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27-02-2022, 20:43
Visit the Paul Bailey's Beer Blog site (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2022/02/larkins-alehouse.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVYIAHsTwX9wOujb7Qv4WbojUQMn2DyOM-a8uzbyPinIHKB_5R5_Gx0Kunkqk3MRU3IUZgUvGXq2_iWJJUqC L2Tob1Siu7rrn07o0QyXbURqM06zUE57YySxFWY749kuzOUp_8 jlKl0K8HVnxsBT6BScSLAtFTkxWkT9EGqqytRLnH6WxN1reTa_ Af=w219-h400 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVYIAHsTwX9wOujb7Qv4WbojUQMn2DyOM-a8uzbyPinIHKB_5R5_Gx0Kunkqk3MRU3IUZgUvGXq2_iWJJUqC L2Tob1Siu7rrn07o0QyXbURqM06zUE57YySxFWY749kuzOUp_8 jlKl0K8HVnxsBT6BScSLAtFTkxWkT9EGqqytRLnH6WxN1reTa_ Af=s3779)
I had been aware of Larkin’s Alehouse (https://larkins-alehouse.co.uk/)in Cranbrook for quite a few years, which isn’t perhaps surprising, given that this beer-centred, and award-winning outlet opened in 2017. I’ve been meaning to visit for some time, especially as I’ve now got my bus-pass, but the thing that spurred me into doing so, was a comment made on my blog by someone who is an occasional, and very welcome contributor. All contributors are welcome of course, but David Harrison, who I’ve never met, appears to share a mutual knowledge and admiration, of pubs and places that I remember from the times I lived in other areas of Kent. First, there’s Ashford, where I grew up and went to school, but there’s also Maidstone, the country town of Kent, and the place where I lived for six years, when I first moved back to the county. David had been looking, unsuccessfully as it turned out, for some Larkin’s Porter, and mentioned that he hadn’t seen the beer at all this year, despite it appearing on the “Coming Soon” board at Larkin’s Alehouse. He of course, mentioned that despite sharing a name, there is no link between the Cranbrook pub and Larkin’s Brewery of Chiddingstone.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPErUVPNJBL4xKSJUp0WJZeXQfh-9eZwonHK4nWPZPmLiEhty9O45fCK88oBCW5LtfASD0eFw9sqLz Rs9soJScrenpAHk_d_Yt1zz578AKsz8rRtNOEht5IBkUVpnMuq u1gDVVBUJVVXBrcpVUElCALPx64qNEXF0Qzly7HN2TfhHmtxBB fr1Hfesf=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPErUVPNJBL4xKSJUp0WJZeXQfh-9eZwonHK4nWPZPmLiEhty9O45fCK88oBCW5LtfASD0eFw9sqLz Rs9soJScrenpAHk_d_Yt1zz578AKsz8rRtNOEht5IBkUVpnMuq u1gDVVBUJVVXBrcpVUElCALPx64qNEXF0Qzly7HN2TfhHmtxBB fr1Hfesf=s3920)
That conundrum was cleared up, by my visit, but more of that later. Somewhat ironically, I had passed Larkin’s Alehouse, a month or so before, on my trip out to Benenden; and in fact, Jeff - my friend from Maidstone, who I had met earlier that day at the Bull in Benenden, had tried persuading me to join him for a couple of pints, on the return journey. Unfortunately, I was unable to do so, as I needed to get back early to Tonbridge, on that particular day, but having seen where the place was, there was no excuse not to visit.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSR-_KPtyvwDPlfgGUJuEjSAaoCms6cg4Q_JVKz23nl5cSJSK4cdlw UnNf_SIFZff1y-Zz6rIDHNapnBfTSyuoNmILzdrTYSRk4sM3Tg3OIBV3bhfdfnmn g44P-vGFU3bGb27fPc2D_yyaonxszPfA07RPyFWEzbEh6Hd_I9UDxlh YSDV0KTsfIIIU=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSR-_KPtyvwDPlfgGUJuEjSAaoCms6cg4Q_JVKz23nl5cSJSK4cdlw UnNf_SIFZff1y-Zz6rIDHNapnBfTSyuoNmILzdrTYSRk4sM3Tg3OIBV3bhfdfnmn g44P-vGFU3bGb27fPc2D_yyaonxszPfA07RPyFWEzbEh6Hd_I9UDxlh YSDV0KTsfIIIU=s4000)
