One Inn The Wood (Free House)
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Michael Croxford
Visits Details
17 Oct 2026 (Hogan Sampling)
Third visit of the outing: Not overly busy on arrival mid-afternoon at this award-winning micropub set up in 2014 and with a completely spare table by the window with a high bench seat and high stools dotted around it. A good few real ales on with 9 listed and with two changing in my hour and a half's visit. Prompt friendly service at the bar if you choose the right moment to queue which I did the second time around after the place started to fill up.
| Beak - Bampa | 4.50 |  | 2nd beer of this visit: Fresh on in replacing the Gadds’ and came with very good head and lasting lacing on this pale ale and murk-monster of a drink which is a proper modern, unfiltered New England-style concoction pouring like a glass of thick, coastal fog. It is from Beak Brewery which laid down its anchors in the year of 2020 in the historic, old-world streets of Lewes, East Sussex, a mere ten-minute stroll from Cliffe High Street, and following a nomadic, gypsy-style caper. A dry bitter first bite. A hoppy bitterness emanating from its mountain of Citra, Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin into the dry-hop stage. The Citra behind its tangerine zest, Mosaic unleashing dark blueberry and tropical passionfruit, and Nelson Sauvin behind its punch of crushed white wine grapes and elderflower. A wave of mango and dank gooseberry in on the act with a low-bitterness, fruit-juice imprint that tap danced on my taste buddies. Its thick porridge emanating from its marriage of Golden Promise, Oats, Wheat, and Chit malts. The Golden Promise lending a crisp, cracker-like and sweet bready biscuit floor, while the oats, wheat, and chit throwing down a massive blanket of heavy proteins. Rather like a dollop of liquid cream, this ensured the brew did not behave like a miserable splash of cold rain. Served with very good conditioning. |
| Verdant - Fresh Hop East Kent Golding from Redsell Hops + Cascade from Heligan 2026 | 4.40 |  | 1st beer of this visit: Good head and lasting lacing on this green hopped ale from Verdant Brewing which first got brewing in the autumn of 2014, setting up shop inside a little shipping container tucked away in a Cornish quarry, and due to local folk going absolutely mad for it by all accounts, by January 2020 moving to a massive, top-tier brewhouse down in Penryn, near Falmouth in Cornwall. A fresh hoppy first hit. A herbal hoppy fruitiness joining in and competing with its fresh floral flavours from its green, un-dried East Kent Goldings lending an essence of lavender-like floral spice and sweet honeyed earthiness. Hints of fresh thyme, candied orange peel and a distinct herbal sweetness. Its freshly plucked, unkilned Cascade variety lending a punchy grapefruit rind sharpness and flowery pine resin, giving rise to a zesty, grapefruit bitterness lingering on my tongue. Its Extra Pale Malt, alongside a scattering of Wheat and Oats, providing a crisp, sweet and lightly doughy cracker flavouring, while the raw oats and wheat throwing down a velvety coat, ensuring the beverage glided over my palate with ease. A touch of oiliness on its grassy and crisp hoppy outflow leaving me remarkably refreshed. Served in very good order with plenty of mouthfeel. This green hop ran out during my visit. |
| Black Iris - The Oracle | 4.00 |  | 3rd beer of this visit: Presented with very good head and lasting lacing on this old-world potion, ditching standard copper foliage for ancient botanical treats and from the Black Iris Brewery which first got their mucking mash-tuns rattling away back in 2011, initially behind the Flowerpot pub in Derby before in 2014 moving the whole kit and caboodle over to New Basford, Nottingham, dropping anchors on the historic, old Shipstone's Brewery site. A nettle-flavoured first hit. A very good dose of fruitiness rising and with a sharpness coming to the fore and where your common hops have been ditched entirely. The brewers instead tossing a proper country basket into the kettle of Scottish Heather Honey behind its floral sweetness, Spruce Tips dropping a citrusy, pine-needle punch, and Juniper Berries bringing a sharp, peppery, gin-palace woodiness to the concoction. Its Malted Barley lending a bready foundation of crusty baked loaves, its Wheat behind a sharp crispness and its Oats throwing down a velvety oatcake mouthfeel. A tart fruited note prevailing with a herbal-sweet finish lingering from its Juniper-like flavours for me. Served in good form but a very unusual taste and one which would take some getting used to I suspect. |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Tonbridge - Blonde Ambition | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Black Iris - Rise & Shine | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - India Pale Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | Ran out. |
| Pig & Porter - Whispering Grass | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Luminary | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Sureshot - Big Kahuna Crunch | 8.00 | Not Tried | |
| Arbor Ales - Stand By You | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
12 Sep 2026 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit. My first under new owners. Friendly, knowledgeable service. There were more seated outside than in but even with few inside could be very noisy when voices raised - needs some noise baffling.
| Tonbridge - Country Best | 4.00 |  | A tasty brew with good bittering |
| Marble - Whiteheads | 4.20 |  | An OK rather smoky tasting dry stout |
| Gan Yam - Alf | 4.10 |  | First time I have encountered this brewery's product. Flat, absolutely no condition making it a chore to finish |
| Tonbridge - Permanent Wood (house beer) | 3.60 | Not Tried | Tonbridge Traditional rebadged |
| RedWillow - Dreaming of El Dorado Pale | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| DEYA - Boost | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| DEYA - Sound Machine Groove | 8.00 | Not Tried | |
| Bristol Beer Factory - No Regrets | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Track - Out of the Blue | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
15 Nov 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
1st visit of the outing: Busy for my mid-afternoon Saturday meet-up with two other real ale enthusiasts. Soon after arrival we were all seated at the one table. They are all high tables along with attendant high stools and benches in this micro. Cannot believe my last visit was as far back as 12th October 2024. Warm welcome and service. Six casks on to choose from and four KeyKeg on the now two blackboards and displayed on the walls facing you as you come in and your left and right.
