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02-09-2023, 15:06
Visit the Paul Bailey's Beer Blog site (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2023/09/finally-chafford-arms.html)
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Have you ever been in one of those situations where there'sa pub you've been longing to visit, and somehow, despite your best efforts, circumstancesand situations seem to work against you. You end up being thwarted, sometimeseven at the last minute, and before you realise months or even years havepassed by, and you still haven’t paid the place a visit. It’s even worse whenthe pub is a local one, and there’s been no real excuse why you couldn’t havevisited it before.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGkFqGy91VvYs5CzRVUycxSYToOEKTpvmOUvbe3Bb53 gFdMkUuQ0VYBMxK5LKv7nQezePDMrTqkiZSrmQpd8wV16-Wxb1sK2luVTgMJPF0SIp5wB9tc1W47dM6JDfybMrhd73ApE_sR JAtpqyvQFlwzz7qbc37PDQlTZ71c3Y1ulgGWSWLle2_v0wt10/w400-h300/DSC00040.JPG (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGkFqGy91VvYs5CzRVUycxSYToOEKTpvmOUvbe3Bb53 gFdMkUuQ0VYBMxK5LKv7nQezePDMrTqkiZSrmQpd8wV16-Wxb1sK2luVTgMJPF0SIp5wB9tc1W47dM6JDfybMrhd73ApE_sR JAtpqyvQFlwzz7qbc37PDQlTZ71c3Y1ulgGWSWLle2_v0wt10/s2048/DSC00040.JPG)
One such pub, that is only about 8 miles away from here, is theChafford Arms (http://www.chaffordarms.com/)at Fordcombe - a small village, situated between Penshurst andGroombridge. The Chafford is an attractive, part brick and part stone, tile-hungpub dating back to the middle of the 19th Century which stands onthe edge of Fordcombe, at the top of the steep and aptly named Spring Hill. Thereis an extensive garden at the rear of the pub, affording fine views over theupper Medway Valley.
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I've known the Chafford Arms on and off, for the past 20years or so, but looking back, the last time I visited the pub was in 2010. (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/walk-in-country.html)Thatwas when a small group of us walked there from Tunbridge Wells, following a routethat took us out across the town's extensive common. Earlier, the same year, Icalled in at the Chafford, with a friend, whilst walking the Weald Way longdistance footpath. On that particular occasion, Eric and I stopped at the pubfor lunch, after setting off earlier that morning, from our homes in Tonbridge.We were looking to complete what, for us, would be the third stage of the walk,after setting off two days previously from the start of the Weald Way on thebanks of the Thames estuary, at Gravesend.
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We were heading for the tiny hamlet of Withyham where wewould spend the night, before carrying on towards the end of the trail atEastbourne. The Chafford Arms was the ideal stopping off point, and somewherewe could get a meal, sink a couple of pints, and refill our water bottles. Itherefore retained fond memories of the pub, particularly as both the food andthe beer, were top class, on both previous visits. Given all those years inbetween, it's surprising I hadn't managed a return visit, but the Chafford isnot that easy to reach by public transport (it's not impossible, but there'sonly one viable bus in each direction, during daylight hours, and none at all ofcourse in the evening).
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHZyTxp0YrqYpG3Lxr8-sWUiND0AyN1B0EMJF7DFsBNhFnuAP1nqhpALetWg21MO0ObBAv HFplmbgJslMs7bRrJL9QAIgA522IUEKt5ma86osgAsfJjZ3dAA N5BkYZOktYus_lV5SkOfEzdXD31HNp0FjuYh9eT7_CIxyiunC7 g8iM1qymn2Fb5PwEog/w400-h225/Chafford%20Lounge.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHZyTxp0YrqYpG3Lxr8-sWUiND0AyN1B0EMJF7DFsBNhFnuAP1nqhpALetWg21MO0ObBAv HFplmbgJslMs7bRrJL9QAIgA522IUEKt5ma86osgAsfJjZ3dAA N5BkYZOktYus_lV5SkOfEzdXD31HNp0FjuYh9eT7_CIxyiunC7 g8iM1qymn2Fb5PwEog/s4000/Chafford%20Lounge.jpg)
It’s a traditional pub in every sense of the word, meaningthat it closes between 3 and 6 pm, so this is another thing to factor in whenplanning a visit. Matthew and I attempted one about a year ago but were unableto get in the car park. Thinking back, it was a Sunday, which probably wasn'tthe wisest of moves, as the Chafford is popular with diners at the weekend.Another point to bear in mind is the pub is closed on Mondays, as Matthew and Idiscovered a couple of months ago. Perhaps you’ll appreciate now, whilst it’staken so long to achieve that return visit.
