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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Secret Drinker, 13 March 2020.
Secret Drinker reviews the Red Lion pub, Badlesmere, near Faversham.
Heading along the A251 with the rain pelting down and a grumbling tum I
decided I would pull up at the very next pub, no matter what it looked
like.
So, that’s how I ended up dodging the puddles in the car park looking
for the quickest way into the Red Lion at Badlesmere, near Faversham.
Take care if you walk round the front of the pub, the Red Lion is only
about a foot away from the main road at one point.
I have to say the pub is incredibly close to the road and from the side
entrance doesn’t look overly inviting.
However, once you’re through the door and your eyes adapt to the
slightly dark interior you’ll quickly realise you’ve made exactly the
right choice.
Strings of beautiful, still-green Kent hops are hung around the beams
and there are traditional horse brasses and proper pub furniture
throughout.
A mere glance along the bar immediately informs you this is a free house
and, even more interestingly, that your host is prepared to serve a few
lesser known beverages.
Breaking with tradition, and only because I was Hank Marvin, I placed my
food order before even considering what I might have to drink. But, with
a three egg omelette and chips in the offering, I transferred my full
attention to barmaid Linda and, having tasted a few options, was sold on
the Montgomery from the Wantsum Brewery at St Nicolas At Wade, near
Margate.
A first glance down the well-stocked bar will tell you this is a free
house which likes to bring in different beers for the locals to sample.
This is Lexie, apparently she’s a show cocker spaniel, who was lucky
enough to get her bed placed just in front of the fire.
An American hopped IPA at 4% it’s a fantastic tasting pint and you know
at once they look after their beer properly at the Red Lion.
There were two incredibly comfy-looking red chairs perfectly placed in
front of the open fire but a couple of locals had already snagged them
and their hound Lexie was well snuggled into her bed.
The electronic till was making me even more hungry as it kept showing
photos of great looking food – there’s also a traditional ding-dong
(Avon calling) style of bell to tell the bar staff when food can be
collected from the kitchen.
The fire was in and logs were being added regularly so, when the red
chairs became free, I found my perfect spot.
Traditional Kent hops look great hung from the top of the beams – though
keeping the brasses clean must be a labour of love.
When my turn came the food was absolutely superb.
None of your gastro-pub pristine presentation of just a few morsels –
no, what you get here is freshly cooked, incredibly tasty proper pub
food, it was great. I’m not sure why I chose an omelette as there was
stacks of choice on the menu but when it was delivered I was delighted
with my selection.
By now I was through the Montgomery and as the last moreish mouthful
disappeared I was particularly taken by the note at the bottom of the
glass – yes, I did ‘wantsum more’.
There’s no pool, darts, fruit machines, jukebox or anything else to
trouble you so I, like everyone else, just chatted and I discovered
Lexie, whose beard drips water as she drinks, is not only a show cocker
spaniel, she is also a hearing dog for her equally lovely owner Ruth.
While I was in a fellow from the local brewery made a fresh delivery and
I’m sure this is a pub with a well-stocked bar and great new beers on a
rapid turnaround.
I’m only able to report what I find on a particular visit, but I have to
say gazing through the torrential rain pelting the back windows I
couldn’t help but yearn for some warm sunshine as I’m sure the garden
must be great in the summer.
No-one was braving the weather the day I was in, but through the
raindrops on the window you could tell the garden must be lovely in the
summer.
Cleary a popular place for food, a good deal of the pub is set aside for
dining.
Leaving by the much more pleasant door at the back, away from the
speeding traffic, I spotted a very polite message from the pub dog
Gatsby and was just a little disappointed I didn’t get to meet him.
There are several nods to trendier pub innovations - face moisturiser in
the gents and trendy lightbulbs which don’t give out quite enough light
- but for the most part the Red Lion is pub which quite rightly believes
in maintaining traditional quality – something it does really well.
Now, there’s just one more thing I need to tell you, although I didn’t
notice this myself until I was literally about to leave.
The entire menu is gluten-free.
Well, I’m not a man who goes out of his way to be free of anything –
give me red meat, carbs, fat, salt – the more the merrier.
And, to be fair, there wouldn’t have been gluten in my meal anyway, but
to have such an interesting and extensive menu as this for folk who need
to be gluten free must be a real treat.
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