If you take the A26 from Crowborough towards Tunbridge Wells (in god's own county of Sussex), after about a couple of miles, on the right, you'll come across a classic old Pub set back from the road called The Boars Head.
From the outside you can see at once that this is no ordinary boozer. It's low doors, tile hung facade, and huge chimney stack, tells you that you are about to enter a beer drinker's Jerusalem.
At this time of year, there is always a fire slowly burning in the huge 17th century inglenook; no enclosed wood-burner here, just flames and a wisp of smoke.
The beer is courtesy of the wonderful Harvey's in Lewes, and your pork pie, ploughman's, or pack of pork scratchings will be served to you by a beautiful Sussex wench with a welcoming smile. What could be better?
OK, I've lived less than half my life in England (and about 14 of those years were pre-beer), but I've still managed to assess the standards of many a Pub, and I can assure you that this is THE VERY BEST.
(Don't believe anything anyone might mention to the contrary)
29 comments:
Sounds good -never been thee and never likely to now.
Looks good, historic pub in the Good Beer Guide.... three regular beers; Fuller's London Pride, Harveys Sussex Best Bitter and a “Locale”.... Westerham Grasshopper Kentish Bitter.... all food home cooked.... mmmmmmm, nice!! Specialising in game.... even better....
Not tastes anything from the last brewery... but it serves my wife’s favourite.... and that and anything from Harvey’s will do me.... they do a good range of bottles! But the GBG doesn’t mention anything about those....shame!!
I may go again, but not sure when.
I hadn't thought of looking at the GBG. I used to drink Fuller's in London; I lived near the brewery.
Perfect place for foreigners to lap up the english atmosphere and drink a good beer - I wonder if we'll ever make it!
I have been to some wonderful little village pubs, taken by cousins who live nearby in both cases. I wonder if they still exist.
It looks very welcoming. Is it like the "bars" here where family with children may enter?
Greetings Maria x
There are hundreds of wonderful Pubs in Britain, but this one is quite special.
Many of these old Pubs are now what they call 'Gastro-Pubs', where they serve really excellent food. I think that they are mostly family oriented. The old fashioned 'boozer' probably remains 'adults only'.
I live not too far from this pub and I agree Susses (East particularly) is god's own country. It is one of the best pubs I have been in (and there have been many!). Regard's Sue H.
I am glad that the pub is still doing well having just read SH comment above. The entry of the gastro pub has more or less knocked the simple ploughman's lunch and a pint on the head around here and closed-down pubs are everywhere as drinking culture changes although I think the closures are slowing.
We used to go quite often; my wife's people lived in Crowborough. I shall soon post about the world's second best pub; stay tuned. I'm sure you'll know it too!
I think the 'gastro pub' has saved many from closing. Good food probably makes more money than beer.
You need to visit the North of England (and Wales) my good sir. There are still many untouched genuine old pubs with open fires and excellent beers.
And I have visited many of them. You'd need to visit The Boar's Head to experience the best!
We have one or two good old pubs up here but they usually have to do food as well in order to survive now that the drinking laws are so strict (rightly so).
I almost moved to Sussex after I read this. Either you love pubs or you don't. I think you know how I feel about them, or good ones. They were talking about George Orwell's fictitious pub (The Moon Under Water?) the other day. It has every single ingredient which is required for the perfect pub, all under one roof. I don't think that such a pub has ever existed.
The government have done their best to ruin our Pubs. Too many regulations, too much tax.
It has; it's called The Boar's Head, but you knew that!
You mean it's better than the Old Dungeon Ghyll?
What's all this about no go zone in Paris and train drivers on the metro refusing to stop there? Everyone know these no go zones don't exist. They are only in our imaginations. And the 1,000 cars torched over there on New Years Eve that's just high spirits . . . La Belle France it still exists, Non?
You're telling me The Old Dungeon is still going?
The torching of cars by the unwashed hordes is a new year tradition in the more Middle Eastern occupied quarters of Paris, and other large cities. Each has his/her own way of welcoming the new year!
next time you're over here try the Honest Miller near Wye..hope its still as good as it was when we vsited
You can't beat a good old traditional English pub.
I intend to try as many as possible, even though I'll probably be shocked by the price of a pint.
Maybe we should open one here!
Six weeks into our move to Hythe, all the man wanted was in his words ‘An honest boozer!’ We have found one, just a mere quarter of a mile away. No piped music, no tv, no fruit machine, no food. They have four cask ales that change two a week, wine, lager and cider. We go early doors on a Friday about five-ish, pay cards and generally soak up the honest to goodness, old fashion, no frills pub... a dying breed.
You describe a rare beast, I hope it lasts. If you ever feel like a day trip away from Kent, and heading for E Sussex, try the Boar's Head. Your husband might even wish to move house again!
(Fullers) London Pride is the best beer in the UK, to my mind. And available in all good supermarkets!
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