As we were driving along Chiddingstone Causeway in a beautiful rural area of west Kent we passed this pub, which is near Penshurst Station, and turned round as soon as we could and drove back to see if they had a table free for the three of us. We needn’t have worried – it is huge, with lots of tables inside, and out. On entering there’s a large bar and the restaurant wraps around the bar so there is plenty of seating in the large space behind the bar as well as all the tables on view as you enter. There were plenty of empty tables on the day we were there and the garden has lots more seating and areas for children to play. I imagine it gets very busy in the summer especially at weekends. IT IS CLOSED ON TUESDAYS.
The staff were welcoming and let us choose our own table and then a waitress quickly brought us menus. The menu had plenty of lunch options, with typical `gastro pub` prices. I chose ham, egg and chips (£14.95) as I have to avoid milk and cream and at the time of visit I was also avoiding gluten. My husband and my adult son both chose Mac ‘n Cheese (£13.95) and could have had ham added for an extra £1.20. My ham was very good, thick sliced and moist. There were two fried eggs, cooked exactly as I like them – no uncooked white! The triple cooked chips were good too but rather too many for me and in addition there was home-made picallili and a mixed leaf salad. The macaroni cheese came with two slices of garlic bread and and mixed salad. All dishes were very good value, especially when you consider that it’s in an affluent area. I think we could have had a mid-week special two or three course lunch but we were on our way to Chiddingstone Castle so didn’t want to spend too long eating.
The décor, specifically the pictures and photos on the wall and books in a library area, had probably been professionally curated as none of them seemed to relate to anything from that locality but it all added to the atmosphere. The toilets were well kept and clean.
There are a couple of steps at the front entrance but a sign pointed round a corner to an accessible entrance.
If I’m ever in that area again I would definitely pay the Little Brown Jug another visit.