Saturday, 8 February 2025

Jennings to brew again!

After the last week’s bad news, regarding the insolvency of By the Horns brewery, there’s more than a glimmer of good news on a different front concerning the re-opening of a recently closed brewery. It’s a story that appears to have come out of nowhere and concerns the re-opening of the former Jenning’s Brewery at Cockermouth, Cumbria, in the heart of the English Lake District. Jennings was a much-loved independent brewery, that slowly lost its freedom and its identity after a series of takeovers and mergers, so let’s first take a look at what happened in the run up to the closure of the brewery. Mick Knapton, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>

Jennings Brewery was founded by John Jennings Sr. in 1828, in the Cumbrian village of Lorton. His son was also involved in running the brewery and the concern was later passed on to his three grandsons after the death of Jennings Sr. The business prospered and grew in size, eventually outgrowing the Lorton brewery. With an eye to the future, Jennings moved to nearby Cockermouth in 1874, where there was more room for expansion. The brewery remains there today, at the foot of Cockermouth Castle, surrounded by the Rivers Derwent and Cocker.

In 1887, the brewery went from being a family-owned business to a public limited company, which enthusiastic locals were happy to buy shares in. This ensured that when the last member of the Jennings family died, the company kept its local identity; a situation that lasted for the next 100 years. Jennings won multiple awards across the years, with beers such as, Cumberland, Sneck Lifter plus Cocker Hoop, and in 1999 the latter brew received the ultimate accolade of Champion Beer of Britain Bitter at CAMRA’s Great British Beer festival.

Jennings brewed successfully as an independent company until 2005 when the brewery and its pubs were purchased by Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries Ltd. In 2007, W&D changed their name to Marston's, after acquiring the Burton-based company because the Marston’s name was much better known.  In 2009, Cockermouth suffered serious flooding which badly affected the brewery as well. The floods had an enormous impact on the business, forcing Marston’s to implement flood safety features and barricades throughout the site. Further changes came for Jennings in 2020, when it became part of the Carlsberg group, following the merger of Carlsberg and Marston’s. This was closely followed by the Covid pandemic, which sounded the death knell for brewing at Cockermouth. The brewery closed its doors for the last time in November 2022, bringing to an end 194 years of brewing in the town. And there the Jennings’s story might well have ended, were it not for a recent development.

Enter two local business owners, Kurt Canfield (CEO of specialist engineering business Delkia) and Rebecca Canfield (Proprietor of wine and spirits company Wine and the Wood). The pair acquired the brewery for an undisclosed sum, at the start of February, and will take ownership of the brewery site, with the intention to resume brewing Jennings beer once again, at Cockermouth. The deal involves the transfer of all rights to the Jennings trademarks, intellectual property and recipes. Bottled beer, bearing the Jennings brand, will continue to be brewed by Carlsberg Britvic until March 2025, following which beer production will transfer to Jennings Brewery Limited.

Rebecca Canfield, explained that she had long cherished the Jennings Brewery site, adding that preserving the heritage of the brewery and the maltings, was of utmost importance to her and her partner. With almost 200 years of brewing history at Cockermouth, the one element that really attracted the couple to the project, was the fact it has its own well. Ms Canfield stated that the pure, Lakeland water drawn direct from the castle well, was integral to the brewing of Jennings beer, and acted as the “secret ingredient” which gives the beer its “distinctive Cumberland flavour.” 

Kurt Canfield stated that the project the pair had embarked on, was an ambitious endeavour which will benefit the entire community. He added that there are plans to enhance the site while respecting the history and the heritage of both the brewery and the maltings. Unsurprisingly, given the time that both buildings have stood idle, certain critical repairs are necessary, and there is much to do to restore the Cockermouth brewery to its former glory. But with a small, but passionate team around them, focussed on bringing that heritage back to life, the Canfields remain confident of bringing back the great beers that Jennings was once known for.

The new company, set up by the pair, is set to create seven new jobs in the Cockermouth area, covering Head Brewer, the brewing team, plus the sales and marketing departments. Chris France, the founder of specialty beer retailer Beer Hawk, is joining as managing director of the new, Jennings Brewery Limited. David Bodily, head of properties and facilities at Carlsberg Britvic, said the Danish brewing giant was pleased to have closed the sale of the business to two new local owners, who are looking to preserve the brewery’s heritage. He finished by saying, “The brewery occupies a unique location in Cockermouth, and we wish Kurt and Rebecca every success for the future."

