End of the road??

Earlier in August, in a post about the Rock at Chiddingstone Hoath, I wrote about an impending local road closure which would preclude me making any lunchtime visits to the pub, for a period of up to 10 weeks.

Just over two weeks ago the closure came into effect, and since that time Chiddingstone Causeway, the village where I work, has been eerily quiet. Traffic on the normally busy B2027, has been reduced to a trickle, as motorists contend with a tortuous and narrow diversion route, and whilst some residents might welcome the peace and quiet, the loss of passing trade has been having a devastating effect on local businesses.

The Causeway Stores, which is the village shop and post office, has certainly seemed significantly less busy, and the same applies to the Little Brown Jug pub, just up the road. I walk past both establishments most lunchtimes, and the builders vans usually parked outside the shop, are conspicuous by their absence, as the tradesmen are forced to go elsewhere for their “made to order” sandwiches and rolls.

The pub car park, which is normally full to overflowing, has plenty of empty spaces, and the garden too seems empty and devoid of customers. I often call in at the Causeway Stores to pick up the milk for work, and where I would once have to queue in order to get served, I can now walk straight in.

Speaking to the local press, Jodie Hodge who owns the shop said her takings were down £3,000 a week and Gareth Nixon, the manager of the Little Brown Jug, said his custom was down by 50%.

Meanwhile residents of the small community of Bough Beech, a few miles further along the road, in the direction of Edenbridge, have been effectively cut off with no access to the shop, or the rail station, both at Chiddingstone Causeway, and with no bus service which has been cancelled due to the lengthy diversion.

Although the section of road that has been closed covers only a few hundred yards, the official diversion route, using similar B-class roads, is 35-miles long and takes over an hour to complete. Not surprisingly, locals have found a quicker route using narrow back roads, but anyone who has driven along these lanes will tell you they are totally unsuited for the increased volume of traffic. Several work colleagues have already experienced near misses, and the situation is likely to continue until the road reopens.

Yesterday, news broke that the water company responsible, has bowed to pressure and has announced it will lift the closure of the B2027 between Chiddingstone Causeway and Bough Beech, by the end of the week. The Sutton and East Surrey Water Company, are one of the UK's smaller water companies, covering parts of Surrey, Kent and south London. This ranges from Morden and South Croydon in the north to Gatwick Airport in the south and from Cobham, Leatherhead and Dorking in the west to Edenbridge in the east. 

SES, as they like to be known, supplies 160 million litres of clean water every day to over 735,000 people, with groundwater supplies providing the bulk of this water, plus around 15 per cent being extracted from the company’s reservoir at Bough Beech near Edenbridge.

In a statement yesterday, a spokesman for SES said, "We are a local company with a long history in the Bough Beech area and we always strive to be responsive and do what is right in providing our essential public service."

"We have not under-estimated the concern from local people and businesses about the closure of the B2027 in Chiddingstone. Over the last few days, we have been at the site and spent many hours investigating alternative ways to still allow this essential work to continue, but to do so in a way that reduces the impact on the community.”

"We have made good progress so far, having laid more than 200 metres of new pipes, but unfortunately it is not possible at the moment, due to the nature of the work needed in the road, to open one lane with traffic lights, which we recognise would be much less disruptive."

Make what you will of that, as whilst no one doubts that the water main needs replacing, the concerns of local residents and businesses seem to have been ignored, despite what SES claim in their statement.

The fact they have agreed to reopen the road, albeit on a temporary basis, has been down to a petition organised by a woman from Tonbridge, after she found herself unable to reach her mother who lives in Bough Beech, plus pressure from Sevenoaks District Council leader, Peter Fleming, and Tom Tugendhat, the MP for Tonbridge and Malling.

Concern remains though, that the road closure will be reinstated, unless SES can find a way to allow one lane to remain open, under the control of traffic lights. With the closure initially scheduled to last until October, the long-term picture is not looking good for those living and working locally.

Last week I took a wander down to where the work was taking place, to see what was going on, and in the usual grand tradition of the great British workman, not a lot was taking place. The photos speak for themselves, and my observations were also supported by staff from the Causeway Stores who, understandably remain concerned for the future of their business.

The final words come from Councillor Peter Fleming, who said, “As a council we do all we can to support businesses and we really feel for business owners in Chiddingstone Causeway who have been affected by these road closures."

"We have also been working with Kent Highways to see if in future they can influence utility companies’ ways of working with regards to road closures and diversions.”

