FOOD + DRINK
PRODUCED IN KENT DISCOVERS CARING CUSTOMERS ALL OVER THE COUNTY
THE LEICESTER ARMS OPENS FOR BUSINESS
Nestled in the picturesque village of Penshurst popular with historians , walkers and fans of the open air , The Leicester Arms , the first solo venture ( and COVID-19 start up !), by experienced hospitality manager , Laurence Bowes , has opened ready for diners , guests and weddings .
The pub boasts 13 bedrooms , a function suite , dining room , and a snug bar , whilst its manicured garden seats 90 people safely , with the views of the rolling hills helping to ease the anxieties of the bothersome pandemic .
Behind the bar , a diverse wine list , from affordable easy drinkers to the vintages of Burgundy , are matched only by the 30 + different gins lining the shelves . Serving the very local
Larkins Ale on tap and an assortment of European and British lagers , ales and cider , there is something for everyone .
In the kitchen , master chef Rik Marsh , previous resident at Hever Castle , has developed seasonal menus using only the very best local ingredients . The pub is proud of its food provenance . Its fish is landed at Rye , boasting the very best of the British fishing industry ; their meat , reared in neighbouring farms and butchered in Southborough , is all matured and cut to their exacting standards ; whilst their fruit and vegetables are partly grown and farmed by the pub in nearby allotments or grown locally where possible .
To say thank you to the hundreds of people across the county who have signed the # CaringCustomer pledge , a winner was chosen at random to receive a £ 100 voucher offered by Shepherd Neame , which has over 300 pubs throughout London and the South East . The appeal ran from mid- August until the 4th of September during which the Support Your Local website received over 10,000-page views .
WATERSIDE PUB REOPENS AFTER £ 1.5 MILLION TRANSFORMATION
Waterside pub The Wharf in Dartford ’ s Crossways has reopened following a £ 1.5 million transformation by Shepherd Neame .
Produced in Kent and campaign partner Visit Kent presented the winner , Gemma Keith from Marden , with her prize at Shepherd Neame ’ s The Boathouse at Yalding on September 15th . In attendance were councillor Mike Whiting of Kent County Council , chief executive of Produced in Kent , Floortje Hoette , Joanna Richardson , head of marketing , brands and communication from Shepherd Neame Brewery and Deirdre Wells from Visit Kent .
Gemma was presented with a £ 100 gift voucher for Shepherd Neame , endorsers of the # CaringCustomer campaign . Produced in Kent and Visit Kent will be looking to thank another # CaringCustomer as the second appeal runs through until the 16th of October . The appeal links up with the wine harvest , celebrating Kent Wine . A winner will again be chosen at random from those who sign the pledge in this period and will be presented with a collection of finest Kentish Wines from The Wine Garden of England . The prize will consist of 6 bottles from Hush Heath , Simpsons Estate , Squerryes , Gusbourne , Biddenden , and Chapel Down .
Additions include a new wrap around terrace - to take advantage of the pub ’ s stunning location overlooking Cotton Lake and a new outside bar ; and the large garden has been fully landscaped with new plants , furniture and lighting . Inside , The Wharf ’ s layout has been reconfigured to create a more spacious , open feel , including an open pass , allowing customers to watch the team at work and speed up the delivery of food .
To coincide with the pub ’ s new look , a delicious new food menu has been introduced .
Manager Marc Watson , who has been at the pub with wife Tracy for more than 20 years , said : “ We are absolutely overwhelmed by The Wharf ’ s new look . This investment has completely transformed the site and allowed us to make the most of our unique waterside location . We have already received an amazing amount of positive feedback from customers and hope that this refurbishment will encourage more people to visit and discover our fantastic offer .”
The Wharf is open from 11am to 11pm Monday to Thursday , 11am to midnight on Friday and Saturday ,
66