In the meantime, I’m sure there are lots of details still to be sorted. For a start, is the brewing equipment still in place, as normally, following a closure, the “wreckers” will be sent in, to strip out everything of value. Reading between the lines, we must assume that essential parts of the plant are still intact – mash tuns, coppers, fermenting vessels etc, plus ancillary items such as refrigeration and cooling equipment.

We must also assume that the new owners have done their homework, diligently and methodically, otherwise they might have bought the proverbial, “pig in a poke.” Assuming then, that everything is as it should be, and that brewing can recommence at Jennings, we must wish the new owners, every success with their new venture, and look forward to enjoying Jennings Lakeland Ales, on future visits to the Lake District.

Final note, much of the information regarding this most welcome of developments, came from an article that appeared on the Food Manufacture website, which you can read here. Also, there are few photos to illustrate this post, primarily because I have none of my own. My last visit to the Lake District was over 40 years ago, so there are certainly no electronic photographs taken by me. The ones that I did manage to find, are library ones, reproduced under a “Creative Commons” licence.

 

 

Thursday, 6 February 2025

Letting go of the horns

The beer world woke up to some sad news earlier this week, with the announcement that By the Horns, one of London’s original craft beer names, has entered liquidation. The company, founded in 2011 by Alex Bull and Chris Mills, started with a five-and-a-half-barrel kit in Summerstown, south London, before moving production out in 2021, to a new site at Salfords, in Surrey. With the potential to produce 12,000hl a year, the company was confident about its trading future.

Unfortunately, circumstances over the last year led to its demise, as joint founder Alex Bull explained. “During Covid we were okay, we did a lot of online business and when the leases were up at our old site, we saw the opportunity to build a production unit, and it was all working. Then 2023 hit and so did a lot of turmoil. We decide to take the lease next door in a calculated gamble to push volume up and we had good sales, but then every kind of cost soared and pinned us back because we couldn’t pass it all on to our customers.”

The collapse of two companies that BtH worked with didn’t help, as between them Flavourly and Bier Nuts, owed £50k. Readers will probably remember Flavourly, a company that did well out of lockdown, before collapsing into insolvency. A further problem arose when Sainsbury’s removed BtH from their shelves, despite being a top 10 seller. According to Alex, this was because another large beer company wanted to double their shelf space with Sainsbury’s. Volumes dropped to 6,000hl and following a rent review on the second unit, cost increased by a further 30%.

An additional hit came the following year following delays by a major supermarket buying teams in deciding which BtH beers they wanted to stock. The final straw was the collapse of Union, a company which the BtH contract brewed for, adding a further £50k of debt, so last November the company in specialist to advise on options. By the Horns ceased trading on 22nd January and entered liquidation on 3rd February. I learned the news through the West Kent CAMRA Beer Chat, Whats App group, as one member works for a local Hop Factoring company, which supplied hops to the brewery. I found the demise of BtH particularly sad, because I had not only visited the brewery a couple of times, but also because I rather liked their beers.

In May 2017, I joined a group of West Kent CAMRA members on a tour of south London, with the purpose of presenting certificates to a number of breweries that had received an award at the previous year’s Spa Valley Railway Beer Festival. By the Horns was one of these, so we called in at the company’s original brewery, which was located on an industrial park, somewhere between Earlsfield and Tooting.  After its foundation in 2011, the brewery had expanded into adjoining units on either side of the original, which allowed room for a tap-bar, plus a bottle shop. The expansion also created space for a function room, plus additional storage facilities

By The Horns seemed very much a part of the local community, and several of the beers had a London-themed name. These included Diamond Geezer, Lambeth Walk, 2 Tone London Lager and Wolfie Smith, the latter being a reference to the 70’s sitcom, "Citizen Smith,” starring Robert Lindsay. The brewery tap was ticking over nicely when we arrived that afternoon, and after a welcoming beer or two, we were conducted on a tour around the brewery tour. This was followed by the presentation of the certificate. I wrote at the time, that I wasn’t overly interested in the technical data, such as brewing capacity etc. so after the tour, I remained outside enjoying the fresh air, the sunshine, and the excellent beer.  