The answer surely lies in that last sentence, as until faceless utility companies realise their responsibilities to the local community, includes minimising disruption to people and businesses within those communities, we are unfortunately likely to see more of this high-handed behaviour.

 

FUGSCLUB redemption

I called into Fuggles, Tonbridge on Sunday, in order to redeem my £15 FUGSCLUB loyalty voucher. My visit wasn’t quite as intended, as young master Matthew had other plans for the afternoon, and they were plans that didn’t involve his dear old dad!

The pair of us had originally intended to use the voucher for a sampling of some of Fuggle's lagers – brews such as Utopian British Lager, Lost & Grounded Keller Pils, along with whatever foreign “import” that might be on sale, but with time running out, Matthew otherwise engaged, and the voucher expiring at the end of August, I opted for Plan B, instead.            

Plan B was to spend the voucher mainly on takeaway bottles, and grab a cheeky pint in the process – only because it would be rude not to, so shortly before 4pm, I pitched up at Fuggles to see what options were available on the take out front.

The pub-café was reasonably full, although there were still several free tables, but before choosing one, I inquired at the bar about spending my voucher and then choosing a few suitable bottles to take home with me.

My choice was a conservative one, and having noticed a couple of bottles of Schlenkerla Märzen lurking in the fridge, I immediately laid claim to them. Aecht Schlenkerla is by far the smokiest of Bamberg’s famous Rauchbiers, and seems quite hard to come by at the moment, so that choice was a no-brainer.

I also opted for another Bavarian beer, this time in the form of Tegernseer Hell, a pale but very satisfying beer brewed at Brauhaus Tegernsee, on the shores of the large Alpine Tegernsee Lake.  A day trip out to Tegernsee, on the privately operated BOB train, has been a regular feature of summer visits to Munich, for both Matthew and I.

The chance to enjoy a few mugs of this locally produced beer in the atmospheric beerhall, along with a plate of hearty Bavarian food, is not one to be missed, so with these memories in mind a bottle of Tegernseer Hell will go down very well.

My third choice was a bottle of Westmalle Tripel; another beer that is hard to get hold of. Waitrose stock the much darker Dubbel, but Westmalle Tripel regularly features in lists of the world’s top beers.

Those four bottles came to a little under £15, so with my initial plan of a crafty pint, still very much in mind, and an extra four quid to pay, I looked at the board to decide what to order. Should I go for keg and try the Utopian British Lager, or should I remain loyal to cask?

After four and a half decades of loyalty to the latter, it seemed hard to abandon it now, even though the fact I am no longer a CAMRA member means no longer being bound to the strictures of the mother church, as Ed Wray would put it.

Cask it was then, in the form of Mosaic – a single hop beer from Downlands Brewery.  I am not normally a fan of single hop beers, as they can be somewhat one-dimensional, but being aware that Mosaic is a hop variety with some interesting flavours, I thought I’d give it a try. The beer was perfectly drinkable, and in excellent condition, but if I’m brutally honest, this particular brew didn’t really do it for me.

I left it at just the one beer, as I knew that Mrs PBT’s was putting together a meal of lamb kebabs with rice, pittas and salad, at home. I certainly didn’t want to be late, and neither did I want more than one beer, due to the risk of falling asleep in the armchair afterwards - a big, no, no as far as the lady of the house is concerned,

I sat there finishing my beer, taking in the comings and goings, along with the ambience of a summer Sunday afternoon. What I observed reinforced my feelings that Fuggles is a very pleasant place for a paced and moderate, afternoon’s drinking. It is a definite asset to the town, and it’s good to see the place up and trading again after the turmoil of the last 18 months. 

I was also pleased to have made good use of my loyalty voucher, which in effect was reward for me sticking with Fuggles, throughout the tumultuous months of late winter and early spring, when the only way they were able to trade was by means of home deliveries and schemes such as FUGSCLUB.

Spotted Dog - best intentions

Three and a half months after saying that I’d visit the Spotted Dog, near Penshurst, I finally called in for a swift half. I was on my way home from work, and the half should have been a pint, but you know the scene – a couple of colleagues wanted my opinion on an issue that was causing them a spot of trouble.

Despite my protestations that I had to rush off (I didn’t let on that I was heading for the pub), they pressed me for an answer. As it happened, we decided the issue could wait until the following day, but in the meantime, I’d wasted nearly 10 minutes of valuable drinking time!