The chance came last Thursday when, despite the rainy and quite windy conditions, I took the bull by the horns, and set off for Cranbrook, by bus. I wrote about the journey in my previous post, and also waxed lyrical about the delights of this charming little, Wealden town, so cutting to the chase I walked into Larkin’s just after 12.15. The door was open, when I arrived, and there was just one old boy sat at one of the tables. As it happened, he didn’t stay long, but small matter, what was important was the friendly greeting I received from the lady who turned out to be the manager.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje6L7C9u4o6GeN6mqpspRx6_q8cKwz08MNY8ILZkEa3J dq7ej-dEOMfRWhvS9FpmZ2Io0kh4hcjJAvuoVMuNBiPMOX7qKG1vK6FE rsg7Qewfg31s0VuyxZ-RxBK08R737wk0_9wPa8Ulc7xuDlso7yZPHnOD9drBKteclIo4J 9JE2kdty0WCNpm-uh=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje6L7C9u4o6GeN6mqpspRx6_q8cKwz08MNY8ILZkEa3J dq7ej-dEOMfRWhvS9FpmZ2Io0kh4hcjJAvuoVMuNBiPMOX7qKG1vK6FE rsg7Qewfg31s0VuyxZ-RxBK08R737wk0_9wPa8Ulc7xuDlso7yZPHnOD9drBKteclIo4J 9JE2kdty0WCNpm-uh=s3880)
I thought at first, that she was one of the owners, but from the conversation that developed over the course of my visit, I discovered this wasn’t the case. Her name was Emma, and her job title is Bar Manager. She asked me if I’d been in before, but after saying I hadn’t, I was given a quick lesson in the basics, starting with the beers. These are written up on the chalkboard, just along from the bar, and show the four brews that are current plus the three that are coming up next.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTPp3oDcoyBm4eTNUjfjAKLll9zIYyqsGrBM4fqRd_Ax pHydSWRTQzMknSBscE53LGJOua6aEvk1VKmUVwrpZG_tQ9qnp5 0w898Be0GK9aPB3mKGWtXMvC7rcFnuINvWGpm3KUHf5P-ovjHVypKNjTYMLs_3G2Y8KFNK9CQc11lWgn3CkrPueNQlnH=w4 00-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTPp3oDcoyBm4eTNUjfjAKLll9zIYyqsGrBM4fqRd_Ax pHydSWRTQzMknSBscE53LGJOua6aEvk1VKmUVwrpZG_tQ9qnp5 0w898Be0GK9aPB3mKGWtXMvC7rcFnuINvWGpm3KUHf5P-ovjHVypKNjTYMLs_3G2Y8KFNK9CQc11lWgn3CkrPueNQlnH=s3 951)
The beers themselves, are kept in a temperature-controlled room, just off the corridor that run to the back of the pub and are dispensed by gravity. There is nothing finer, in my book, than beer served straight from the cask, unless you are a northerner, of course, who likes several inches of foam on top of your pint! The pub has no cellar, so all beer has to be brought through the pub and stored in a shed at the rear of the property. A couple of deliveries took place whilst I was there; one from Hop Fuzz and the other from one of the cider suppliers.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUUjg1VjOe_5dXBdA2jZOQtEAshqGm7-Gg90e3cpT-P8R-OXMo9TC2Y6mpIUn5Un49Kw2rYmg7JygiOqEuyZ8ABM5Wi_bhjX 0axUL7xinohT2J2U5lPYpI0snZPdiIJCQBAcYurVkj6WU_NzD0 OhkJg6YPN6uAS0T4QOVbDN0wRqoCWIMVZ9z5XCNb=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUUjg1VjOe_5dXBdA2jZOQtEAshqGm7-Gg90e3cpT-P8R-OXMo9TC2Y6mpIUn5Un49Kw2rYmg7JygiOqEuyZ8ABM5Wi_bhjX 0axUL7xinohT2J2U5lPYpI0snZPdiIJCQBAcYurVkj6WU_NzD0 OhkJg6YPN6uAS0T4QOVbDN0wRqoCWIMVZ9z5XCNb=s4000)
And so, to the beer. There were three beers from Cellar Head displayed on the board, and I have to admit beers from this company are not amongst my favourites. There is nothing wrong with them, although I do feel that Cellar Head’s insistence on not fining their beers, does impart a degree of coarseness, which to my way of thinking, detracts from the main event. A substantial number of people obviously disagree with this sentiment, as evidenced by the sheer number of outlets stocking Cellar Head beers, but with an old ale from Long Man brewery as the only alternative, I had little choice but to go with something from the former outfit.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi8ig-0kihBLR8K5cz8FY4TINuzZ_iKGfr6y_VlrwRHFf1tGNIn2xRwv SY3heXQexpbXjbx9m8Idhz_crUzyARILJ8uE1rtr9Xayno7eGw HsYTtVCQIe3ye2bYbqGZrxN-aD-ZpNTBHZBZDEocIEiZojgwd2ad5OdNBygEIsrJZ-Hu6ckDEyDMy8z8=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi8ig-0kihBLR8K5cz8FY4TINuzZ_iKGfr6y_VlrwRHFf1tGNIn2xRwv SY3heXQexpbXjbx9m8Idhz_crUzyARILJ8uE1rtr9Xayno7eGw HsYTtVCQIe3ye2bYbqGZrxN-aD-ZpNTBHZBZDEocIEiZojgwd2ad5OdNBygEIsrJZ-Hu6ckDEyDMy8z8=s4000)
