|
From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Secret Drinker, 21 April 2023.
Secret Drinker reviews The Poet in Matfield, near Paddock Wood.
Pub, not a pub, pub, not a pub. I’ll tell you exactly what I found at
The Poet in Matfield, near Paddock Wood, and let you decide.
The traditional sign meant I spotted it easily and the barmaid who
stepped up to serve me could not have been more welcoming and friendly.
There were five or six options available on draught but I immediately
narrowed my choice to two – a 3.9% Scaramanga Pale Ale from the Gun
Brewery and a classic 4% Sussex Best from Harvey’s.
Unusually for me, I took up position on a stool at the bar, though
before trying to move one take my advice and have a session at the gym
as they weigh a proverbial tonne.
I opted for a pint of the Bond villain, which I chose because it was a
refreshing, zesty session ale, the fact it’s gluten free and vegan
friendly weren’t key to the decision but they can’t do any harm.
With a darned good pint in hand I took account of my surroundings. The
music playing was straight out of a hotel lift even Shazam chose to
ignore such bland background piano nonsense.
Lined up neat and tidy against the bar, I shifted one of the stools just
a few inches and immediately knew I’d had a workout!
The vast majority of the place is set up for dining with 13 tables of
various sizes and, by the admission of both barmaids, this is ‘more of a
restaurant with a bar, than strictly a pub’.
However, they do get a number of regulars who enjoy the relaxed,
slightly more upmarket feel of the place and are more than happy to pop
in for a chat and a few pints. And, I think I must make the point at
this early stage, both the pints I selected were priced under a fiver.
Apart from my good self, there were only two other customers in on this
quiet lunchtime and they were definitely ‘ladies wot lunch’, though it
wasn’t long before they headed off in their rather nice motors.
After they departed I was left as the sole punter and the barmaids took
advantage of a few spare moments to go through future staffing lists and
shared a very frank discussion about the various pros and cons, as they
saw them, of the other team members.
I felt it only fair to pipe up and remind them of my presence, to which
the blonde barmaid replied: “Oops, I keep forgetting you’re there”.
I took the opportunity to ask why they were serving Sussex, rather than
Kent, ales? Though the answer was not surprising, in so much as they are
an Enterprise house and tied to the brewery.
However, the pub has recently changed ownership and the two guys who
have just entered into business together only met each other three
months ago. And at this point they also entered the pub and headed
upstairs for an impromptu business meeting.
If the following hubbub was anything to go by, not to mention the
raucous laughter, which could be heard all the way downstairs in the
bar, I have to assume the venture is going fairly well so far.
The previous owners had been in charge for about eight or nine years
and, whilst everyone got on okay, the barmaids were in agreement that a
change is as good as a rest and it had been time for a change.
Perfectly blending the old with the new, note the wonderfully
traditional floor. And, given the low ceilings and small windows the
restaurant area at the back was surprisingly light.
At this stage I popped to the loo and can report the gents were superbly
maintained, very fresh and spotlessly clean. Size wise I’d have to say
it’s bijou and the book shelf wallpaper gives a further impression of a
closed-in space. There was an apology that the hand drier was out of
action but plenty of hand towels had been provided instead.
When I returned to the bar, I too decided it was time for change and had
shifted across to a pint of Harvey’s Sussex Best. It was equally well
kept and having been served with another good pint I was definitely
erring towards ‘this qualifies as a pub’.
The small double-doored wood burner sits elegantly in a double-sided
fireplace. I could definitely see myself in one of these armchairs with
a pint before Sunday lunch.
I took a wander out back and was pleased to find an extensive garden
area with a large seating area and as soon as the spring weather finally
kicks in I’m sure it will be well used. The marquee frame isn’t
currently covered, but I was assured that by the time events in the
summer calendar come along the garden will fully up and running.
I’d now seen enough to answer the question posed at the start of this
review and, having had two very acceptable pints of beer sat at the bar,
felt I could overlook the large number of dining tables surrounding me
and the ‘not so cheap’ A la Carte menu, to declare The Poet a pub. And
there’s no need for the accounts department back in the my office to
panic, I suspected my expenses wouldn’t swallow a £13.95 chocolate
fondant so I passed on a pud!
There’s still a fair bit of work to be done in the pub garden before it
is ready for spring visitors but I’m assured it is all in hand.
All part of the pub’s charm, there are so many interesting items dotted
about – this ancient iron was being used as a doorstop in the toilet.
Small but perfectly formed, the gents is tiny but was impeccably
presented when I was in. |