The reason for me rushing - I was due to collect young master Matthew from work at 5.50pm, so there was only a small window of opportunity for a visit to the Spotted Dog.  As things turned out, I made it to the pub just after 5.15pm, parked the car and then headed inside. 

The door was open, and I appeared to be the only customer. The Perspex screens were still in place in front of the bar, but I had an uninterrupted
view of the hand pumps.  The selection was Larkin’s Traditional, Harvey’s Sussex Best along with the brewer’s seasonal offer for summer – Olympia. The latter, which is the brewery’s attempt at a golden ale, is my least favourite Harvey’s beer, so I opted for the Sussex Best and as stated earlier, a half at that!

Martin would have been proud of me, I thought, given his predilection for popping in for a “swift half” and another GBG tick, but slightly embarrassed I explained to the barmaid that because I had to be in Tonbridge in 20 minutes, I only had time for a half. She probably couldn’t have cared less, but as a serious pub man of many years standing, I do normally like to start the session off with a pint!

I took my beer outside and annoyingly, it was in tip-top condition and worth at least a 4, and probably a 4.5 NBSS. Shortly afterwards a couple turned up, entered the pub, and inquired about food. With the door and windows open, I could hear the entire conversation which resulted in the pair being told that the kitchen wouldn’t be re-opening until 6pm, but would they like a drink while they waited?

The woman expressed her disappointment at having to wait 35 minutes, and told the bar staff, plus her companion, that she was hungry so they would have to go elsewhere.  I wondered whether they headed up to the Bottle House instead, if they knew where it was, whilst at the same time shaking my head at the impatience of those who expect, and often demand, instant gratification.

I drank up and left too, but not before returning my empty glass and commenting as to how good the Harvey’s had been. I drove back via to Tonbridge, via Penshurst and Bidborough, eyeing up the Leicester Arms and the Kentish Hare respectively, as possible pubs to stop off at for a pint on the way home.

I stated at the beginning that I’d waited three and a half months before calling in at this lovely old inn, and this relates to a post written by prolific blogger and dedicated GBG ticker, Retired Martin – usually referred to as RM.

Back in April, and not long after pubs re-opened (for outdoor table service only), Martin and his good lady wife, usually referred to as Mrs RM, enjoyed an overnight stay, in their camper-van at the car park of the Spotted Dog. Spurred on, and encouraged by their visit, I posted a comment on Martin’s blog that read, “I had every intention of a fleeting lunchtime visit to the Spotted Dog, but the best laid plans and all that!”

I of course, had every intention of making a visit, but little did I think it would be 14 weeks before I set foot inside the pub. Well despite my short visit I am pleased that I made the effort, especially as the Spotted Dog is a pub, I’ve always had a soft spot for.

Smart’s Hill consists of a few rows of houses sited on high ground overlooking the River Medway, to the south of Penshurst. Somewhat unusually, for such a rural part of the county, Smart’s Hill has a second pub, known as the Bottle House, situated further up the hill from its neighbour, and in an even more isolated location.

Because of their situation, both pubs rely heavily on the food trade but of the two, I would say the Spotted Dog retains much more of a “pubby” atmosphere. I have written about the pub on several previous occasions, but to recap, the Spotted Dog, is a 15th century white weather boarded country inn that seems to cling to the hillside. It lies below the level of the road and is a long low building with a terraced garden area between the pub and the road.

The bar is right in front of the main entrance, in what is the narrowest, and most congested part of the pub, but the building opens out to the right, where there is a larger open area, heated by a welcoming log burning stove in winter. There is also a small “snug” area, just in front of the window. The main restaurant area is at the opposite end of the building.

The Spotted Dog’s popularity is evidenced by the large car park, just across the road, but despite the importance of the car-borne trade, many people do make the effort to walk here.  I too have done so on several past occasions and intend to again in the future.

 

 

Poaching an impromptu pint

Whether one is on that never ending quest for the perfect pub, or just out for a drive and looking for a suitable stop-off for a quick pint, it’s sometimes good to go off-piste. Doing so can be fun and it can also be revealing, and occasionally it can lead to somewhere verging on “pub perfection,” Shangri-La if you like.

I can’t pretend Wednesday evening’s drive brought us close to the latter, but it did turn out as a pleasant surprise, and an important lesson in never to pre-judge a pub – or anything else, for that matter.

