November 2025. Thurnham. Maidstone.
Into posh Kent and the North Downs we go, for a night in Rye before opera with the in-laws. There may be something in that last sentence to make you a tad jealous. I’m betting it’s not opera.
A smattering of new Guide entries for Kent in GBG26, but our first one feels like a possible classic,
albeit one you feel that you ought to know already. It had probably been a fixture in the Good PUB Guide,
Thornham’s pub is a couple of miles east of Bearsted, possibly Maidstone’s smuggest (for good reason) suburb and home to a gastropub where 3 years ago I had to entertain 3 girls under 5 for an hour. And then drive Simon round pubs.
The Black Horse doesn’t have toddlers grinding pasta into the carpets, because there aren’t any carpets,
but with its hanging hops, Chesterfields, real fires and obligatory photo of the 1974 1st XI, runners up in the Maidstone Hospital Invitational Cup, it’s very much destination dining pub.
And that’s OK, it really is. Space for drinkers around the bar of a vast sprawling restaurant,
cosy and cheerful, quality cask from Long Man (3+).
and the dogs don’t lick Mrs RM, for a change.
Over a niche (471 Shazams) blues soundtrack,
the talk is of triple cooked chips and the weight of the lurchers. And all is well with the world, till you remember Ashford is only 20 minutes away.
retiredmartin 
Looking after three under fives might, just about, get you ready for Simon.
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“There may be something in that last sentence to make you a tad jealous. I’m betting it’s not opera.”
And you’d be right!
“and home to a gastropub where 3 years ago I had to entertain 3 girls under 5 for an hour. And then drive Simon round pubs.”
Which was worse? 😁
“The Black Horse doesn’t have toddlers grinding pasta into the carpets, because there aren’t any carpets,”
(looks down at pic)
Pfft. And no bloody toddlers, pasta nor grinding either!
“and obligatory photo of the 1974 1st XI, runners up in the Maidstone Hospital Invitational Cup,”
What did we tell you about photos!
(oh wait, you didn’t take it)
“cosy and cheerful, quality cask from Long Man (3+).”
(looks down at pic)
Love the sign above the fireplace.
“and the dogs don’t lick Mrs RM, for a change.”
Must be the new haircut. 😊
“And all is well with the world, till you remember Ashford is only 20 minutes away.”
I think every area has its ‘town’ version of the Hatfields and the McCoys (or Montague and Capulets?).
“CAMRA rural pub outing 1992”
I do believe you have that mixed up with hop picking in Kent, either the Goldings or Fuggles.
Cheers
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Reminds me of the Bull at Benenden. Excellent food, but the feel and welcome is still a pub. I have to admit to missing the Good Pub Guide in it’s Alistair Aird days. A cross check with the GBG always guaranteed decent beer and food.
TWM
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We stayed in the Bull during April 2006.
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Back in COVID times, whilst walking the North Downs Way, I treated myself to an overnight stay at the Black Horse. I’m sure it is a destination dining pub now, and probably was back in 2021, but I remember the place from the time I lived in Maidstone (1979- 85), when it was a little more basic.
I was fitter too, back in those days, and would cycle there from Maidstone. Uphill most of the way there, but a great “freewheel” all the way home! Fremlin’s Tusker, too, so what more could a person want?
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Jealous of Rye, certainly not the opera. Pub looks great. Was attempting to stay in Kent for a week in the summer but every available cottage was much too near to motorway noise.
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I had a nice lunch there when I was walking the North Downs Way with a friend. The Pilgrims Way goes past the pub which I cycled with a friend. Thurnham Castle is at the top of the North Downs. It’s just the remains of a few walls but with great views.
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It looked a lovely little village.
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Timelessness is everything, and that pub does very well on that point, if your pictures are a good account, Martin
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A favourite of ours although we tend to go in Summer & sit outside . Pauline
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Need that one (and handy to get to Lydd’s first ever entry). And Russ is back on the comments. Happy Days. Pubmeister
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Lydd’s first ever entry ? Wow. Need to get there while I’m down in Sussex/Kent.
Not many entries round here. Even the Ypres Castle can’t make t ! (I’m sure there’s a very good reason).
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The landlord of the Dolphin in Lydd is leaving on 31 January “to concentrate on my family”.
Usual story. Get in the GBG, leave before the tickers arrive.
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