insideKENT Magazine Issue 95 - February 2020 | Page 69

TOWNSPOTLIGHT
SPOTLIGHT ON CHISLEHURST CONT.
CHISLEHURST CAVES
The Imperial Arms
The Imperial Arms offers everyone something to
enjoy, whether that’s a quick snack (more often than
not a homemade one) or a larger meal for dinner or
lunch. There is a lovely children’s menu too, and
actually families are always made welcome here so
if you’re looking for a great restaurant for the little
ones, this is the place to go. There is a fantastic,
rather well known, Sunday roast on offer every week,
but no matter when you go the menu will look
enticing, with dishes including Thai green chicken
curry, the emperor burger (not for the faint hearted!
Double bacon and cheese with Imperial aioli and
Heinz ketchup), and whole dressed lobster. housed, of course, in the high street’s former bank
building. Boasting an acclaimed team, Bank House
offers carefully selected wines, creative cocktails
and modern European small-plate dishes, which
are freshly prepared daily, using specially selected
artisan produce.
The Bull’s Head
The Bull’s Head is a gorgeous, friendly pub restaurant
that offers food created using the most seasonal and
freshest British ingredients. No matter what your
tastes, the Bull’s Head will be able to cater to you.
Some examples of the food you can order here
include Severn and Wye smoked salmon with pickled
beetroot and celeriac remoulade, meat board (smoked
BBQ ribs, slow cooked beef short rib kiev, chilli and
lime chicken wings, sour cream and chive dip and
red wine gravy), buckwheat, kale, roasted courgette,
red pepper and sun dried tomato salad, and pork
belly with root veg mash, savoy cabbage, roasted
apple and red wine gravy. Chislehurst May Queen // May
Come and celebrate the crowning of the Queen and
Prince! Entertainment includes a marching band,
dancing, fancy dress, and performances by local
drama groups.
The Thyme
In this newly refurbished restaurant space you can
enjoy authentic, traditional Italian cuisine as well as
more contemporary dishes created by the talented
chef. You can’t go wrong when you see dishes like
fettuccine alla carbonara, polpettini di granchio (fried
crab cake with tomato, chilli, red onion, and
coriander salsa) and gegato di Vitello (pan fried calf’s
liver with pancetta, cabbage mash and red wine jus),
as well as a wide variety of pizzas.
Bank House
One of the newest restaurant additions is the relaxed,
yet sophisticated, dining experience at Bank House,
Christmas Bonanza // Nov
Didn’t we say Chislehurst loves Christmas? The
Christmas Bonanza begins with a fair where you
can purchase some unique and locally made gifts,
as well as plenty of festive food, and this is followed
by the light parade. When the sun goes down the
lights go on, and the locals line the streets to enjoy
the show.
Annual Events
Chislehurst is a village with a large heart and a
fantastic community spirit, so it’s no surprise that
there are a number of annual events that take place
throughout the year. Here are just a few!
Summer Fair // Jun
The annual Chislehurst Summer Fair takes place
every June on Chislehurst Common, and is jam
packed full of arts and crafts, stalls, games, and
entertainment. It really is a community event, and
it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet and greet old
friends and new.
Chislehurst Rocks // Sep
Chislehurst Rocks is an amazing free music event
that happens every September. With two stages,
rides, refreshments, workshops, a fun fair, and
animals, this is a music festival with a difference.
Open to all ages, this a very special family day out
at the end of each summer. Past acts include Neon
District, The 286, and Night Owl.
Christmas Tree Festival // Nov
Christmas is a special time in Chislehurst, with a
number of different events taking place. One of the
favourites, however, is the Christmas Tree Festival.
This is where people can show off their decorating
skills, and give others ideas on how it should be done.
Top Spot
The Chislehurst Caves are probably the most famous
attraction in Chislehurst. The caves are open from
Sunday to Wednesday (and every day during
school holidays), and the only way to access the
interior is on a guided tour which takes between 45
minutes and one hour. Known as caves, this
attraction is actually more like a series of underground
(30 metres underground) passages stretching for 22
miles in total.
Your guide will take you on a journey of true
discovery, with just a lamp lighting the way. It’s
atmospheric, fascinating, and creepy, and shouldn’t
be missed. With free parking, a café and a gift shop,
visiting the Chislehurst Caves is an excellent way to
spend some time.
Did You Know?
So many people used the Chislehurst Caves
as a place to stay safe during World War II that
it’s little wonder a baby was born down there.
The parents of the child were so grateful to
have somewhere for their baby to be born during
the bombing that they named her Cavena
Rose Wakeman.
69