I was running low on fuel – that nice low-carbon diesel that we all encouraged to buy into a decade and a half ago.  I had a voucher from Sainsbury’s that entitled me to double Nectar Points on fuel, but also thought it was high time that I checked my tyre pressures.

I normally do this before undertaking a long journey, but apart from a drive to Norfolk and back, for my father’s funeral, I haven’t driven anywhere that I could call a long journey. So thinking that February’s trip was the last time I’d checked my tyre pressures, but also mindful that even with a daily commute to work of 15 miles, I’d still clocked up a few, it was definitely time to check whether I’d been driving around on underinflated tyres, these past six months.

Matthew decided to come with me, so after checking each tyre and inflating where necessary – only one was significantly under, and purchasing 40 quid’s worth of diesel, it was time to think of a place we could stop off at, for a well-earned pint.

As an aside, the fact that our local Sainsbury’s filling station now charge motorists for air (30p for 3 minutes, pay contactless, by card), does show how long it’s been since I last checked the boots on my vehicle. Petrol stations always made a big play of advertising “Free Air,” but alas no longer, it appears.

That’s enough waffle, and on leaving the filling station, we headed north along Tonbridge High Street in search of a suitable hostelry. There were two places I had in mind; the Rose Revived, on the edge of Hadlow, or the Carpenter’s Arms at Three Elm Lane, between Tonbridge and Golden Green.

I opted for the latter, as it was fractionally nearer, but as we approached the pub, we couldn’t help noticing the cars parked along the lane. The reason for this became self-evident, when we arrived at the Carpenter’s, and found the car park literally bursting at the scenes, which was exactly what we’d experienced just over a month previously.

With insufficient room to do a u-turn, we carried on towards Golden Green and it was then that the idea hit me, why not try the Poacher & Partridge, in nearby Tudeley? This large and imposing pub started life as the Red Cow – and then went through several name changes. It was known as the Hartlake, for a while, because it is situated in Hartlake Road. I thought that it late became the Poacher, but an entry in The Real Ale Drinker’s Guide to Kent Pubs, published 1993, lists the pub as the Pig in Hiding.

A daft name that fortunately didn’t hang around too long, and the pub then became the Poacher. I remember the pub hosting the firm’s Christmas dinner, back in the late 90’s, when I worked for a family-owned chemical manufacturer, based in Tonbridge. It had been enlarged by this time and had also gained quite a reputation for its beer range. This was one reason why I was chosen for the Christmas bash, as the work’s engineer and I played a role in its selection.

2006 saw further enlargement, another makeover, and possibly the addition of  partridge to the pub’s name, although that might have happened in 2014. Thinking back, I’m sure I hadn’t set foot in the pub since that time, so Wednesday’s visit put that straight, but it's worth noting that the Poacher & Partridge is one of 11 upmarket outlets, owned by Elite Pubs.

As we pulled into the car park, I was beginning to think we would again be unlucky, but fortunately there were a few spaces in the overspill area to the far left. We walked up towards the front of the pub and a I asked Matthew if he fancied sitting inside or outside or would the pub?

We decided to see what it was like inside, and rather surprisingly we found that the central bar area was quite empty. There was a choice of three cask ales – Doom Bar (no thanks), Cellar Head Session Pale, and Harvey’s Sussex Best. I went for the latter, whilst Matthew opted for a pint of Barcelona's finest.

We decided to sit outside, despite the fact the temperature was dropping, but there was a reason for our choice which influenced this decision. I’d noticed a WhatsApp message from my sister in America, that had just flashed up on my phone. It related to our late father’s estate, and as we are both executors, I needed to respond.

The estate business has been dragging on for some time, and I could have done without what seemed like a further complication, and the five-hour time difference didn’t help either, but fortunately a text reply saved the day and Matthew and were able to resume our father-son chat.

It might seem premature to some, but we’re planning a rip to Munich for next spring - probably May time, and it seemed appropriate to list out a few of our favourite beer gardens even though the visit is over six months away. Sitting in an English pub garden whilst contemplating some of Munich’s finest outdoor drinking establishments, seemed even more appropriate.

More importantly it was something to look forward to, and as long as things continue moving in the right direction. It certainly provided a brief, and most welcome interlude from the daily routine of work and gardening that seems to have characterised the summer of 2021.

The pub itself, was obviously doing well, as was the Carpenter’s we’d been unable to access earlier, so fingers crossed our optimism isn’t unfounded!  

