Mrs RM had phoned the Spotted Dog in Penshurst to ask if we could leave our campervan in their car park overnight.
Well, you know my views on phoning pubs, it starts there and before you know it you’re asking for tasters.
But I guess the end justifies the means, and 15 minutes after that Edenbridge tick we were parked up in the heart of the Kentish Weald.
No charge (and no facilities) but it’s only fair you use the pub, and luckily Mrs RM’s pick is a recent-ish GBG entry with Larkins and Harveys on the bar.
A weather-boarded wonder, though by 7pm the weather was taking a turn for the worse.
The front area had the heaters, but they were packed with the sort of youth that used to drive Mrs RM out here on Saturday nights from Tunbridge Wells in the ’80s. There was no plaque commemorating her visit, though.
So we had to go round the side to the rear garden, which sounded like a demotion.
I sneaked a look at the “rustic” bar and tight beer range.
“****” I said, admiring the unexpectedly glorious view,
and scaring a six year I’ll call Emily who was sitting on the steps. Sorry, Emily. You’ll hear far worse in Tonbridge.
We ordered fast, as the temperature dipped from mild to chilled in 30 minutes.
Someone on Kentish Paul’s ever excellent blog just asked him how the Larkins was drinking; here it was cool and foamy but a bit lacking in body. The Harvey’s was excellent though (NBSS 3+).
The table behind us were at the “merry” stage, and keen to tell us how good their food was, and how they like their steak “still mooing on the plate“.
We stuck to a few starters such as tikka bites and houmous which were as good as Mrs Moo promised.
Then the conversation quickly deteriorated into a debate about roadkill.
“This pigeon was doing 60 on the Chichester bypass, head stuck in the grill all the way to Bognor !“.
How I’ve missed pub conversation about roadkill. Mrs RM weighed in with her own reminiscences about the confusion arising between “peasants” and “pheasants” and her conviction that my (future) mother-in-law was a murderer.
Back in the campervan, Baa Baa Toure closed his ears and hid.
retiredmartin 
You know I can’t ever begin one of these comments without first pointing out a line that I got a good chuckle out of, and this time it was this one: “There was no plaque commemorating her visit, though.”
Though truthfully I was laughing all the way through; you were in top form on this entry!
I was trying to guess which “****” it was that you said, and I’ve come up with at least two really good options. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so much easier to do these posts about pubs that are open than ones that are closed, Mark !
Mrs RM is excellent at picking up on conversations too ;-0
It was “Look”, I guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really beautiful. I can see why Mrs RM became a pub person.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“THAT PERENNIAL PENSHURST PHEASANT v PEASANT PROBLEM”
That was (a)literally a good post title!
“to ask if we could leave our campervan in their car park overnight.”
That almost sounds like a Country & Western song title.
“But I guess the end justifies the means, ”
A-yup.
“but it’s only fair you use the pub, and luckily Mrs RM’s pick is a recent-ish GBG entry with Larkins and Harveys on the bar.”
Well, it IS Kent. 😉
“There was no plaque commemorating her visit, though.”
Your campervan has two beds, right? 😉
“I sneaked a look at the “rustic” bar and tight beer range.”
(slow golf clap) for the potted plant photo. 🙂
““****” I said, admiring the unexpectedly glorious view,”
All I can say is: ‘On England’s pleasant pastures seen?’
“Sorry, Emily. You’ll hear far worse in Tonbridge.”
Or most places really! 😉
“The Harvey’s was excellent though (NBSS 3+).”
Kentish Paul has always praised it.
“and how they like their steak “still mooing on the plate“.”
Of course, I read that as ‘mooning’. 😉
“Then the conversation quickly deteriorated into a debate about roadkill.”
Deteriorated? 🙂
“Mrs RM weighed in with her own reminiscences about the confusion arising between “peasants” and “pheasants” and her conviction that my (future) mother-in-law was a murderer.”
Future? Hang on.
“Back in the campervan, Baa Baa Toure closed his ears and hid.”
Should have put him/her in the boot. 🙂
Cheers
LikeLiked by 2 people
She was my future mother-in-law when that incident happened as the future Mrs RM would have been about 8.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. In context that makes more sense now. 🙂
LikeLike
Nice autumn colours for April, Martin!
LikeLiked by 2 people
The seasons are late/early in this neck of the woods, Etu!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had every intention of a fleeting lunchtime visit to the Spotted Dog, but the best laid plans and all that!
A lovely old pub which still keeps a good pint, despite the emphasis on food. I’m sure my “friend” Greengrass will approve that the Harvey’s was in good condition!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Solid pub = good pub
LikeLike