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Ivy Leaf, Dartford

Pub added by elizabeth mcgraw
72 Darenth Road
Dartford
DA1 1LS

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Pub Type

Punch Taverns

Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Roger Button left this review about The Ivy Leaf

There has been an Ivy Leaf pub here since the mid 19th Century although the current building dates back to 1929. The exterior displays a classic inter-war Brewery Tudor image which is carried through to the internal decor. According to my book on the local pub history there was originally a grand idea to build a crescent similar to Bath atop the hill with its views across Central Park and the Darent Valley but it never materialized and the Ivy Leaf sprang up in its place alongside the nearby row of shops.

Situated a short walk from the town but just far enough to keep majority of the local pond life and social misfits away, the Ivy Leaf attracts a good mixed bag of locals and you can generally get a good welcome from the charismatic but no nonsense landlord who is very receptive to ideas and suggestions as long as it doesn’t involve fancy coffees or Fosters lager (not sold here).

The fully carpeted interior consists of two bars, a saloon bar to the right and a smaller and lesser used public bar to the left. The narrow bar area between the two can be a bit of a bottleneck when busy. Both bars are similarly decorated with brick wood burning fires and banquette seating in the window bays but what really catches the attention are the masses of brass and copper pots, pans, taps, pipes, pumps and assorted oddments that hang from the ceiling. There are a couple of flat screen TV's used primarily for sport.

In the past 12 months the ale selection has been expanded (there are tentative plans are to add more in due course) with the 2 regular ales (Doom Bar and Bombardier) now supplemented with 4 rotating guest ales often including a local ale (usually from Millis). Quality is always very good and prices are very reasonable.

The pub is also now gaining a reputation for its (mainly) acoustic music evenings with a regular Tuesday open mic nights and blues and roots evenings on the last Thursday of the month featruring high quality local artists. There is a decent recently renovated split level beer garden to rear with views across the Darent Valley and the occasional afternoon live music event is held here. Aside from the music there are regular poker evenings and the popular free Sunday quiz is always a bit of fun. The pub is also handy for Princes Park football ground a few hundred yards down the road.

This is without doubt one of the better managed and appealing pubs in town with one of the best ale selections and well worth the short walk out of town.

On 26th June 2012 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Malden man left this review about The Ivy Leaf

Probably the pick of the Dartford selection visited on Saturday. We entered via the front door from where we could only see one handpump serving Bombardier, but thankfully a squeeze through takes you into the right hand area where there are a further six pumps, Bombardier again, Doom Bar, GK London Glory, Oakham JHB, Hogs Back TEA and the local Millis Kentish Red. This is a warm, convivial and comfortable pub, carpeted with standard issue seating, all manner of brass and copper artifacts are suspended from the ceiling beams. The look is further enhanced by the ship's wheel on the chimney breast. The pub TVs were showing the late kick off Premier League game to an enthusiastic but not boisterous crowd. Friendly and efficient service with the offer of tasters. Recommended.

On 6th December 2011 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]