 

Feeling fuggled in Fuggles

Following on from my long overdue return to the Rock at Chiddingstone Hoath, the second pub I visited recently, was a complete contrast. Fuggles Beer Café in Tonbridge is slap-bang in the town centre and is not a pub in the true sense of the word. Instead, it is much more a continental-style beer café, just as its name suggests, but is none the worse for that.

I like Fuggles and I like its ambience. I also much prefer the Tonbridge outlet to its Tunbridge Wells namesake despite the latter being the original Fuggles and acting as the model for branch for both of these beer emporiums.

It’s got a lot to do with the right and airy feel given by the large plain windows at the front of the Tonbridge building, together with its high ceiling. With the bar towards the rear, and set to one side, it is better laid out than its older sibling, but then I’m sure it’s a case of practice makes perfect.

I had only made one visit since Fuggles re-opened, and that was before the full lifting of restrictions on July 19^th. It was table service only, at the time, but that didn’t matter, as to me this enhanced the continental appeal of the place. Even after Covid restrictions were relaxed, the staff carried on wearing masks and apart from the ordering of drinks, customers are discouraged from standing at the bar with their drinks.

Again, I don’t view this as a problem, as Fuggles never was a “stand-up-to-drink” type of establishment. So, on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon, having finished a number of household chores and some personal “office-type” stuff, I headed off down into Tonbridge and made my way to Fuggles to enjoy a few of the beers they had on offer.

I had another reason for going there and that was the £15 voucher I received for being a loyal FUGSCLUB Member – the bottled beer subscription service that sees 12 different beers (dark ones in my case), delivered to one’s door, each month. The voucher covers June, July, and August, but with the first two months already passed, I thought it high time that I used it, and treated myself to a few well-deserved beers.

I was rather disappointed to discover then that the voucher has to be used over a single session, as there is no facility to carry over any unused credit to another time. So not wishing to sit there and down three pints on my own, I paid by card with the intention of saving the voucher for another day. 

If young master Matthew plays his card right, him and I can enjoy a lad’s session on some of the contemporary lagers that grace the bar, beers like, Utopian British Lager and Lost & Grounded Keller Pils. I also noticed an interesting strong 7% lager, another offering from Utopian called Utopian Rainbock.

This time around I stuck with cask, starting of with a pint of Southern Cross from Kent Brewery. This pale coloured, light and fruity ale, is brewed using Australian hops (Southern Cross?), and very tasty it was too!

There was a good mixed crowd in that afternoon, all drawn by the impressive beer selection and the ambience that goes with it. In the main, they were ordinary folk, and not the “craft hipster” brigade alleged by some outside observers, who never actually set foot in the place!

I was debating what to have next, when the decision was forced on me by the appearance of one of the bar staff. She asked me if I was having another beer? I opted for a further beer from the cask range, this time going for a dark one, in the form of Devil’s Dyke Porter, a full-bodied 5.0% porter from Downlands Brewery.  

Upon her return with my beer, she offered me a Fuggles Loyalty Card, complete with two stamps, which was a nice touch. I seem to have quite a collection of these things in my wallet, but they’re always worth hanging on to, especially as they eventually lead to a free pint!

It was whilst getting stuck into this second pint that the thought hit me that I should have had a shorter measure. Fuggles offer ⅔rd pint measures, and that perhaps would have been more suitable. Matthew had offered me a lift home once he’d finished work. I just had to walk along to his shop, at the other end of the High Street and wait for him to finish cashing up.

By the time I’d finished my pint, it was a bit of a rush, which is why the slightly smaller measure might have been better. True to form, and as impatient as ever, he phoned me before I’d even crossed the bridge, to ask me where I was. The strange thing is I felt more than a little tipsy, proving I am no longer used to mid-afternoon drinking.

Small matter, I’d spent an enjoyable hour and a half renewing my acquaintance with one of Tonbridge’s premier beer outlets, and on a wet Saturday afternoon, there was precious little else to be doing instead.

A welcome return to the Rock

After bemoaning the lack of any pub visits in my last post, I finally managed to squeeze in a couple during the past three days. Before describing them, I’m pleased to report that both visits restored my faith in public houses and demonstrated their resilience in being able to bounce back, after an unprecedented 14-month period, where trade was either severely restricted at best, or not allowed at all.

