retiredmartin

January 2026. Markbeech. Kent.

A last new GBG entry ticked in Kent, not too far from either Kentish Paul or the in-laws.

Sadly, a flying visit to the Kentish Horse at Markbeech, only a mile or so from the legendary Queen’s Arms at Cowden Pound.

It’s also barely half an hour’s walk from Cowden station, though my attempt to visit from Rye was rather doomed to failure.

Four hours and four changes from the Kent border, quicker and cheaper for Simon from York.

British rail pricing is very exciting.

No wonder everyone had driven. A packed car park at 14:45 on Tuesday, all of them, staff included, older than us. Frankly, it’s great to see.

A challenging beer choice,

but Larkins picks itself round here, as Paul noted recently.

It’s a characterful pint, carrying a fair bit of flavour at 3.4%, though even more chilled than Mrs RM’s Guiness 0.0 (yes, she’s started again).

The main trade is a belated gentle folk Christmas party (NOT Kent CAMRA), hats and all, tucked round the back. We’d have had lunch here, too, but we miss last orders by 2 minutes and have to make do with poppadoms in the campervan.

You get the picture. Food led, Old Boys at the bar, proper seating, cheery staff.

I mean, you’d always pick the Queen’s Arms, wouldn’t you ? But that only opens 12 hours a week, the Kentish Horse 76.5. Horses forn courses.