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History: Home > Hooden Smokehouse & Cellar (formerly Hooden on the Hill)

Hooden Smokehouse & Cellar (formerly Hooden on the Hill) (Punch Taverns)

[More Visits]

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Banks's - WainwrightGood3
Banks's - Wainwright Gold a.k.a.The Golden BeerGood1
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish BitterExcellent1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London PridePoor1
Greene King - Morland Old Speckled HenExcellent1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterExcellent1
Harviestoun - Bitter & TwistedGood1
Mad Cat - Emotional BlackmailGood1
Beavertown - Gamma Ray (keg)Not Tried0
Beavertown - Neck Oil (keg)Not Tried0
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%)Not Tried0
Franklins - Mama Knows BestNot Tried0
Hopdaemon - IncubusNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopNot Tried0
Sharp's - Doom BarNot Tried0
Picture 1. Hooden Smokehouse & Cellar (formerly Hooden on the Hill), Willesborough, Kent
Chris Excell

Visits Details

03 Jan 2024 (Magnus Greel)
Mid evening and quiet just a handful of customers dotted about. Friendly welcome from the barman who extolled the quality of the sole cask ale available and he wasn't wrong.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Greene King - Morland Old Speckled Hen4.50ExcellentNigh on faultless yet sadly a far cry from the devil strength of old for this malty peppery spicy ale.
14 Dec 2021 (Trevor)
A few in for our lunchtime visit. Usual friendly and attentive service and most enjoyable meal
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Excellent
Beavertown - Neck Oil (keg)4.30Not Tried
Beavertown - Gamma Ray (keg)5.40Not Tried
07 Dec 2021 (Trevor)
First time back since Howard (Landlord) left a year or two ago. He has returned now and was working in the kitchen on our lunchtime visit. We were with friends and we had a tasty meal with friendly and attentive service and, particularly on this cold day, enjoyed the warmth provided by the log fire.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harviestoun - Bitter & Twisted3.80GoodRefreshing with citrus flavours
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Beavertown - Neck Oil (keg)4.30Not Tried
Beavertown - Gamma Ray (keg)5.40Not Tried
01 Jun 2021 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon - came across this by chance, pleased to see it open - haven’t been here for more than 20 years. Sat outside - very impressed by the size and design of the garden. Friendly, efficient service, but not much of a choice of ales.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Banks's - Wainwright4.10GoodPerfect pint of this - but it’s not the most flavoursome of ales.
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
05 Feb 2020 (Trevor)
Arrived at lunchtime to be met by two landlords, one just leaving and the other taking over at the time when they were taking on board the fact that they were winners the outdoor pub of the year for England (or was it the UK?). Anyway we had a pleasant meal with good service in a warm environment supplied by a log burning fire.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Banks's - Wainwright Gold a.k.a.The Golden Beer4.10GoodRefreshing drink with citrus flavours
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Beavertown - Neck Oil (keg)4.30Not Tried
Beavertown - Gamma Ray (keg)5.40Not Tried
18 Dec 2019 (Trevor)
Haven't been to this pub since their fire a few years ago but dropped in at lunchtime to sample their lunchtime menu. We had a nourishing meal with friendly and helpful service. Although quiet when we arrived it was busy by the time we left.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Banks's - Wainwright4.10GoodPleasant citrus flavours evident
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
Beavertown - Neck Oil (keg)4.30Not Tried
Beavertown - Gamma Ray (keg)5.40Not Tried
06 Dec 2019 (ChrisE)
Early evening and just a few drinkers in at this time of day. Staff were gearing up for festive dining parties later in the evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Banks's - Wainwright4.10Good
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00Not Tried
21 Nov 2019 (ChrisE)
Late afternoon and quiet.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride4.10PoorI did not finish this.
27 May 2019 (ChrisE)
Bank Holdiday Monday and the cask ales were on gravity dispense with cooling jackets in the garden, this was the last day of a three day festival and the remaining cask ales were on offer at £2 per pint, I managed to get a glass from the bar to avoid having to drink out of a plastic tumbler.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Mad Cat - Emotional Blackmail4.50Good
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Miller's Ale (originally 4.5%)4.20Not Tried
Franklins - Mama Knows Best4.10Not Tried
10 Dec 2018 (ChrisE)
I just popped in for a quick pint in the afternoon, I got the impression that this place was under new management although nothing seemed to have changed except that the Greene King beers have gone. I must go back and make enquiries.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - Kentish Bitter3.70Excellent

[More Visits]

About the Hooden Smokehouse & Cellar (formerly Hooden on the Hill)

The pub sign. Hooden Smokehouse & Cellar (formerly Hooden on the Hill), Willesborough, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent35
Good57
Acceptable24
Poor3

Website.

The pub is found in Willesborough, Kent, TN24 0NY.

Formerly The Rose, situated in Willesborough in Silver Hill Road, on the way to William Harvey Hospital, this is a lovely pub on the inside. Lots of original wooden beams, uneven floors and open fireplace. Large, pretty garden too. Food is American and there are 3 handpumps on the bar. Seriously damaged by fire on Sunday 27th November 2016 and reopened mid March 2018.

We have visited this pub 107 times, seen 105 different beers and tried 58 of them.

Map location

Postcode: TN24 0NY