The latter state was actually the norm for much of the pandemic, so it is doubly encouraging to find pubs once again trading strongly. So, starting with the first pub, which is an absolute cracker, and one that has long been a favourite of mine; even if it is one that I only visit infrequently.

The Rock at Chiddingstone Hoath is an old drover’s inn, which has retained many original features. It is close to 500 years old and is so named because it is close to one of several rocky outcrops, which are a feature of this remote corner of Kent. Chiddingstone Hoath is a small, isolated settlement, consisting of a few houses, plus the pub, huddled together on a high sandstone plateau, to the south of the River Eden, in an area known as the High Weald.

The Rock is centuries old, and this is reflected in both the exterior and interior of the building. It has been lovingly cared for over the years, and the recent alterations have only enhanced this. I have known the pub for 30 years plus, and despite its remote location have tried to visit it whenever possible.

Three decades ago, it belonged to Whitbread, but when that company ceased brewing, and started selling off its pubs, the Rock became a free house. For a number of years afterwards, it was leased to local brewery Larkin's, who brew just down the road, on the edge of Chiddingstone village, but it has since reverted to being a free house once again, and a popular and flourishing one at that.

I mentioned that I have tried to visit the Rock as often as possible, especially as it is only a short drive from Chiddingstone Causeway; the village where I work, but looking back at my records, my last visit was in February 2018.  The pandemic meant that no visits were possible until quite recently, and I was prompted to rectify the situation when I received news of a prolonged road closure.

Starting this coming Tuesday, the busy B2027 Tonbridge-Edenbridge Road, that runs past my workplace, will be closed for a period of at least 10 weeks, to allow the replacement of a major water main. Fortunately, the block on traffic movement is just to the west of the factory, so my journey to work will be unaffected, but colleagues travelling from the opposite direction will have a lengthy diversion to contend with, that will add at least 20 minutes to their drive in to work.

The closure also rules out any chance of a lunchtime visit, so with this in mind it made sense to pay the Rock a visit, whilst it was still possible. Consequently, last Thursday evening, I left the office just after 5pm, jumped in the car, and drove up to the Rock. My route took me down and across the River Eden - little more than a large stream really, and then up past Larkin's Brewery. The road then begins to climb more steeply, through woodland and then up towards the High Weald.

Unfortunately, like most of the past couple of weeks, the rain began just as I was walking up to the car, and by the time I arrived at the Rock, it was falling steadily at an intensity that precluded taking all but the most basic of photos of the exterior. The same applied to the interior too, as with just myself, the barmaid, plus a single customer and his dog, I felt rather self-conscious about snapping away with my phone. For this reason, the majority of the photos, used to illustrate this post, were taken on previous visits.

The door was open when I arrived, and the aforementioned dog rushed out to greet me. I recognised its owner, who was sitting at the bar, as a local character that I have seen quite a few times, in the Greyhound at Charcott. After a quick “Good evening,” the barmaid asked me what drink I would like. I noticed that alongside local favourite Larkin’s Traditional, beer from Dark Star and Long Man breweries, were also available.

I naturally opted for the Larkin’s, and not only was it in excellent condition, it was also keenly priced at just £3.40 a pint. According to the chap sat at the bar, who was drinking Guinness btw, that is at least a pound cheaper than most other local outlets. He consequently warned me off several of them, although I won’t repeat them here. The barmaid too was friendly and chatty, expressing her excitement, and sharing some of her concerns, about going back to university, at the end of next month, for the start of her second year.

For me it was just good being able to stand at the bar, chatting, without being instructed to check in and sit down, and without the need for screens, masks, and hand sanitiser. In short, it was just like old times and almost as though the pandemic had never happened. 

The character at the bar, brought us back to earth by reminding us that it might not quite be over yet, but I think that, whilst this is something most of us are aware of, we all want to savour moments such as these, when Covid seems an inconvenient and unpleasant memory.

To end, here are a few general observations about the character of the Rock, and its customers. The pub’s bare brick floor, its large wood-burning stove and the unusual “Ringing the Bull” game, are part and parcel of what gives this pub its unique character. Being a rural pub, the Rock obviously attracts country folk, but they are proper work-a-day country people, rather than the "green Wellington brigade." The floor of worn bricks means that muddy boots, and equally muddy dogs are welcome.

This mix of proper country folk, along with perhaps some of the more moneyed folk, who live locally and enjoy letting their hair down, contributes much to the appeal of this “proper country pub,” and long may this continue.

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