A real gem of a pub as it was like walking into a time capsule from a good century and more ago. Full of old memorabilia and an upright piano complete with the music sheet for "Boiled Beef and Carrots" suitably propped up upon it. Run by the Maynard family since 1913, it was most notably operated by family member and local legend, Elsie, from 1973 until her retirement in 2014. Thankfully, it serves one cask ale, alongside KeyKeg, and from the local Chiddingstone farm/brewery, Larkins. A flat woodland walk along a footpath just set off the road for most of the route from the last pub, The Kentish Horse, and it only took about 20 minutes. Apparently, the young lady serving was doing her first shift here and so slightly shy but did an admirable job in pulling up the Larkins' Traditonal bitter. We arrived early evening before it really started to fill up. We allowed an hour for the walk back to not so nearby Cowden Station, and when only 40 minutes would have sufficed but we kept up a good pace as the trains are only hourly on a Saturday.

Pub 9 in the Larkin's tour. Lovely old school pub in the Doris' vein. Chris Excel like this pub and I can see why.

A return after nearly 4 years. Being run by a local figure these days, since Elsie's passing in 2015. This, the only lunchtime session, saw the rear car park fill up rapidly from 1pm and was very busy with the locals, dog walkers, hikers ect, plus ourselves, having cycled down from Edenbridge.

Very sad to hear that Elsie Maynard, long term licenscee of this great pub, passed away peacefully on 20th April.

The first stop on a West Kent CAMRA mini tour to present the Certificates for the Beer and Cider of the Spa Valley Railway Beer and Cider Festival 2014. Larkins Green Hop Best was voted best Beer and Oakwood Farm Organic cider won best Cider. They opened specially for the presentations and both Larkins and Oakwood Farm were there to receive their Certificates.

Early evening, there was already a fair crowd in when we arrived at about 5.30pm, we stayed for a couple of hours enjoying some good company and good beer.

17:15 My first visit under the new ownership. As previously reported nothing has changed. The right hand bar was busy and a cheese board was placed on the bar along with a tin for donations. I think this pub may now qualify for the most unspoilt in England following closures and alterations affecting some of the other contenders.

Saturday evening and my first visit here under Jonathan's stewardship. I was extremely pleased to see that nothing has changed (apart from the beer), the sign outside saying "Lager Not Sold Here" is still there, the crisps are still kept in 1950s crisp tins, and the cash is still kept in little pots behind the bar. Jonathan told me that he had been to see Elsie earlier that day and that she is well and happy in her new surroundings.

CAMRA has advised that a local (in walking distance) gentleman will be taking over the pub shortly and will keep the ground floor as is but may renovate the living accommodation upstairs to provide extra income. He intends selling the local Larkins ale instead of the Adnams of the recent past.

Bad news update : this wonderful unspoilt pub may close at the end of January as the landlady is now in a care home: until then it will be run by a band of locals who have been opening and running it for nearly 5 years. The decision to cease running the pub is believed to be that of the volunteers and not due to pressure from owners Admiral Taverns. If additional help from local people was forthcoming this situation may change. More news as it emerges best obtained by clicking on the website link on this page.