Contemplating a recently deceased Beer Blogger, in the tranquility of the Wheatsheaf, Bough Beech

During the run-up to Christmas, I’ve been spending a bit of time visiting pubs that I normally wouldn’t go to the trouble of frequenting. It’s all part of my scheme to visit as many pubs as possible, during 2025, and to beat last year’s total. That number was a miserly 70, significantly down on the previous year’s score of 84, but the good news is that 2025 will represent something of a record for me, with the magic one tonne (100), already passed.

There probably won’t be many opportunities now, to increase that total much further, not unless I can arrange a few pub crawls around towns that I am unfamiliar with, but numbers aren’t everything, and somewhere amongst that 100+ figure are several pubs that I haven’t been in before. A handful of these represent some of the finest establishments in the country. That brings me on to the other issue, and that is location, because after visiting many of the pubs within a 10-mile radius of Bailey Towers, I’m increasingly having to cast my net further and further away. Before doing so, I’m filling in the gaps, although perhaps that should be worded the other way round, because I’m currently ticking off the small number of public houses that so far, have escaped my clutches.

First stop then is the tiny hamlet of Bough Beech, just five minutes’ drive from my workplace at Chiddingstone Causeway, three miles to the east of Edenbridge, and five miles south west of Sevenoaks. The settlement is close to Bough Beech Reservoir, a man-made body of water used to supply drinking water to a part of West Kent and East Surrey. The Wheatsheaf is the only surviving local pub, following the closure several decades ago, of the Chequers; a pub that sadly closed it doors many years before I became acquainted with the local area.

The Wheatsheaf is a pub with a rich heritage, as evidenced by parts of the building which are reputed to originate from the 14^th century. This would have been during the reign of King Henry V, but it is a later Henry, who left more of a mark on the building, after using it as a hunting lodge. This was the tyrannical King Henry VIII, who was one of England’s most bloody and infamous kings. 

 

Today, the building is Grade 2 listed, and renovations have occasionally revealed clues about its background and its history. These clues include a rare medieval crown post, in the roof, plus a wattle-and-daub wall. In 2014, the pub underwent an extensive refurbishment by the current owner who, according to CAMRA, is a director at Westerham Brewery. The refurb revealed a number of notable oak beams, spacious inglenooks and distinct areas designed to accommodate both drinkers and diners. This is evidenced by the bar which occupies the central section of the pub, whilst the dining areas take up the spaces on either side of this area.

I called in, shortly after opening time, last Saturday, and noticed three cask ales on sale, from the bank of five handpumps.  The beers were Larkin’s Traditional, Westerham British Bulldog, plus Harvey’s Sussex Best. I was the pub’s only customer for a while, and with the log fires blazing away in the bar, as well as the left-hand dining area, the pub felt cosy and relaxing. It was certainly different to my previous visit, several years ago, when I sat out in the attractive terrace garden at the side of the pub. 

According to the Wheatsheaf’s website, produce sourced from the attached kitchen garden is often incorporated into the menu. The pub welcomes cyclists, motorcyclists, walkers (with or without dogs), horse riders, and beer bloggers! It's a different place though during the winter months when, after a brisk cross-country walk, there’s nothing better than settling down by one of the open fires at the Wheatsheaf, a pub, where even dogs receive a warm welcome. The pub interior is tastefully decorated, honouring its long history that stretches back over seven centuries. The Wheatsheaf’s careful attention to detail, makes it a wonderfully cosy spot for anything from Sunday lunch, a hearty evening meal or a few drinks on a Friday night.

Peter Edwardson aka Pub Curmudgeon 

Ending on a more sombre note, I would like to dedicate this post to the memory of fellow blogger, and dedicated pub-man, Peter Edwardson, who sadly, and quite unexpectedly, passed away at the weekend. Writing under the name of Pub Curmudgeon, Peter didn’t always live up to his name, although quite rightly, he could be particularly scathing of the big brewers, and their attempts to “improve” their tied estates.

He came across as quite a private individual, sometimes, very matter of fact, although under the right circumstances (a decent pub, and equally decent beer), he could be good company. I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times, including a fleeting visit he made to Tunbridge Wells, 10 or so years ago. However, Peter was at his best on the various pub crawls I joined him on, including Burton, Shifnal, Stockport and Macclesfield. I think that 2023, pre-Christmas meet up, in Macc, was the last time I saw him, and like the other occasions, he was good company.

"Old Mudgie", as he was affectionately known, had his own criteria for visiting pubs, but the words “solid”, “traditional” and “unspoilt” spring to mind. Like me, he wasn’t out to break any records, when it came to number of pubs visited, but he certainly had the knack of sniffing out the good ones. So, farewell fellow pub lover and beer enthusiast. I'm sure that your name will continue to crop up, when it comes to writing about days out, and pub crawls around historic pubs.