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As luck would have it, Thursday evening provided the idealopportunity. Mrs PBT’s was meeting up with a group of her girly friends for ameal at the Ivy House pub in Tonbridge, so after dropping her and two of her matesoff at the pub, Matthew and I were free to head out to Fordcombe. I took the precautionof phoning in advance because I didn't want to be disappointed again, butThursday proved a quiet night, possibly due to the dampness of the weather andthe fall in temperature. The last day of August and the last day of summer,proved something of a damp squib, as could be said the summer in general.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R52YgQaAQsH2dkhFvIKgSJLn-qkW4SmmACZ_-nUOY1qQHqRUnNtCiW0zLlUbOAz7Uf9H-E0CiccdOT2xto9WS8TShnGuIgQmylo64xRdJ9mLKfx1boqXtFW eW1kr6oSiRnbcGSzeouBuGrds_GaDDiu1LrIISF-dBPBWb4F50OYyk86bSEWmmXifQrU/w400-h225/Chafford%20General%20view.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R52YgQaAQsH2dkhFvIKgSJLn-qkW4SmmACZ_-nUOY1qQHqRUnNtCiW0zLlUbOAz7Uf9H-E0CiccdOT2xto9WS8TShnGuIgQmylo64xRdJ9mLKfx1boqXtFW eW1kr6oSiRnbcGSzeouBuGrds_GaDDiu1LrIISF-dBPBWb4F50OYyk86bSEWmmXifQrU/s4000/Chafford%20General%20view.jpg)
We arrived at the Chafford bang on the dot of our stated arrivaltime, and we were obviously expected. A table for two had been laid out in asection of the Lounge Bar, and after a group of diners seated, a short distanceaway, finished their meal and departed, we had that particular part of the pubto ourselves. A couple of young female graduates were sat in the area behind us.I know they were graduates because they’d been talking about coursework andfinal examinations, and we couldn’t help overhearing their conversation, butapart from the two ladies, we had the bar to ourselves.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AXykLWGPB1_QUoYjKeSJ6b_jhBg2cl64ZhlSOrR4gC AX2h-5MIy60dgnq9230iwYhpzowFAjFgrlhbkc8cJfM0Efi632vfxrX OGETmoDKbzVkAFXW1WRaCcWA59fC-kFTq8i4_y0CeoVbg7bzh8VpADjta8umfWtmmKmPOPZCr2tGev4 2HcKfKNGJck/w400-h300/Chafford%20Public.JPG (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AXykLWGPB1_QUoYjKeSJ6b_jhBg2cl64ZhlSOrR4gC AX2h-5MIy60dgnq9230iwYhpzowFAjFgrlhbkc8cJfM0Efi632vfxrX OGETmoDKbzVkAFXW1WRaCcWA59fC-kFTq8i4_y0CeoVbg7bzh8VpADjta8umfWtmmKmPOPZCr2tGev4 2HcKfKNGJck/s2048/Chafford%20Public.JPG)Things were different in the Public Bar, where there seemedto be quite a lot of laughter and banter going on. I'm delighted to say thatthe Chafford has that rarest of things these days, namely two bars, althoughsome of us are old enough to remember when two or more bars in a pub, was thenorm. It’s no exaggeration to say that having two, or sometimes even more barsin a pub was a good idea, and the misguided brewers, pub companies and privatelandlords who knocked down the dividing walls, to create a barn-like space, inthe name of egalitarianism, have a lot to answer for.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8CFtTQOgqSa6ey5HfRGx48fKo5uQKyw_UflYSenhTp-WyI2gBuX6S8izxd6OfAZ15YbUjOfI0pvnSqVrtd_gUf8nzeJfh yVrroN6vxj38dIJU8SoBV8oOkSxk9ruLh_AceQxz-L-Nt-dojBaa1537-Obfdw0GmUsF5aOmyppUZcufCYks56eV35Pd7o/w400-h286/Chafford%20side%20view.JPG (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8CFtTQOgqSa6ey5HfRGx48fKo5uQKyw_UflYSenhTp-WyI2gBuX6S8izxd6OfAZ15YbUjOfI0pvnSqVrtd_gUf8nzeJfh yVrroN6vxj38dIJU8SoBV8oOkSxk9ruLh_AceQxz-L-Nt-dojBaa1537-Obfdw0GmUsF5aOmyppUZcufCYks56eV35Pd7o/s1982/Chafford%20side%20view.JPG)
