunting lodge with Dutch gables looks like it ought to be on a Scottish moorland estate rather than in the middle of the Kent countryside, close by Pluckley station but a couple of miles from the village itself. Retains its original layout inside, with three main baronial-style seating / dining areas in a 'L'-shaped arrangement comprising the pub area and separate restaurant between the two entrance doorways. Also has a side beer garden and a couple of wooden benches at the front. Various handpumps on the three counters, although only the 'house' (Goacher's) Dering Ale is usually available.
On 20th December 2023
- 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 Dering Arms
I’ve known this pub for years, back to the time when it had an elderly landlord and a rather good juke box. Our farming group used to meet in the back room:now it is rather swish with a grand piano and some impressive hi-hi kit. Perhaps more a restaurant than a pub-Jim buss is a first rate chef, and knows his fish.However this is a simplistic view: at its heart, this is a public house with a proper bar,flagstones and open fire.
As a beer drinker, one could find the Dering rather frustrating:a bank of beer engines selling but one beer. However, I often find that one excellently kept beer is worth a barfull of ordinary. I’ve always loved Goachers, and the House Ale on our recent visit was profoundly English,earthy and deep like a great Midland river.
Stone built,a nineteenth century hunting lodge, with the characteristic round headed windows associated with the Dering Estate. Handy for Pluckley Station. Unique and excellent.
On 28th April 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 283 recommendations about 282 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Lynn Wood left this review about The Dering Arms
Had a great visit to the Dering Arms last night. We have been staying here for years and since we last visited the rooms have been refurbished with new beds and en-suite facilities. The food as always was delicious. This is a great place to visit if you like homemade pie and a huge variety of fish dishes. Although it has accommodation is is a great restaurant in its own right, you don't have to stay over! You will miss a splendid breakfast if you don't.....
On 18th September 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Manky Badger left this review about The Dering Arms
Thought I'd give the place another chance... It's not so much a pub as a hotel. It probably does quite a bit of passing trade from its railway station location, and on the plus side it does have it's own ale brewed especially for the place. On the other hand it has no other ales. Whilst the place is very picturesque from the outside, the beer garden is on the small side.
We didn't stay long as they, like so many other local pubs, close at 3pm and we had other places to visit. It's a good pub but it has nothing to put it above any of the other pubs locally. And it's up against some pretty stiff competition. But I expect they don't care – the place is primarily a hotel.
24 May 2008
Pulled up at 4.10pm to see people drinking in the beer garden. Only to be (rather rudely) told the place was closed until 6pm. So either the people in the garden have eked out their drinks for over an hour, or I'm being lied to, or the barman doesn't like the look of me?
I'm tempted to give them 0/10 out of spite, but will withold rating until next time (when they will have a BIG hill to climb)
On 16th August 2008
- rating: 3
[User has posted 155 recommendations about 154 pubs]