3rd stop on the outing: Rather than head on to the next watering hole just up from The Spotted Dog, which would have been The Bottle House Inn in Coldharbour Road, also stocking Larkins, time had got the better of our planned itinerary. So now for a pitstop back at the Chafford Arms at Fordcombe, and managed in 35 minutes rather than 50 minutes as in going from it to The Spotted Dog earlier. And wait for it, something very welcome; they were now open for doing cooked food. My first meal of the day, apart from the liquid beer and dry roasted nuts and the sealed chocolate pastry or two I had packed with my maps! An oven baked beef lasagne, chips I had asked for (instead of the advertised crusty bread) and mixed salad was most welcome and took all of 10 minutes to produce. This was suitably washed down with another and final fine ale of the outing. A few others also in the public bar dining and tucking into homemade fisherman's pie by all accounts.

1st stop on the outing: A good two-hour and a bit trot from Ashurst railway station, on the Uckfield line, got my real ale enthusiast and I to this drinking hole at Fordcombe, a small village between Penshurst and Groombridge, and about 4 miles from Royal Tunbridge Wells. A warm welcome and prompt service but the kitchen had only just closed as there were others tucking into their grub before our very eyes. It shuts at 2pm on a Saturday before reopening at 6pm for the evening trade. I had to make do with a bag of dry roasted nuts. The real ale however did make up for there being no proper food as not even a sandwich could be had as I asked about that possibility. According to The Chafford Arms' own website, it was built in 1851 by the Victorian architect, George Devey, who was also involved with parts of Penshurst Place and Swaylands, a large mansion which can be seen from the pub garden. The public bar where you can bring your four-legged friends into is somewhat small with about just three normal height tables, and one small coffee table with very low-level chairs around it. So, perhaps best to book if with your four-legged friend as the main dining-room is not dog-friendly. Their website does not advise of food serving times but simply to call them. They are also shut on Sunday night and all day Monday. Not overly busy for our just after 2pm visit apart from a couple still eating in the small public bar, a customer sitting at the bar and two others in the very expansive garden.

Pub 2 on the Larkin's tour. What great views from the lovely garden. Lovely old brick pub.