I didn't recognise the landlady, but I certainly recognisedher husband, due to his distinctive Geordie accent. Having just two cask aleson the bar seems to work well for the pub, with Larkin’s Traditional and Harvey’sSussex Best representing a line-up that has been unchanged for many years, and I'mpretty certain this choice has not changed since my last visit 13 years ago. Iwent for Harvey’s, which was in fine form, whilst Matthew, who had to bedifferent, went for an Amstel.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80aNvK5tUatwokqG1zSyP9lQuust7cN6REhFxImrnnk DYKmQrlwWKI9m-NgymWf0T9Iso40bxae6FgvWrWo4cpVJnSVUssAvo7S6me3Ydef NtddScq_PKG_m1iFvDxo29cpLDto9Du4VwzNJU-t20h3ZuC641pKUUq94jYeh_HVlKs6DC0jrR2JUtBxU/w400-h225/Chafford%20food.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80aNvK5tUatwokqG1zSyP9lQuust7cN6REhFxImrnnk DYKmQrlwWKI9m-NgymWf0T9Iso40bxae6FgvWrWo4cpVJnSVUssAvo7S6me3Ydef NtddScq_PKG_m1iFvDxo29cpLDto9Du4VwzNJU-t20h3ZuC641pKUUq94jYeh_HVlKs6DC0jrR2JUtBxU/s4000/Chafford%20food.jpg)
Food wise I opted for the fish pie, always a favourite in my book.Matthew chose scampi and chips, and his plate was really piled high with bothchips and Dublin Bay prawns (was that really what people used to call scampi?).The fish pie was excellent - smoked cod, salmon & crayfish in a creamysauce topped with cheesy mash, according to the menu, served with fresh steamedvegetables, for those who like to get their five a day.
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The pub itself was spotlessly clean and well kept, with afriendly welcome and a good all-round ambience. For those not offended by 1960’sseaside postcards, there was some really corny examples in the gents. I couldn’tresist a photo, so for fans of “toilet porn” here are a few relics from abygone, and much simpler age. We didn’t venture into the Public Bar, on thisoccasion, but as I discovered, 13 years ago, it’s ideal for walkers – with potentiallymuddy boots, people with dogs, or just those who appreciate slightly simplerand more basic surroundings.Matthew, who was rather dismissive when I suggested a visit,“it’s never open,” was his comment, ended up being won over, and I shall alsobe taking Mrs PBT’s along to the Chafford, next time she fancies a mealout. The ladies she dined with, that same evening, were also full of praise forthe Ivy House, so perhaps after a slightly bumpy recent history, that pub is alsodelivering in terms of good food and ambience – no reports about the beer,though!
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Have you ever been in one of those situations where there'sa pub you've been longing to visit, and somehow, despite your best efforts, circumstancesand situations seem to work against you. You end up being thwarted, sometimeseven at the last minute, and before you realise months or even years havepassed by, and you still haven’t paid the place a visit. It’s even worse whenthe pub is a local one, and there’s been no real excuse why you couldn’t havevisited it before.
