insideKENT Magazine Issue 43 - October 2015 | Page 52

FOOD+DRINK

A KENTISH HIDDEN GEM:

THE GROVE FERRY
Set on the tranquil banks of the beautiful River Stour, The Grove Ferry is tucked neatly
away, peaceful and pretty, and full of the joys of Kent. BY LISAMARIE LAMB

There are pigs and chickens in the garden (and
a rooster named Elvis), fresh herbs and vegetables
growing, a lovely deck from which patrons can
watch the world go by as the narrow boats
trundle down the river, and a feeling of having all
the time in the world to enjoy either the lovely
pub gardens or the comfortable, cosy interior.
In fact, even if it is chilly, customers can still relax
on the terrace; there are warm blankets available
for anyone to use if they fancy taking in the fresh
air into the autumn months.
And that sort of attention to detail, that kind of
kindness, is what sets The Grove Ferry apart
from many other restaurant pubs around. There
is a chess board for customer enjoyment – when
I visited the chefs and waiting staff made a move
when they passed, but anyone could join in.
There is food for the pigs (called Pickle, Sam,
and Bilbo) so you can spend time feeding them
before feeding yourself. There are dog biscuits
ready for man’s best friend. There is anything
and everything that anyone could need to enjoy
either a quick drink, a leisurely meal, a stunning
private party, or even a gorgeous overnight stay

(The Grove Ferry is a hotel as well with rustic yet
comfortable rooms ready to welcome guests).
Head chef, Mark Hewitt, has created a menu full
of classic British dishes with a modern and
exciting – and tasty – twist. What’s really wonderful
about all of the food served at The Grove Ferry
is that everything is local. Some of it comes from
the village butcher, some from Whitstable (the
fish is excellent there), and some of it is even
closer to home – the pub’s chickens provide the
eggs and the allotment provides the veg. This is
local sourcing down to a fine art.
Food may be the main draw when coming to
The Grove Ferry, but there is a superb drinks
menu too, featuring some intriguing cocktails
using locally grown lavender and some terrific
cask ales from the pub’s very own taproom.
From traditional Kentish ales, guest ales, and
international lagers (from local brewery, Shepherd
Neame), there is something for everyone to enjoy,
whether you prefer the crisp tang of a fresh and
feisty lager or the long, lingering taste of a
delicately flavoured ale.

52

The insideKENT team visited as a group to say
goodbye to two of our staff who are moving on
to new and exciting things, and it was at The
Grove Ferry that we chose to have our gettogether. Pulling up to the pub and hotel, I was
impressed by how pretty it looked; like an old
country house rather than a pub, but no less
welcoming for that. Various boards outside let
me know where to go, who to look out for, and
what to see, and, after a quick glance at the pigs
opposite the front door, I went in to find the rest
of our party. We were seated on a lovely long
table with views out over the Great River Stour
– we probably even saw Pete the ferryman glide
along, although we weren’t aware of him at the
time (if you time your visit right, you can enjoy a
lovely trip along the river with Pete before or after
your meal).
The dining room is light and bright, with large
picture windows letting in the wonderful view.
It’s not crowded either, which is always a bonus;
no one wants to eat a meal, no matter how good
it is, with the worry of someone else’s elbow
entering their own personal space, or the fear of