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.

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.

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.

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.

Evening sortie - we sat in the garden and enjoyed the relative quiet and cooler air than Canterbury had to offer today.

Good selection of ales on, quiet in the bar but a cozy log fire on a bright-but-cold day.

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.

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.

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.

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.