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One such pub, that is only about 8 miles away from here, is theChafford Arms (http://www.chaffordarms.com/)at Fordcombe - a small village, situated between Penshurst andGroombridge. The Chafford is an attractive, part brick and part stone, tile-hungpub dating back to the middle of the 19th Century which stands onthe edge of Fordcombe, at the top of the steep and aptly named Spring Hill. Thereis an extensive garden at the rear of the pub, affording fine views over theupper Medway Valley.
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I've known the Chafford Arms on and off, for the past 20years or so, but looking back, the last time I visited the pub was in 2010. (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/walk-in-country.html)Thatwas when a small group of us walked there from Tunbridge Wells, following a routethat took us out across the town's extensive common. Earlier, the same year, Icalled in at the Chafford, with a friend, whilst walking the Weald Way longdistance footpath. On that particular occasion, Eric and I stopped at the pubfor lunch, after setting off earlier that morning, from our homes in Tonbridge.We were looking to complete what, for us, would be the third stage of the walk,after setting off two days previously from the start of the Weald Way on thebanks of the Thames estuary, at Gravesend.
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We were heading for the tiny hamlet of Withyham where wewould spend the night, before carrying on towards the end of the trail atEastbourne. The Chafford Arms was the ideal stopping off point, and somewherewe could get a meal, sink a couple of pints, and refill our water bottles. Itherefore retained fond memories of the pub, particularly as both the food andthe beer, were top class, on both previous visits. Given all those years inbetween, it's surprising I hadn't managed a return visit, but the Chafford isnot that easy to reach by public transport (it's not impossible, but there'sonly one viable bus in each direction, during daylight hours, and none at all ofcourse in the evening).
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It’s a traditional pub in every sense of the word, meaningthat it closes between 3 and 6 pm, so this is another thing to factor in whenplanning a visit. Matthew and I attempted one about a year ago but were unableto get in the car park. Thinking back, it was a Sunday, which probably wasn'tthe wisest of moves, as the Chafford is popular with diners at the weekend.Another point to bear in mind is the pub is closed on Mondays, as Matthew and Idiscovered a couple of months ago. Perhaps you’ll appreciate now, whilst it’staken so long to achieve that return visit.
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As luck would have it, Thursday evening provided the idealopportunity. Mrs PBT’s was meeting up with a group of her girly friends for ameal at the Ivy House pub in Tonbridge, so after dropping her and two of her matesoff at the pub, Matthew and I were free to head out to Fordcombe. I took the precautionof phoning in advance because I didn't want to be disappointed again, butThursday proved a quiet night, possibly due to the dampness of the weather andthe fall in temperature. The last day of August and the last day of summer,proved something of a damp squib, as could be said the summer in general.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R52YgQaAQsH2dkhFvIKgSJLn-qkW4SmmACZ_-nUOY1qQHqRUnNtCiW0zLlUbOAz7Uf9H-E0CiccdOT2xto9WS8TShnGuIgQmylo64xRdJ9mLKfx1boqXtFW eW1kr6oSiRnbcGSzeouBuGrds_GaDDiu1LrIISF-dBPBWb4F50OYyk86bSEWmmXifQrU/w400-h225/Chafford%20General%20view.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R52YgQaAQsH2dkhFvIKgSJLn-qkW4SmmACZ_-nUOY1qQHqRUnNtCiW0zLlUbOAz7Uf9H-E0CiccdOT2xto9WS8TShnGuIgQmylo64xRdJ9mLKfx1boqXtFW eW1kr6oSiRnbcGSzeouBuGrds_GaDDiu1LrIISF-dBPBWb4F50OYyk86bSEWmmXifQrU/s4000/Chafford%20General%20view.jpg)
