insideKENT Magazine Issue 97 - April 2020 | Page 80

FOOD+DRINK THE WARMEST OF WELCOMES, THE MOST DELICIOUS HOMEMADE TREATS AND AN AFTERNOON TO REMEMBER AWAITS AT THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, R Y A R S H THE STUNNING, DOUBLE-FRONTED HERITAGE HOME OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON DATES BACK TO 1516. STANDING PROUDLY IN THE VILLAGE OF RYARSH, NEAR TO WEST MALLING, OWNERS JON AND HELEN HAVE BEEN AT THE HELM SINCE 2004, ESTABLISHING AN ENVIABLE REPUTATION NOT ONLY WITH THE WEST KENT LOCALS WHO FLOCK THERE FOR THE WELCOMING, FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE, CASK ALES AND INCREDIBLY TASTY, PLENTIFUL AND EXTREMELY REASONABLY PRICED HOME- COOKED FOOD; BUT ALSO WITH THEIR LOYAL BAND OF STAFF SOME OF WHOM, OUR WAITRESS OF THE AFTERNOON LIZ INCLUDED, HAVE BEEN DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THEIR TEAM FOR OVER 25 YEARS! BY SAMANTHA READY In fact, from the moment you arrive you can see that staff are part of the Duke family and that their genuinely friendly welcome extends to all guests, whether part-of-the-furniture locals, members of the bowls league who play just outside and pop in for tea, or, like us, visiting newbies. Arrival to the pretty white building offers a labrinth style decision at the front door - do you go left or right? Well left leads you to the traditional pub bar, with its roaring fire and plentiful cask ales - the perfect spot for a comfortable drink (or two!). We instead headed through the right-hand door, entering into the cosy, snug dining room. With its low wooden beamed ceiling, traditional high wooden bar stools and strung with dried hops, the atmosphere was further enhanced by the roaring open fire, twinkly fairy lights and the simple vases of fresh daffodils adjourning each table. Arriving to experience firsthand the Duke’s renown afternoon tea, our own corner table was temptingly set with pretty floral tea cups, plates, teapots, silver cutlery and slightly alarmingly an empty afternoon tea tiered stand. Sensing our expectation, a beaming Helen arrived “Don’t worry there’s plenty coming, Jon’s been baking enough all morning.” Liz whipped 80 away the empty stand, produced a heaving coffee pot for our non-tea drinking guests, and indulged us with a glass of prosecco too, all before Helen reappeared with the tiered stand now heaving with treats! Afternoon tea must be pre-booked at the Duke of Wellington, as everything is freshly made to order, every single morning - and it was wonderful! The bottom tier finger sandwiches offered all the classic favourites; egg mayonnaise, ham and mustard, smoked salmon, cucumber and cream cheese, coronation chicken and a delightful chicken mayonnaise. Promptly devoured, we could resist the allure of the freshly baked scones no more… The crumbly, sweet, scones, of which you get one fruit and one plain each, perfectly pulled apart, allowing us to laden them with fresh clotted cream and a wonderful homemade raspberry jam. We relished every bite - just devine! insideKENT’s sweetest toothed team members had no hesitation in diving into the beautifully presented platter of mini cakes and pastries; chocolate brownies, coffee eclairs, macarons, mini sponge cakes and, the table’s unanimous favourite, the divine raspberry mousse tartlets - we were actually congratulated by a neighbouring table for our efforts in devouring the entire plate - everything was seriously good! With freshly prepared afternoon tea available for just £20pp (£25pp with Prosecco), we are already planning our return visit! Duke of Wellington Birling Road Ryarsh West Malling ME19 5LS [email protected] 01732 842 318 www.dukeofwellingtonryarsh.com dukeofwellington_ryarsh Liz reappeared, teas and coffees were topped up and we were off again on our afternoon tea adventure, as it was time to tackle the cake plate!