Rockin' again

My not so new now, employment regime sees me working a three-day week, from Monday through to Wednesday, which leaves me with the relative luxury of a four-day weekend. I had to call in briefly yesterday, despite it being a Thursday, primarily due to my “new” role covering site as well as safety matters. I won’t bore you with the details, but the person who looks after our building work, along with any maintenance that we can’t manage ourselves (mainly electrical stuff), had fixed up an on-site meeting with a specialist contractor, and my presence was required.

Fortunately, it was a brief meeting, and I’m glad I attended as it concerned an issue we had been trying to solve for some time. My presence also afforded the opportunity of checking a newly laid area of concrete, which formed part of another project I am working on. I was there for roughly 45 minutes, and despite deliberately avoiding entering the building, still got caught by the pest-control contractor, no less. Again, this was good as it enabled another issue to be addressed, but by 2.30-ish, I was free to go, and where better than one of the local pubs.

In my previous post, I mentioned the Rock at Chiddingstone Hoath, and it was this isolated pub that I had in mind for a quick pint. I have published quite a few posts about the Rock, and it is sufficient to say it is one of my favourite rural pubs. I have visited the pub a couple of times prior to this most recent one, the first occasion being in November of last year. Strangely enough that was another time when I had to just “pop into work” for something. Larkin’s delectable porter was on sale back then, and very good it was too, but there were worrying signs on the horizon, and rumours of an impending sale.

The pub had effectively switched to opening just three days each week (Friday, Saturday & Sunday), and was closed Monday to Thursday. I knew that the Rock enjoyed a good lunchtime trade, despite its remote location, so in common with my CAMRA colleagues, I was concerned about its long-term future. Fortunately, this situation changed some time in the new year, and a visit back in February confirmed the pub had reverted to being opened all week.

This time though, the rain and cold winds of February had been replaced by warm, sunny, and very pleasant conditions, and as I drove up towards the Rock, the countryside was looking its summer best. I pulled into the car park, pleased that there were plenty of spaces, but a glance down the road showed me why, as the Rock now has its very own over-spill car park, in a field opposite. The pub also has a new hanging sign, reflecting perhaps its new owner. As I walked towards the entrance, I noticed that only was the front door open – a sure sign of summer, but the rear entrance was also open as well, in fact it was possible to see right through the pub, and into the garden behind the building.

I had only sat out in the garden once before, which was a long time ago, and whilst I was aware that much time and effort had been made improving the garden, the timings of previous visits had been such that the warmth of the pub’s fire was far more an attraction than sitting outside in the freezing cold. Thursday was the perfect day though, for a spot of alfresco drinking, and after a brief chat with the friendly lady behind the bar, I took my pint of Larkin’s Pale outside. Larkin’s Traditional was the other choice, but as Pale is quite a rare brew from Larkin’s – ostensibly it is the brewery’s summer seasonal ale, it was the logical choice for me.

There were several couples sat outside, enjoying a meal and a few drinks, and I have to say good use has been made of this outdoor space, with a paved patio area nearest the pub, and a lawn, bordered by various container grown, shrubs, at the far end. I found a seat, in a half- shady part of the garden, where I could enjoy my Larkin’s, check the beer in on Untappd, and then just generally chill-out. It was all very peaceful and relaxed, and apart from the occasional aircraft overhead – Gatwick is very much open go business once more, the only the only other sound was birdsong, and the odd passing car.

The couples slowly left, having finished their lunches, leaving me on my own. It was time for me to depart as well, and I couldn’t help noticing a slight sense of disappointment on the part of the landlady. “Just the one?” she said, as I returned my empty glass to the counter. “Just the one,” I replied, “I’m driving, and have some business to attend to in Tonbridge,” which indeed I had, but I did add that I would be back before too long. I also updated the WhatsApp, Beer Socials Group I belong to, and that information will find its way onto the official West Kent CAMRA group.

So, good news that the Rock is open during the week once more, and good news that it seems to be in capable hands. If you have read this far, you might want to take a look at the pub’s website, where you can read about the Rock’s long history, and also learn a little more about the pub’s new owner.