We arrived at the Chafford bang on the dot of our stated arrivaltime, and we were obviously expected. A table for two had been laid out in asection of the Lounge Bar, and after a group of diners seated, a short distanceaway, finished their meal and departed, we had that particular part of the pubto ourselves. A couple of young female graduates were sat in the area behind us.I know they were graduates because they’d been talking about coursework andfinal examinations, and we couldn’t help overhearing their conversation, butapart from the two ladies, we had the bar to ourselves.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AXykLWGPB1_QUoYjKeSJ6b_jhBg2cl64ZhlSOrR4gC AX2h-5MIy60dgnq9230iwYhpzowFAjFgrlhbkc8cJfM0Efi632vfxrX OGETmoDKbzVkAFXW1WRaCcWA59fC-kFTq8i4_y0CeoVbg7bzh8VpADjta8umfWtmmKmPOPZCr2tGev4 2HcKfKNGJck/w400-h300/Chafford%20Public.JPG (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AXykLWGPB1_QUoYjKeSJ6b_jhBg2cl64ZhlSOrR4gC AX2h-5MIy60dgnq9230iwYhpzowFAjFgrlhbkc8cJfM0Efi632vfxrX OGETmoDKbzVkAFXW1WRaCcWA59fC-kFTq8i4_y0CeoVbg7bzh8VpADjta8umfWtmmKmPOPZCr2tGev4 2HcKfKNGJck/s2048/Chafford%20Public.JPG)Things were different in the Public Bar, where there seemedto be quite a lot of laughter and banter going on. I'm delighted to say thatthe Chafford has that rarest of things these days, namely two bars, althoughsome of us are old enough to remember when two or more bars in a pub, was thenorm. It’s no exaggeration to say that having two, or sometimes even more barsin a pub was a good idea, and the misguided brewers, pub companies and privatelandlords who knocked down the dividing walls, to create a barn-like space, inthe name of egalitarianism, have a lot to answer for.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8CFtTQOgqSa6ey5HfRGx48fKo5uQKyw_UflYSenhTp-WyI2gBuX6S8izxd6OfAZ15YbUjOfI0pvnSqVrtd_gUf8nzeJfh yVrroN6vxj38dIJU8SoBV8oOkSxk9ruLh_AceQxz-L-Nt-dojBaa1537-Obfdw0GmUsF5aOmyppUZcufCYks56eV35Pd7o/w400-h286/Chafford%20side%20view.JPG (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8CFtTQOgqSa6ey5HfRGx48fKo5uQKyw_UflYSenhTp-WyI2gBuX6S8izxd6OfAZ15YbUjOfI0pvnSqVrtd_gUf8nzeJfh yVrroN6vxj38dIJU8SoBV8oOkSxk9ruLh_AceQxz-L-Nt-dojBaa1537-Obfdw0GmUsF5aOmyppUZcufCYks56eV35Pd7o/s1982/Chafford%20side%20view.JPG)
I didn't recognise the landlady, but I certainly recognisedher husband, due to his distinctive Geordie accent. Having just two cask aleson the bar seems to work well for the pub, with Larkin’s Traditional and Harvey’sSussex Best representing a line-up that has been unchanged for many years, and I'mpretty certain this choice has not changed since my last visit 13 years ago. Iwent for Harvey’s, which was in fine form, whilst Matthew, who had to bedifferent, went for an Amstel.
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Food wise I opted for the fish pie, always a favourite in my book.Matthew chose scampi and chips, and his plate was really piled high with bothchips and Dublin Bay prawns (was that really what people used to call scampi?).The fish pie was excellent - smoked cod, salmon & crayfish in a creamysauce topped with cheesy mash, according to the menu, served with fresh steamedvegetables, for those who like to get their five a day.
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The pub itself was spotlessly clean and well kept, with afriendly welcome and a good all-round ambience. For those not offended by 1960’sseaside postcards, there was some really corny examples in the gents. I couldn’tresist a photo, so for fans of “toilet porn” here are a few relics from abygone, and much simpler age. We didn’t venture into the Public Bar, on thisoccasion, but as I discovered, 13 years ago, it’s ideal for walkers – with potentiallymuddy boots, people with dogs, or just those who appreciate slightly simplerand more basic surroundings.Matthew, who was rather dismissive when I suggested a visit,“it’s never open,” was his comment, ended up being won over, and I shall alsobe taking Mrs PBT’s along to the Chafford, next time she fancies a mealout. The ladies she dined with, that same evening, were also full of praise forthe Ivy House, so perhaps after a slightly bumpy recent history, that pub is alsodelivering in terms of good food and ambience – no reports about the beer,though!
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