I’d planned to move onto the Long Man brew later, so to start with I opted for the Cellar Head Session Bitter. With an ABV of 4.0%, it was midway between the Session Pale and the 5.0% India Pale Ale, but to give credit where it’s due, my pint was perfectly acceptable, well kept, well-conditioned, and just what was needed to slake my thirst. Long Man Old Man is a 4.3% old ale, and is a beer I’d enjoyed in bottle, a couple of weeks before. This full-bodied, traditional old ale is packed with chocolate and coffee flavours, which complement the soft malt and gentle hop base, and went down very nicely with my lunch.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqbCr5nCI1EbrtXUhrgVsH87qAp7FvSh-ZTLCZiTSz-SOSRPb4nBj5UXadFpUQO9VqNOk_G7mG7cpMIvzxt3bvikPyF5T ZKdBMIoZ9x_S6dUzrp781ekX6xOWJk17-Zd0HPm6sBBRyCQLRtLb6uzZxE2TXcRMP1KcF8TpcMT4o6ox80p IVXWQW8yHW=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqbCr5nCI1EbrtXUhrgVsH87qAp7FvSh-ZTLCZiTSz-SOSRPb4nBj5UXadFpUQO9VqNOk_G7mG7cpMIvzxt3bvikPyF5T ZKdBMIoZ9x_S6dUzrp781ekX6xOWJk17-Zd0HPm6sBBRyCQLRtLb6uzZxE2TXcRMP1KcF8TpcMT4o6ox80p IVXWQW8yHW=s4000)
Lunch took the form of a filled roll – cheese or ham. I went for ham and jolly nice it was too. Supplied by one of the local butchers, it was full-flavoured, tasty and just the right filling for a substantial soft-crust roll. Pork pies are available during the summer months, again sourced from the same butcher. Crisps, nuts, and the inevitable pork scratchings, complement the more solid fayre.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXrtW2O_sJbEpMHtzjq3-wVGkN_ERTpB2F0kOTQhqW2ATPKl-dcBM5wS0jpavlPZ67uVVkB00fegX0pj0QnMsXqYOh6NEe9_6l8 4xPM3jaNBQ__OXFk390U8Q0_sAaWXJynicrcqXoZXFiVh2Pj4g xfDrdsR2MtWG224il8DuwMR5XeAON1cfwY7vo=w225-h400 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXrtW2O_sJbEpMHtzjq3-wVGkN_ERTpB2F0kOTQhqW2ATPKl-dcBM5wS0jpavlPZ67uVVkB00fegX0pj0QnMsXqYOh6NEe9_6l8 4xPM3jaNBQ__OXFk390U8Q0_sAaWXJynicrcqXoZXFiVh2Pj4g xfDrdsR2MtWG224il8DuwMR5XeAON1cfwY7vo=s4000)
The pub was on the quiet side during most of my visit, with just one other customer - a young lad who came in for a couple of pints and a chat. Emma was happy to chat too, apart from when she nipped out for a “fag break.” It turns out she knew quite a few of the Maidstone CAMRA members, which is hardly surprising given that the pub was awarded, MMK Pub of the Year for 2019. I asked about name of the pub, knowing that there was no relation with Larkin’s Brewery at Chiddingstone, and the story is it is owned by two couples, up in 2017. Larkin’s Alehouse is a conversion of a former shop, and the name comes from the maiden name of the two sisters who set up the business, in conjunction with their husbands. One of the sisters came in, shortly before I had to leave, and I was introduced, as someone who knows one of the regular helpers behind the bar. I won’t name names, but he is someone who lives locally, who I have known for a long time. I left my card with Emma promising both her and the proprietor that I will definitely make a return visit. I had to leave promptly to catch the bus, and it was a good job I did, as it arrived early – it waited until the allotted time before departing, though!