| Kent - Old Skool | 4.10 |  | 1st ale of this visit: Head and lacing to start with but not lasting on this Kentish best bitter from Birling, north of West Malling. A dry bitter first bite. A dry hoppiness rising from its Kentish Fuggles hops. A fruit-infused hop or two certainly tap dancing on my palate before its slide downwards. |
| Newbarns - Amarillo | 4.50 |  | 3rd ale of this visit: Third-time lucky but also saw it was fresh on as had just replaced the Vocation I had before it. Head and lacing to be seen at last and even lasting on this Scottish blonde ale from Edinburgh. A fruited hoppy first bite. A dry hoppiness aided by its Amarillo and Simcoe hops jumping up. A subtle citrusy note climbing. A dry hoppy fruitiness paddling out. |
| Vocation - Deck The Palms | 4.20 |  | 2nd ale of this visit: No head or lacing at all on this blonde ale, south of Hebden Bridge, and south-west of Halifax. It was taken off shortly after I sat down with a half of it. A dry tropical fruited first bite. A gentle citrus and lime note bobbing up. A dry hoppiness with a hint of stone fruit from hops such as Motueka, Galaxy, Vic Secret and Rakau sliding downwards. Rather flat tasting. |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Permanent Wood (house beer) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Drop Project - Six Fold - Hazy IPA | 5.80 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Pfeffernüsse Stout - Pastry Stout | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
12 Oct 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy Saturday for 1st hour of serving in the day from 12 noon. Warm welcome and service. Of six casks on, one was actually key keg on closer examination of the blackboard, the Floc Tideland, and only two were above £4.50 and then only £5.00.
| Five Points - Derailed Porter | 5.20 |  | Marked up as 5% on blackboard. According to Five Points, it ranges from 5.2-5.5% ABV. Very reasonably priced and for London at £4.00 a pint. Good head and lacing. Chocolatey first hit and a pleasantly dry, bitter, moreish mouthfeel. |
| Anspach & Hobday - The Ordinary Bitter (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | Marked up as 3.7% on blackboard |
| Pig & Porter - Whispering Grass | 5.50 | Not Tried | IPA |
| Verdant - Fresh Hop #1. East Kent Golding from Redsell Hops | 4.40 | Not Tried | Green Hop Pale |
| Floc. - Tideland | 6.50 | Not Tried | Described as key keg if you study the blackboard carefully and only £5.00 a pint for that strength. |
| Drop Project - Crush - hazy session pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
27 Jul 2019 (ChrisE)
Late Saturday evening and very busy, this was my first visit here and it was worth the effort. Camra discount was given automatically as the guv assumed correctly that I am a member.
| Tonbridge - Permanent Wood (house beer) | 3.60 |  | Confirmed as being Tonbridge Traditional, and excellent session beer. |
| Revolutions - Swoon | 4.50 |  | Sweeter than I expected but a most enjoyable milk stout. |
| Kent - Session Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Musket - Flintlock Best Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Anspach & Hobday - The IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
03 Aug 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until however close is defined here. Advertised closing time was 11pm but no one was served after about 10.40 and 11pm, in fact, related to when the venue had to be vacated.
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 |  | |
| Heritage (formerly William Worthington Brewery, now brewed at Burton Bridge) - Charrington Oatmeal Stout | 4.00 |  | |
| Tiny Rebel - XLPA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Permanent Wood (house beer) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Tyne Bank - EPA | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Pig & Porter - Hope Runs Wild | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
08 Sep 2016 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 9.30pm close. Not prompted for the CAMRA discount which is annoying.
| Kent - Black Mirror | 4.50 |  | |
| Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Gold Top | 4.30 |  | Zingy mouthfeel but head and condition disappeared almost immediately and it was quite flat once a third of the way down the glass |
| Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%) | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Frome (formerly Milk Street) - RA (was 4.3%) | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Permanent Wood (house beer) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
19 May 2015 (oz11)
Lunchtime.
| Pig & Porter - Brown Sauce | 4.00 |  | |
| Dartford Wobbler (re-named from Millis) - Peddler's Best | 4.00 |  | |
| Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Black Pearl Oyster Stout | 6.20 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Permanent Wood (house beer) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
21 Apr 2015 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. Packed with a 50th birthday celebration for a Duncan. Suggested the CAMRA discount poster was more prominently sited as I missed out on it for one.
| Tonbridge - Permanent Wood (house beer) | 3.60 |  | |
| Tonbridge - Alsace Gold | 4.00 |  | |
| Tonbridge - Ebony Moon | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
31 Mar 2015 (oz11)
Lunchtime. Newly crowned as Bromley CAMRA's POTY 2015. Barry justly chuffed!
| Goacher's - Real Mild Ale | 3.40 |  | |
| Cottage - Texas Brown Ale | 4.70 |  | |
| Westerham - 1965 Special Bitter Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Westerham - Spirit of Kent XXX Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Tonbridge - Permanent Wood (house beer) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
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