Six years later, in March 2023, a slightly smaller group of us visited By The Horns Brewery for a second presentation, although by this time the company had moved out of London and were now based in the Surrey village of Salfords, a place not to be confused with the with the similarly named city in Greater Manchester. We travelled across to Redhill by train, from Tonbridge, before changing platforms and switching onto a Gatwick-bound, Thameslink service. It was then a short 5-minute walk from Salfords station to the brewery, which was housed in a new industrial unit, on an industrial estate to the west of the main London-Brighton rail line.

The move out to Surrey took place in 2021 and was a direct resulted of increased demand for BtH beers. The company commissioned a new production brewing facility, which included an enlarged, and significantly upgraded brewhouse. The company claimed the new site allowed them to brew all their beers in the most consistent way possible. The BtH brand also underwent a refresh, which gave it a much more contemporary feel.

Somewhat ominously, I wrote at the time, “Where is all this beer going?”  BtH have a serious piece of bright and shiny, stainless steel brewing kit, churning out umpteen varieties of different beers, all packed in gaudy-looking can, by the caseload, more to the point where is it being sold? Export perhaps, because beers from By the Horns have been conspicuous by their absence in local supermarkets and off-licenses, and right up to the point of the company’s collapse, I still hadn't seen any of their cans on sale locally.

Reading between the lines, BtH went for growth (they had to find some way to fill that large mash tun, and that forest of conical fermenters). I’m no business expert, but I imagine that chasing after the contract brewing market, is precarious and fraught with pitfalls. It seems that BtH also fell foul of the fickleness of supermarket buyers, with almost predictable results. So, farewell By the Horns, your beers will be missed by this drinker, even though they were rarely seen just 35 miles away from the brewery!

 

Tuesday, 4 February 2025

Punch & Judy - that's the way to do it!

Last Friday afternoon I called in at the Punch & Judy in Tonbridge. Keen readers might remember this was the pub I mentioned briefly whilst writing a post about the Nelson Arms. I’d bumped into an old friend in the pub, who was enthusing about the quality of the Harvey’s at the Punch. The reason for the top-notch beer is because the landlady of the PJ has taken the bold, but quite sensible decision to slim down the range of draught beer in her pub.

Actually, a cull would be the most appropriate word, because if you want a pint of draught at the Punch, you are limited to just two beers - one cask ale, plus one keg. There are no surprises for guessing that the cask is Harvey’s Sussex Best, but more controversially the keg is Foster’s lager. Ignoring the latter, because that’s the best thing to do with Aussie fizz, her strategy of just two draught beers, means they turn over in just a few days, rather than sitting for days in cask, keg or the beer lines.

A quick turnover not only means fresh beer, but also beer that is a pleasure to drink, and the strategy is obviously working as, according to my friend Eric, the Punch is selling one of the best pints of Harvey’s in town. Determined to check this out for myself, I nipped along to the Punch & Judy, and this is what I found. Friday’s reconnaissance trip was my first visit to the pub in several years, or possibly even longer, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. There was a small crowd of blokes hanging around the bar, plus a handful of drinkers sat in the middle section of the pub.

Ignoring the suspicious looks from one or two of the customers (the pub is opposite the rear of Tonbridge Police Station, I ordered myself a pint of Harvey’s Sussex, and after paying for it, took my glass along to the far end of the pub, where there is a raised section tucked out of the way. I’ve never been quite sure about the origins of this part of the Punch because it almost seems like a separate building. It is single storey, with a series of stained-glass windows that let in the light. I have a feeling that this area was possibly the club room, but whatever its origins, I have always regarded it as the nicest part of the pub.

Back to the Sussex Best, it was keenly priced at £4.70 a pint, which is cheaper than you would pay in most Harvey’s tied pubs. The beer in my glass, was excellent, well-kept, tasty and most appealing. I was debating whether to award a score of 5.0 on Untappd, but in the end settled for a 4.75. Continuing with the superlatives, the beer was full-bodied and multi-layered, with sufficient hops to balance out the malt. It was definitely one of the best pints of Harvey’s I’ve enjoyed in a long time. Eric was obviously right, and I shall tell him so, next time I see him. I only had time for the one pint, because Mrs PBTS was expecting me home for tea, but I shall definitely return.

