insideKENT Magazine Restaurant Guide 2014 | Seite 42

THE BULL HOTEL
The charming village of Wrotham on Kent’s glorious
North Downs is now home to an idyllic gem in the shape
of The Bull, a rambling former 14th century coaching inn
with a fascinating history that has been lovingly
refurbished by visionary owner Martin Deadman.
Their passion is evident in every aspect of the bespoke
refurbishment of this historical building, which has been
achieved with a total commitment to restoring the heavily
beamed inn’s original beauty, including the grand open
?replaces and fabulous ?oorboards in the restaurant and
pub and the ancient ovens in The Buttery function room,
testament to its role as the original village bakery.
Upstairs, Martin’s ?air for design comes into its own.
From ‘boutique chic’ to ‘rural retreat’, each of the 11
cosy en-suite rooms has been individually styled using
heritage paints and lavishly comfortable furnishings, while
preserving all the wonderful traditional features.
Martin’s passion and eye for detail are also apparent in
The Bull’s innovative menu, devised in collaboration with
head chef James Hawkes, a professional with over 20
years’ experience. The modern British menu makes
delicious use of the highest-quality seasonal produce
from the wealth of fantastic local producers wherever
possible – from free-range eggs laid by happy hens at
nearby Woods Farm to local cheeses like Winterdale
Shaw produced just down the road, and incidentally
given the royal seal of approval by Prince Charles, who
declared it ‘marvellous’.

purée or ?llet of line caught cod with smoked trout
croquette, wild garlic leaf sauce and tarragon-crushed
new potatoes. The steaks are already local legends –
suppliers Hartley Bottom Farm, less than six miles away,
hang the beef for 30 days exclusively for the Bull.
Irresistible desserts are a speciality too, with imaginative
combinations like ginger parkin with hot spiced treacle
sauce and banana ice cream or zesty lemon posset and
lavender shortbread.
As well as more formal dining, the Bull also offers great
pub lunches in the atmospheric bar and cracking Sunday
roasts, as well as putting on some very popular themed
events – the Jazz and Dine evenings are fast becoming a
must-do for the lucky locals. And of course, this is an inn
at its heart so as you’d expect there’s a fabulous variety
of ales, including a new range of artisan beers made in
London, as well as an extensive, well-priced wine list with
a great selection by the glass.
Sounds too good to be true – until you cross the
threshold at the brilliant Bull.

Bull Lane
Wrotham, Sevenoaks
TN15 7RF
01732 789800
[e-mail]
www.thebullhotel.com

A la carte dishes might include a starter of home-cured
and smoked duck breast with hazelnuts and apple gin
shot followed by mains of Harvel House slow roast belly
of pork with cassoulet, wilted spinach and grapefruit

@thebullwrotham
/BullWrotham

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