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Larkin’s Alehouse (https://larkins-alehouse.co.uk/) ticks all the right boxes, as far as I am concerned, especially as it is a pub, rather than a micro-pub adhering to the constrictive and over-bearing, Herne rules. With the exception of the spirits, most of the beers, wines and ciders are locally sourced, and the same applies to the snacks. The pub is well liked and well-used by the local community, which is another point in its favour. So yes, I shall be returning, sooner rather than later.
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https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVYIAHsTwX9wOujb7Qv4WbojUQMn2DyOM-a8uzbyPinIHKB_5R5_Gx0Kunkqk3MRU3IUZgUvGXq2_iWJJUqC L2Tob1Siu7rrn07o0QyXbURqM06zUE57YySxFWY749kuzOUp_8 jlKl0K8HVnxsBT6BScSLAtFTkxWkT9EGqqytRLnH6WxN1reTa_ Af=w219-h400 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVYIAHsTwX9wOujb7Qv4WbojUQMn2DyOM-a8uzbyPinIHKB_5R5_Gx0Kunkqk3MRU3IUZgUvGXq2_iWJJUqC L2Tob1Siu7rrn07o0QyXbURqM06zUE57YySxFWY749kuzOUp_8 jlKl0K8HVnxsBT6BScSLAtFTkxWkT9EGqqytRLnH6WxN1reTa_ Af=s3779)
I had been aware of Larkin’s Alehouse (https://larkins-alehouse.co.uk/)in Cranbrook for quite a few years, which isn’t perhaps surprising, given that this beer-centred, and award-winning outlet opened in 2017. I’ve been meaning to visit for some time, especially as I’ve now got my bus-pass, but the thing that spurred me into doing so, was a comment made on my blog by someone who is an occasional, and very welcome contributor. All contributors are welcome of course, but David Harrison, who I’ve never met, appears to share a mutual knowledge and admiration, of pubs and places that I remember from the times I lived in other areas of Kent. First, there’s Ashford, where I grew up and went to school, but there’s also Maidstone, the country town of Kent, and the place where I lived for six years, when I first moved back to the county. David had been looking, unsuccessfully as it turned out, for some Larkin’s Porter, and mentioned that he hadn’t seen the beer at all this year, despite it appearing on the “Coming Soon” board at Larkin’s Alehouse. He of course, mentioned that despite sharing a name, there is no link between the Cranbrook pub and Larkin’s Brewery of Chiddingstone.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPErUVPNJBL4xKSJUp0WJZeXQfh-9eZwonHK4nWPZPmLiEhty9O45fCK88oBCW5LtfASD0eFw9sqLz Rs9soJScrenpAHk_d_Yt1zz578AKsz8rRtNOEht5IBkUVpnMuq u1gDVVBUJVVXBrcpVUElCALPx64qNEXF0Qzly7HN2TfhHmtxBB fr1Hfesf=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPErUVPNJBL4xKSJUp0WJZeXQfh-9eZwonHK4nWPZPmLiEhty9O45fCK88oBCW5LtfASD0eFw9sqLz Rs9soJScrenpAHk_d_Yt1zz578AKsz8rRtNOEht5IBkUVpnMuq u1gDVVBUJVVXBrcpVUElCALPx64qNEXF0Qzly7HN2TfhHmtxBB fr1Hfesf=s3920)
