Bank Holiday Monday - Part Two

The second pub on our August Bank Holiday Monday walk was also a food-oriented establishment.  It is also part of a chain, the Whiting & Hammond group, whose other pubs include the Little Brown Jug in the village where I work, the King’s Head at Bessels Green, near Sevenoaks and, slightly further afield, the Cricketers at Meopham.  I’m not certain as to when W&H first acquired the pub, but it was a well-known and independently owned free house when I last visited.

The pub in question is the intriguingly named Nevill Crest & Gun at Eridge
Green. The building is approximately 500 years old, with a history to match. The Nevill family are said to have arrived with Duke William of Normandy and have lived at nearby Eridge Park ever since. The Nevills are also known as the Earls of Abergavenny – and that, of course is the name of the first pub in nearby Frant, that we visited the same day.

The walk between the two pubs took us through the attractive, and “wild, but managed” grounds of Eridge Park, with its lakes and areas of woodland. Effectively the walk took us from the A267 Tunbridge Wells – Eastbourne road, to the A26 Tunbridge Wells – Lewes highway. It was an area unknown to me, but I quickly warmed to the charm of the landscape.

My only concern was after a long, and steep descent through woodland from Frant, we would have an equally long ascent as we approached Eridge. Fortunately, geography was on our side and the climb back up to the A26 at Eridge was much gentler. The ornamental lakes at the bottom of the valley were particularly attractive and, judging by the families and other groups out walking, I wasn’t the only person who thought so.

Upon reaching, and crossing the busy A26, we located the bus stop, just to the south of the pub, and checked the times, as the No. 29 bus would be our

means of conveyance back to Tunbridge Wells after visiting the pub. It was then just a short 5-minute walk to the Nevill Crest & Gun, but before entering we dutifully waited outside for someone to greet us, thereby complying with the Covid rules.

We were then met and conducted through the pub, to a table in the garden, at the rear of the pub. We had requested a seat outside, but such was the haste that we were led through the pub interior, there was scant time to take in the beer offerings. I noticed a Gun Brewery beer and also one from Canterbury Ales, but not being a fan of the latter, I played safe, when it was time to take our order, and went for Harvey’s once again.

Most customers were sitting outside anyway, but given the Nevill’s extensive garden, the distances between tables was not a problem. Two people from our group opted for something further to eat; the excuse being that the sea bream option on the Abergavenny’s menu hadn’t come with much in the way of accompanying carbohydrates.

Fortunately, my battered cod had come with a decent portion of chunky chips, so I was still quite full. We stayed for a further pint, before heading back to the bus stop and the double deck bus back to Tunbridge Wells. The No. 29 bus runs between Tunbridge Wells and Brighton and is operated by Brighton & Hove Buses and provides a relatively cheap connection between the two towns, as well as intermediate stops at places like Crowborough, Uckfield and Lewes.

We then caught the train back to
Tonbridge and stopped off at the Nelson for a couple more cheeky beers, before going our respective ways back home. It had been a good day out and an enjoyable day out, despite the sole coming away from one of my boots. A hair band provided by my friend’s wife saved the day and both boots have now been repaired.

I would though, like to have seen a little more of the interior of the Nevill Crest & Gun, so perhaps when this Covid nonsense is over, I will.