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Bowl Inn (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's AleExcellent1
Angels & Demons (now uses McCanns branding not its own) - Bombay SocialExcellent1
Tonbridge - Blonde AmbitionExcellent1
Musket - Flintlock Best BitterGood1
Wantsum - Red RaddleGood1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Cattle Shed Cream AleGood1
Romney Marsh - Amber AleGood1
Tonbridge - American PaleGood1
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - MysticGood1
Long Man - Best BitterAcceptable1
McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Harry HopAcceptable3
Whitstable - Cockle WarmerAcceptable1
Bexley - Golden AcrePoor1
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - King AlePoor1
Hopdaemon - IncubusNot Tried0
Kent - CobnutNot Tried0
Tonbridge - Golden RuleNot Tried0
Northdown - Papworth Victory Best BitterNot Tried0
Hopdaemon - RedNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper TopNot Tried0
Tonbridge - TraditionalNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue TopNot Tried0
Wantsum - ImperiumNot Tried0
Picture 1. Bowl Inn, Charing, Kent
Picture 2. Bowl Inn, Charing, Kent

Visits Details

07 May 2023 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon visit after a rather disappointing trip to West Kent, where post-coronation madness was swamping all attempts at a pleasant day. Quiet here, just a few drinkers at the bar and outside and fewer customers in the new restaurant area. This pub still tries - but the days of the excellent, long-standing landlord and landlady are sadly now just history.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Long Man - Best Bitter4.00AcceptableSomething rather ordinary about this. I was disappointed.
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - King Ale3.90PoorA clear bright pint, one-off brew for the coronation of Charles III presumably. But this tasted a little sour and was not all pleasant to drink.
Wantsum - Imperium4.00Not Tried
29 Aug 2022 (Andrew)
We had to go to Ashford to pick something up and had toyed with the idea of dropping in on Doris' in Snargate (but it's shut Mondays), and then the Deering Arms. The Deering opens at 11:30, but not today (a bank holiday) it seems, as we sat outside for a bit and it didn't open. So, on the way back home, we stopped off at the Bowl Inn. It opened at 12, more or less the time we arrived, and started to fill up from the get go. They seemed to be hosting a dog show out the back at some point in the afternoon, as lots of people with dogs turned up to the field, which was covered in poles with tape running between them. The pub has been done up a lot since I was last here. Friendly staff and a great beer line up.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Canterbury Ales (sometimes badged as Canterbrew) - The Wife of Bath's Ale3.90ExcellentShe poured some off before serving mine (top marks for that) and this was a great pint - if a touch too warm.
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue Top4.80Not Tried
Long Man - Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
29 Nov 2021 (Jack William)
Passing on a Sunday afternoon, so popped in. Since the modifications the eaters are now mostly separated from the drinkers. Hasn’t got the same ambience though since being extended.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Musket - Flintlock Best Bitter4.20Good
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Copper Top4.10Not Tried
Tonbridge - Traditional3.60Not Tried
18 Aug 2021 (Jack William)
Mid afternoon visit on the way home from a dog agility event. Bumped into a couple of old friends who had been at a funeral in the local crematorium. We sat out front on one of the tables that appear to be made from old railway sleepers.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition4.20Excellent
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Mystic3.60Good
Musket - Flintlock Best Bitter4.20Not Tried
08 Aug 2020 (Jack William)
Evening sortie - we sat in the garden and enjoyed the relative quiet and cooler air than Canterbury had to offer today.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Romney Marsh - Amber Ale4.20Good
McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Harry Hop3.70AcceptableRather lifeless and a bit warm
Musket - Flintlock Best Bitter4.20Not Tried
11 Feb 2020 (Jack William)
Good selection of ales on, quiet in the bar but a cozy log fire on a bright-but-cold day.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Cattle Shed Cream Ale4.00GoodYes - it was creamy.
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition4.20Not Tried
Musket - Flintlock Best Bitter4.20Not Tried
26 Aug 2019 (Jack William)
Late afternoon- bank holiday Monday. The extension is open - it has about doubled the size of the pub and there is also a significant patio area with seating, large umbrellas and patio heaters. Additional letting rooms above the extension with verandas with countryside views. The main body of the pub is mainly unaltered and retains its charm. Good refurb. Unfortunately the two beers tried were not in good nick - possibly due to the very warm weather. Shame a bit of refurb money wasn’t spent on a chill room. Big pubs could learn a thing from micros.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Bexley - Golden Acre4.00PoorOnly a taster but it was warm and flat.
McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Harry Hop3.70PoorTasted ok to start with but seemed to deteriorate in the glass - no life and a slight twang. I moved onto a half of Camden Pale on keg to take the the taste away.
Musket - Flintlock Best Bitter4.20Not Tried
Hopdaemon - Red4.20Not Tried
11 Feb 2019 (Jack William)
Late lunchtime - a handful of eaters and drinkers in. The pub is being extended and one wall was plasterboard - that and some unusually loud and inappropriate lunchtime music made the experience rather disappointing- as did the ale. Hopefully just a on-off.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Whitstable - Cockle Warmer4.70AcceptableRather thin and lacking in flavour for a 4.7 ABV.
Musket - Flintlock Best Bitter4.20Not Tried
Tonbridge - Golden Rule3.50Not Tried
Northdown - Papworth Victory Best Bitter4.20Not Tried
05 Jun 2018 (Jack William)
Late lunchtime - bliss. After 2 pub stops without a drink and over 60 miles cycled to get here I was rewarded by a proper pub with more drinkers than eaters, friendly staff and a good selection of ales. I was worried when this pub changed hands a few years ago but the new(ish) owners have maintained the character and ambience. Beer and music festival the first weekend of July.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tonbridge - American Pale5.00Good Very nice if a little sweeet for an APA - getting a hint of honey.
McCanns (used to use Angels and Demons name as well) - Harry Hop3.70Good
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
Kent - Cobnut4.10Not Tried
05 Apr 2018 (Jack William)
Lunchtime, fairly quiet - I had cycled 15 miles, much of it muddy off-road along the Pilgrims Way. Beer was always going to taste good after that.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Angels & Demons (now uses McCanns branding not its own) - Bombay Social3.80ExcellentBeautiful.
Wantsum - Red Raddle5.00GoodA fine ruby ale - but “five hopped” flavour not really prominent. Was served rather cold.
Hopdaemon - Incubus4.00Not Tried
Kent - Cobnut4.10Not Tried

[More Visits]

About the Bowl Inn

The pub sign. Bowl Inn, Charing, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional6
Excellent20
Good24
Acceptable16
Poor4

Website.

The pub is found in Charing, Kent, TN27 0HG.

This pub is off the main road at the top of Charing Hill in Egg Hill Road. Probably a good idea to use the OS grid reference to find it, if you haven't been before. Friendly, busy pub on the junction of several country lanes. Always popular. Holds a regular summer beer festival that has around 30 beers.

We have visited this pub 32 times, seen 129 different beers and tried 62 of them.

Map location

Postcode: TN27 0HG