Towards the end of my stay at the Punch, there was a subtle shift in the type of customer, and it altered from single, slightly leary builder types, to couples and others who seemed like professional people, who had just finished work, and had popped in for a relaxing pint on their way home. It’s worth recording that I've known the Punch & Judy on and off for many years, but when I first moved to Tonbridge it was called the Gardener’s Arms. 
In those days, it was a small and compact backstreet local, with two bars. Somewhere along the line the interior was opened up, a move which, to my mind, destroyed much of the pub’s character. To be fair, the place has mellowed a lot since then. The accompanying enlargement of the drinking areas, led to a change of name, although initially the pub had a different name prior to becoming the Punch & Judy. I’m struggling to recall what that interim name was, so if any Tonbridge readers are able to enlighten me, it would be much appreciated.

That’s it in a nutshell really, as apart from the Punch being a thriving community local, offering regular live music, as well as excellent beer, there isn’t much else to say. No food is available, probably because there isn’t much call, but dogs appear welcome, and the Punch has its own pooch to keep an eye on things. However, given its proximity to Tonbridge nick, there shouldn’t be much call for a fierce dog to see off any ne’er-do-wells.

Sunday, 2 February 2025

Westerham re-visted - Part Two

 

After a brief, but pleasant journey over from Sevenoaks rail station, the Go Coach No.1 bus service dropped me in the centre of Westerham, opposite the town green and its imposing statue of Winston Churchill.  Churchill of course was probably the town’s best-known former resident, and this impressive sculpture of Winston, first revealed to the public in 1969, depicts Churchill in a rather thoughtful pose, with the absence of his trademark cigar. Rather than standing, Britain’s wartime PM is sitting (almost reclining), on a large block of white marble, that was donated by Marshall Tito and the people of Yugoslavia – no doubt in thanks for assistance rendered by Britain, to their country, during WWII.

I originally only planned on visiting two of Westerham’s three town centre pubs, but seeing as the bus stop was just a few steps away from the King’s Arms, it seemed rude not to call in and see what the place was like. It had been more than a few years since I last set foot inside this imposing looking pub, as on a previous visit, with a group of friends, following a walk over from nearby Crookham Hil, we’d only had time to call in at the George & Dragon plus the nearby Grasshopper on the Green.

I’m pleased to report that despite my initial reservations, I found the King’s Arms to be a pleasant and stylish hotel bar, which forms part of a large, Georgian coaching inn. It is part of the Old English Inns group and has been welcoming guests since 1700. Its 17 bedrooms are handy for those wishing to spend a few days in the area, in order to visit the some of the nearby local attractions such as Chartwell, Emmetts Gardens and Quebec House. There is a courtyard terrace at the rear, which provides a peaceful environment away from the often-busy High Street, although not really appropriate in January.

Not surprisingly, the King’s Arms has a real hotel feel to it, with reception desk, plus restaurant to right of a central lobby, plus a large bar area to the left. With Greene King IPA and Abbot on tap – nice pint of Abbot btw, I soon felt at home. The food offering looked good, but as I wrote about this in the previous post, I shan’t repeat myself here. I took my pint to rear of the room, which overlooks the garden, but following my mantra of never sitting with one’s back to the action, I manoeuvred myself up on to the raised bench, designed to complement the high “posing tables.” 

From there I had a fine view of the bar. Siting parallel to me, but a couple of tables to my left, were two middle-aged women, who were definitely “ladies that lunch.” I wasn’t ear-wigging but given their loud voices, I couldn’t help hearing their conversation. This seemed to centre around breast enlargements (boob jobs), and which of their circle/close family relations had them, and which didn’t. I presume they were talking about the female members of their confidants, but who knows! I couldn’t decipher either whether they personally were in favour of them or not, but perhaps large breasts are a bit of a thing in Westerham, as there’s certainly plenty of money floating around the local area.

Time to move on, and to something rather more sedate, and less intrusive than boob jobs, I upped sticks and headed for the George & Dragon. Located just across the road, and overlooking Market Square at the town end of the green, the G&D is another pub with plenty of history. Like its counterpart across the road, the pub has a lengthy frontage, and an equally impressive heritage. Painted in a much lighter shade of grey than the King's Arms, the G&D dates from the 16th century, but in early 2021 underwent a long period of refurbishment, before re-opening in July 2022. It is operated under the Bel & the Dragon brand, a small upmarket pub chain purchased by Fuller’s a few years previously.