That conundrum was cleared up, by my visit, but more of that later. Somewhat ironically, I had passed Larkin’s Alehouse, a month or so before, on my trip out to Benenden; and in fact, Jeff - my friend from Maidstone, who I had met earlier that day at the Bull in Benenden, had tried persuading me to join him for a couple of pints, on the return journey. Unfortunately, I was unable to do so, as I needed to get back early to Tonbridge, on that particular day, but having seen where the place was, there was no excuse not to visit.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSR-_KPtyvwDPlfgGUJuEjSAaoCms6cg4Q_JVKz23nl5cSJSK4cdlw UnNf_SIFZff1y-Zz6rIDHNapnBfTSyuoNmILzdrTYSRk4sM3Tg3OIBV3bhfdfnmn g44P-vGFU3bGb27fPc2D_yyaonxszPfA07RPyFWEzbEh6Hd_I9UDxlh YSDV0KTsfIIIU=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSR-_KPtyvwDPlfgGUJuEjSAaoCms6cg4Q_JVKz23nl5cSJSK4cdlw UnNf_SIFZff1y-Zz6rIDHNapnBfTSyuoNmILzdrTYSRk4sM3Tg3OIBV3bhfdfnmn g44P-vGFU3bGb27fPc2D_yyaonxszPfA07RPyFWEzbEh6Hd_I9UDxlh YSDV0KTsfIIIU=s4000)
The chance came last Thursday when, despite the rainy and quite windy conditions, I took the bull by the horns, and set off for Cranbrook, by bus. I wrote about the journey in my previous post, and also waxed lyrical about the delights of this charming little, Wealden town, so cutting to the chase I walked into Larkin’s just after 12.15. The door was open, when I arrived, and there was just one old boy sat at one of the tables. As it happened, he didn’t stay long, but small matter, what was important was the friendly greeting I received from the lady who turned out to be the manager.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje6L7C9u4o6GeN6mqpspRx6_q8cKwz08MNY8ILZkEa3J dq7ej-dEOMfRWhvS9FpmZ2Io0kh4hcjJAvuoVMuNBiPMOX7qKG1vK6FE rsg7Qewfg31s0VuyxZ-RxBK08R737wk0_9wPa8Ulc7xuDlso7yZPHnOD9drBKteclIo4J 9JE2kdty0WCNpm-uh=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje6L7C9u4o6GeN6mqpspRx6_q8cKwz08MNY8ILZkEa3J dq7ej-dEOMfRWhvS9FpmZ2Io0kh4hcjJAvuoVMuNBiPMOX7qKG1vK6FE rsg7Qewfg31s0VuyxZ-RxBK08R737wk0_9wPa8Ulc7xuDlso7yZPHnOD9drBKteclIo4J 9JE2kdty0WCNpm-uh=s3880)
I thought at first, that she was one of the owners, but from the conversation that developed over the course of my visit, I discovered this wasn’t the case. Her name was Emma, and her job title is Bar Manager. She asked me if I’d been in before, but after saying I hadn’t, I was given a quick lesson in the basics, starting with the beers. These are written up on the chalkboard, just along from the bar, and show the four brews that are current plus the three that are coming up next.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTPp3oDcoyBm4eTNUjfjAKLll9zIYyqsGrBM4fqRd_Ax pHydSWRTQzMknSBscE53LGJOua6aEvk1VKmUVwrpZG_tQ9qnp5 0w898Be0GK9aPB3mKGWtXMvC7rcFnuINvWGpm3KUHf5P-ovjHVypKNjTYMLs_3G2Y8KFNK9CQc11lWgn3CkrPueNQlnH=w4 00-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTPp3oDcoyBm4eTNUjfjAKLll9zIYyqsGrBM4fqRd_Ax pHydSWRTQzMknSBscE53LGJOua6aEvk1VKmUVwrpZG_tQ9qnp5 0w898Be0GK9aPB3mKGWtXMvC7rcFnuINvWGpm3KUHf5P-ovjHVypKNjTYMLs_3G2Y8KFNK9CQc11lWgn3CkrPueNQlnH=s3 951)
