Queens Arms (Free House)
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Visits Details
03 May 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
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.
Larkins - Traditional | 3.40 |  | This Chiddinstone-based session bitter was poured admirably by a young lady on her first shift here by all accounts and presented with a very good head and the lacing lasted well on the side of the glass. She even voluntarily topped it up after letting it settle for a moment and so she has learnt her craft well. A dry hoppy first hit. A moreishly bitter dryness rising up in the mouthfeel and lingering. |
30 Aug 2024 (Andrew)
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.
Larkins - Traditional | 3.40 |  | Nice traditional. |
Titsey - Leveson Buck | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
13 Mar 2016 (Alenomore)
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.
Larkins - Traditional | 3.40 | Not Tried | Selling well. The 'safe' choice for the locals, male and female alike! |
Larkins - Chiddingstone | 4.00 | Not Tried | Two of these Locales were on and seemed to be selling well. |
20 Apr 2015 (Alenomore)
Very sad to hear that Elsie Maynard, long term licenscee of this great pub, passed away peacefully on 20th April.
21 Feb 2015 (thebrewingman)
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.
Larkins - Traditional | 3.40 |  | |
Larkins - Porter | 5.20 |  | |
Larkins - Green Hop Best | 4.00 |  | Seemed to be more hoppy after all this time in a cask. |
Larkins - Pale | 4.20 |  | A new beer, I'm not sure I have the ABV right. |
09 Feb 2015 (ChrisE)
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.
Larkins - Traditional | 3.40 |  | |
12 Dec 2014 (HSB)
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.
Larkins - Porter | 5.20 |  | |
09 Aug 2014 (ChrisE)
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.
Larkins - Traditional | 3.40 |  | A good tasty traditional pint. |
27 Jul 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
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.
27 Dec 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
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.
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