I can’t really remember what it was like previously, but the pub has a long and stretched out, interior with a raised section in the centre, which is where the bar counter is situated. There are several smaller rooms and drinking areas leading off from either side of the bar, and it was to one of these secluded areas that I retired to, once I had bought my drink. London Pride, Oliver’s Island plus a guest ale from the local Westerham Brewery, in the form of 500 Miles. Billed as a Sassenach Heavy, and also as an obvious tribute to the Proclaimers, this darkish beer is brewed as a Scottish Heavy, with touches of roasted malt for both colour and body. 

The pub interior is referred to as being in a colonial style, possibly a reference to the white paint that coats much of the walls and ceilings, as well as the oak beams supporting the ceiling.  There is a conservatory restaurant, plus an attractive terraced area at the rear, and like its neighbour opposite, the G&D has a total of 13 rooms to let. Special mention ought to be made of the Gentleman’s facilities, with the orange-themed décor, garish wallpaper, and obligatory, posh hand-wash – fragrance unknown, but not unpleasant.

It’s now time to move on to the third pub, which is just a short hop away, from the G&D. Enjoying an enviable position, the Grasshopper on the Green is another inn with coaching connections, although unlike the town’s other pubs, accommodation is not available. The Grasshopper is considerably smaller than the other two as well, although somewhat unusually in this day and age, it contains three separate bars. 

Upon entering, I opted for the bar at the front of the pub, and to the right. There seemed to be an identical bar to the left, plus a much larger one at the rear, running across the entire width of the building. Judging by the conversation and banter coming from that area, the bulk of the pub’s customers seemed to be in that bar. I didn’t go exploring the other two bars, as there was no need, although a visit to the Gents may have been advisable before boarding the bus back to Sevenoaks.

According to the write-up on What Pub, the three bars cater for a variety of clientele with the rear room housing a log fire and the Wolfe Bar catering for customers seeking live sports TV coverage. The latter must have been the one to the left, as fortunately there was no televised sport spoiling my visit. Outdoor table seating is available for “people-watching” on the green or those desperate for a nicotine fix, whilst for those seeking solitude, the peaceful garden, at the rear provides a welcome escape away from the tourists who flock to Westerham. Late January was far too cold to be sitting outside, and I was more than happy to sat in the warmth of the cosy bar at the front. A comprehensive menu includes breakfast and light bites, and the first-floor restaurant provides additional dining space, but given the limited time-frame between bus departures, I was only there for the beer – and it wasn’t Double Diamond! 

Instead, it was a choice of the ubiquitous Harvey’s Sussex Best, or Gresham Hopper, a light and refreshing 3.4% pale ale, from the rather unfortunately named, Titsey Brewery. “Titter ye not”, as the late Frankie Howard would have said, but for those who think I am continuing with the “bosoms” theme, the brewery is named after the nearby Titsey Place, which is one of the largest surviving historic estates in Surrey. The Titsey Estate Company, now own the brewery, which was originally founded as a one-man band microbrewery in 2017 by Craig Vroom. Gresham Hopper was a nice drop of ale, and I remember, back in the summer, enjoying another Titsey beer – Leveson Buck. In common with Westerham, Titsey Brewery,  have their own taproom which, in their case, is located at the highest point of the North Downs Way, with arguably some of the best views in Surrey.

As mentioned earlier, I had a bus to catch, and it was one I didn’t want to miss, as that would mean a two hour wait until the next one. In common with most of the other local bus companies, Go Coach vehicles are engaged on the busy school run, between 3 & 5 pm, ferrying hordes of lively school kids, back from their place of learning, to points closer to home. My bus arrived on time, and dropped me off opposite Sevenoaks station, where fortunately the toilets were open, rather than locked. These points are important, once one reaches a certain age. Westerham, is well worth exploring further, and come the summer, I intend combining a bus trip, with a walk across the fields, in order to take in a visit to Westerham Brewery.

 

Thursday, 30 January 2025

Westerham, revisited - Part One

Westerham is an attractive town in the Sevenoaks District of Kent and is located 3.5 miles east of Oxted and 6 miles west of Sevenoaks. It borders both Greater London and Surrey and has roots dating back to before the Norman conquest. In 1227 Henry III granted Westerham a market charter, making the settlement a major player in the buying and selling of cattle in Kent; a tradition that survived to 1961 when the last cattle market was held.