The beers themselves, are kept in a temperature-controlled room, just off the corridor that run to the back of the pub and are dispensed by gravity. There is nothing finer, in my book, than beer served straight from the cask, unless you are a northerner, of course, who likes several inches of foam on top of your pint! The pub has no cellar, so all beer has to be brought through the pub and stored in a shed at the rear of the property. A couple of deliveries took place whilst I was there; one from Hop Fuzz and the other from one of the cider suppliers.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUUjg1VjOe_5dXBdA2jZOQtEAshqGm7-Gg90e3cpT-P8R-OXMo9TC2Y6mpIUn5Un49Kw2rYmg7JygiOqEuyZ8ABM5Wi_bhjX 0axUL7xinohT2J2U5lPYpI0snZPdiIJCQBAcYurVkj6WU_NzD0 OhkJg6YPN6uAS0T4QOVbDN0wRqoCWIMVZ9z5XCNb=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUUjg1VjOe_5dXBdA2jZOQtEAshqGm7-Gg90e3cpT-P8R-OXMo9TC2Y6mpIUn5Un49Kw2rYmg7JygiOqEuyZ8ABM5Wi_bhjX 0axUL7xinohT2J2U5lPYpI0snZPdiIJCQBAcYurVkj6WU_NzD0 OhkJg6YPN6uAS0T4QOVbDN0wRqoCWIMVZ9z5XCNb=s4000)
And so, to the beer. There were three beers from Cellar Head displayed on the board, and I have to admit beers from this company are not amongst my favourites. There is nothing wrong with them, although I do feel that Cellar Head’s insistence on not fining their beers, does impart a degree of coarseness, which to my way of thinking, detracts from the main event. A substantial number of people obviously disagree with this sentiment, as evidenced by the sheer number of outlets stocking Cellar Head beers, but with an old ale from Long Man brewery as the only alternative, I had little choice but to go with something from the former outfit.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi8ig-0kihBLR8K5cz8FY4TINuzZ_iKGfr6y_VlrwRHFf1tGNIn2xRwv SY3heXQexpbXjbx9m8Idhz_crUzyARILJ8uE1rtr9Xayno7eGw HsYTtVCQIe3ye2bYbqGZrxN-aD-ZpNTBHZBZDEocIEiZojgwd2ad5OdNBygEIsrJZ-Hu6ckDEyDMy8z8=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgi8ig-0kihBLR8K5cz8FY4TINuzZ_iKGfr6y_VlrwRHFf1tGNIn2xRwv SY3heXQexpbXjbx9m8Idhz_crUzyARILJ8uE1rtr9Xayno7eGw HsYTtVCQIe3ye2bYbqGZrxN-aD-ZpNTBHZBZDEocIEiZojgwd2ad5OdNBygEIsrJZ-Hu6ckDEyDMy8z8=s4000)
I’d planned to move onto the Long Man brew later, so to start with I opted for the Cellar Head Session Bitter. With an ABV of 4.0%, it was midway between the Session Pale and the 5.0% India Pale Ale, but to give credit where it’s due, my pint was perfectly acceptable, well kept, well-conditioned, and just what was needed to slake my thirst. Long Man Old Man is a 4.3% old ale, and is a beer I’d enjoyed in bottle, a couple of weeks before. This full-bodied, traditional old ale is packed with chocolate and coffee flavours, which complement the soft malt and gentle hop base, and went down very nicely with my lunch.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqbCr5nCI1EbrtXUhrgVsH87qAp7FvSh-ZTLCZiTSz-SOSRPb4nBj5UXadFpUQO9VqNOk_G7mG7cpMIvzxt3bvikPyF5T ZKdBMIoZ9x_S6dUzrp781ekX6xOWJk17-Zd0HPm6sBBRyCQLRtLb6uzZxE2TXcRMP1KcF8TpcMT4o6ox80p IVXWQW8yHW=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqbCr5nCI1EbrtXUhrgVsH87qAp7FvSh-ZTLCZiTSz-SOSRPb4nBj5UXadFpUQO9VqNOk_G7mG7cpMIvzxt3bvikPyF5T ZKdBMIoZ9x_S6dUzrp781ekX6xOWJk17-Zd0HPm6sBBRyCQLRtLb6uzZxE2TXcRMP1KcF8TpcMT4o6ox80p IVXWQW8yHW=s4000)
