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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Malden man
Submitted on Wednesday, 21st February 2018
With picture contributions to 1703 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Restoration, Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks
TN13 1UW
Served areas
Reviews of The Restoration (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Restoration
Located right in the heart of Sevenoaks town centre, the Restoration (formerly the Black Boy) is a smart food-led pub with a decent outdoor drinking area. The pub is quite old, but from what I saw of the interior, you wouldn’t really know this, as it’s been given a typical contemporary makeover, making it look much like any other corporate dining pub. The furniture appeared to be pretty good in terms of quality and variety, whilst the modern floorboards and plain painted walls help to ramp up the ‘mediocrity-factor’ even further. Having visited during the ‘outdoor-drinking only’ phase of the government’s roadmap, these were fairly fleeting impressions that may well change were I actually allowed to sit inside in a room full of other customers. The pub benefits from being situated on the junction of two pedestrian passageways, which has afforded the management the chance to spread out their al-fresco seating in a way that other town centre pubs appeared to be struggling to do. Several rows of decent garden furniture radiate out from the main entrance area, with some under a broad shelter with decorative filigree supports, that runs along one side of the pub. We’d called here for some lunch, having been impressed with the menu on their website, so were a little disappointed to find that they were only doing sandwiches since reopening, due to uncertainty over the weather/demand for food.
They had managed to get some ales on though, with a choice between Shepherd Neame Master Brew and Spitfire offering a degree of pleasure to cask-starved customers. The Spitfire was a hefty £4.55 for a pint but was in very good condition and slipped down nicely, despite being far from a personal favourite. My sandwich was okay but the loaded chips we also ordered were a bit of a soggy mess and didn’t get finished. The pub’s best asset appears to be its staff, of whom three or four crossed our path whilst we were here, all of whom were incredibly friendly and helpful.
I can’t really pretend to have seen this pub in the best light, but a few things stuck out to me. Firstly, the pub has a pretty generic corporate look to it, which is not to say that it’s unpleasant, just that you’ve seen it all before. Secondly, the beer range is Sheps, so your milage will vary based on your fondness for this particular brewery – for me, it marks the pub out as a better option for food than for a session on the beer. Finally, they scored a big win on the customer service front and no doubt will get a lot of repeat custom on the back of it. Overall, I didn’t mind the pub and would give it another go to check the interior out properly.
On 21st May 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Black Boy
My pet hate.... waiting at the bar, bar staff busy sorting out Ice Cream orders, and they don't even bother to acknowledge you.
Lovely looking external - bright, gastro internal - three beers from Shepherds Neame. I know... I had ten minutes to look at the them, whilst holding a £20 aloft in the hope they might swap it for something.
Left, disgruntled, and went next door.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2G6jH6n
On 18th March 2018
- rating: 1
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Black Boy
From my time living here in the early 2000, this was a pub which had a board outside taking great pains to point out that the name wasn't intended as a racial slur but was historic. This was a pleasant pub, clearly aimed at those with a bit more money to spend.
I'd return if passing.
On 26th February 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
View more reviews of The Restoration (7)
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- Official site of The Restoration - www.therestoration.pub
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Restoration - whatpub.com
Bat & Ball, 1.52 miles, 29 min walk (show)
Dunton Green, 2.46 miles, 47 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Beer Garden : No - Covered area overllooking shopping street. - last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Car Park : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Darts : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 02 April 2012 by hondo .
- Jukebox : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Karaoke : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Live Music : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Micropub : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Pinball : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Pool Table : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Quiz Night : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 02 April 2012 by hondo .
- Real Cider : No last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 17 May 2015 by Aqualung .
- WiFi : Yes last updated 26 February 2018 by Tris C