Westerham’s two most famous former residents were, General James Wolfe, and Sir Winston Churchill. Wolfe was a British Army major general, remembered chiefly for his victory in 1759, over the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec. An engagement which ended French domination over much of Canada and handed control of the province to the British. Unfortunately, the battle for Quebec, cost the lives of both Wolfe, plus the commander of the French garrison, the Marquis de Montcalm.

Sir Winston Churchill needs little in the way of introduction and is best remembered for his leadership in guiding Britain and its allies to victory over Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Churchill made his home at Chartwell, just outside Westerham, and apart from the war years, spent 40 years of his life living, and also improving this attractive, country house. Although I have walked through the grounds, at the rear of the property, I have never visited the house itself. It’s one of those situations where you never fully appreciate that which is literally on your own doorstep. One day, though!

Westerham was also home to the Black Eagle Brewery, which stood on the western edge of the town. Known as Bushell, Watkins & Smith, the company controlled 102 pubs, centred mainly on the Kent-Surrey border. It was taken over by London brewers Taylor Walker & Co in 1948, before becoming part of Ind Coope in 1959. Brewing ceased in 1965, and the site continued as a distribution depot. The brewery buildings were demolished in 1989, although the Brewer’s House remains. Yeast from the brewery was preserved at the National Collection of Yeast Cultures and is now used by the present day Westerham Brewery, which was established in 2004.

I first became aware of Westerham, after stopping off at a pub there, in the summer of 1974. I was with my father, and we were on our way back from Southampton, after dropping my sister and her friend off at the  airport. The pair were embarking on a girly holiday in the Channel Isles – possibly Jersey, although after 50 years, I can’t remember which island the girls were staying at. Our route back from Southampton, took us along the A25 from Guildford, and although not a drinker, dad fancied stopping off somewhere, for a drop of refreshment, on the way back.

I had with me, a copy of the first CAMRA Good Beer Guide, which was hot off the press that year, and dad asked me to choose a pub, near to, or preferably on our route. The General Wolfe in Westerham, seemed the obvious candidate, as this pleasant little, white-painted weatherboard pub, was right on the busy A25, a road which, back in days before the construction of M25, formed the main east-west route, to the south of London. The pub also acted as the brewery tap, for the adjoining Westerham Brewery.  After parking the car, dad and I sat in the quiet, wood-panelled front bar of the General Wolfe. I had a pint of Ind Coope Bitter which, even then, was quite rare in cask form, whilst my father had an orange juice.

In the intervening years, I made the odd visit to the General Wolfe, initially as a destination pub on cycle rides out from south London, but later as a stop off. during walks in the nearby Surrey Hills. By that time, the pub had passed to Greene King, when Ind Coope’s successors, Allied Brewers, sold off parts of their less profitable tied estate. I always had a soft spot for the place, probably because it brought back memories of enjoying that pint, with my father. In 2017 the General Wolfe sadly closed, joining another former Westerham Brewery pub, the Old House at Home, that ceased trading in 2000.

The Old House at Home, was situated on a bend, at the bottom of a hill leading into the town, as you approach from the east along the A25. I imagine financial reasons were responsible for the closure of both these pubs, highlighting the unfortunate, but continuing decline of the licensed trade. I have vague memories of enjoying a pint or two at the pub when, mainly as a result of CAMRA outings to the town, I became acquainted with some of Westerham’s other pubs.

The Friday before last, I took a bus trip over to Westerham, using the No. 1 Go Coach service, which runs daily between the town and Sevenoaks, on an hourly basis. The journey takes just under 30 minutes, and runs via Riverhead, Bessel’s Green, Sundridge and Brasted. Before reaching Westerham, the bus turns off the A25, and does a loop via the A233, into the northern part of the town. 

On the way, it passes the entrance to the present day Westerham Brewery, which revived brewing in the town, back in 2004. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a bus stop in the vicinity, which is a shame, as the newish venture features a well-stocked, brewery tap. I still haven’t visited the premises but had been banking on reaching it using public transport, rather than getting behind the wheel and driving there.

Returning to Westerham itself, I visited all three of the remaining pubs in the town centre and seeing as there’s still quite a lot to write about, I’m going to bring this post to a close, and tell you about a trio of excellent pubs, all with plenty to say, in a subsequent article.