Lunch took the form of a filled roll – cheese or ham. I went for ham and jolly nice it was too. Supplied by one of the local butchers, it was full-flavoured, tasty and just the right filling for a substantial soft-crust roll. Pork pies are available during the summer months, again sourced from the same butcher. Crisps, nuts, and the inevitable pork scratchings, complement the more solid fayre.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXrtW2O_sJbEpMHtzjq3-wVGkN_ERTpB2F0kOTQhqW2ATPKl-dcBM5wS0jpavlPZ67uVVkB00fegX0pj0QnMsXqYOh6NEe9_6l8 4xPM3jaNBQ__OXFk390U8Q0_sAaWXJynicrcqXoZXFiVh2Pj4g xfDrdsR2MtWG224il8DuwMR5XeAON1cfwY7vo=w225-h400 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXrtW2O_sJbEpMHtzjq3-wVGkN_ERTpB2F0kOTQhqW2ATPKl-dcBM5wS0jpavlPZ67uVVkB00fegX0pj0QnMsXqYOh6NEe9_6l8 4xPM3jaNBQ__OXFk390U8Q0_sAaWXJynicrcqXoZXFiVh2Pj4g xfDrdsR2MtWG224il8DuwMR5XeAON1cfwY7vo=s4000)
The pub was on the quiet side during most of my visit, with just one other customer - a young lad who came in for a couple of pints and a chat. Emma was happy to chat too, apart from when she nipped out for a “fag break.” It turns out she knew quite a few of the Maidstone CAMRA members, which is hardly surprising given that the pub was awarded, MMK Pub of the Year for 2019. I asked about name of the pub, knowing that there was no relation with Larkin’s Brewery at Chiddingstone, and the story is it is owned by two couples, up in 2017. Larkin’s Alehouse is a conversion of a former shop, and the name comes from the maiden name of the two sisters who set up the business, in conjunction with their husbands. One of the sisters came in, shortly before I had to leave, and I was introduced, as someone who knows one of the regular helpers behind the bar. I won’t name names, but he is someone who lives locally, who I have known for a long time. I left my card with Emma promising both her and the proprietor that I will definitely make a return visit. I had to leave promptly to catch the bus, and it was a good job I did, as it arrived early – it waited until the allotted time before departing, though!
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfXR_owhUWF8wMVVkRbBYPRt1gUv9zS1D82XKWNYbjVU tdZA0TOa8xPeHUHBhhdQDJLbbM7QGQ0Et5zZLXq0xu-VOesymVKB8Ba02CWidxAozi0oVADcc3gypk76ZFY7jlm3RSGsx dQtPy6KhsdJHaAoBSOnvcshN1TT48d99pRf7CTnI99Sv8-7fj=w400-h225 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfXR_owhUWF8wMVVkRbBYPRt1gUv9zS1D82XKWNYbjVU tdZA0TOa8xPeHUHBhhdQDJLbbM7QGQ0Et5zZLXq0xu-VOesymVKB8Ba02CWidxAozi0oVADcc3gypk76ZFY7jlm3RSGsx dQtPy6KhsdJHaAoBSOnvcshN1TT48d99pRf7CTnI99Sv8-7fj=s4000)
Larkin’s Alehouse (https://larkins-alehouse.co.uk/) ticks all the right boxes, as far as I am concerned, especially as it is a pub, rather than a micro-pub adhering to the constrictive and over-bearing, Herne rules. With the exception of the spirits, most of the beers, wines and ciders are locally sourced, and the same applies to the snacks. The pub is well liked and well-used by the local community, which is another point in its favour. So yes, I shall be returning, sooner rather than later.
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