Review on The Kentish Hare
Once a dilapidated pub in the village of Bidborough that was to be demolished to make room for flats, it has been given a new lease of life and re-opened as The Kentish Hare. After undergoing an extensive refurbishment, new owners Sir Keith and Lady Maureen Mills, together with the talented Tanner brothers Chris and James, have transformed the Victorian building into a lovely stylish venue. It's been divided into a bar area with a comfy waiting area and a main dining room featuring exposed beams and smart natural wood tables. Decked out in a palette of pale shades of grey and green with some exposed brick walls, there's an open window where you can watch all the hustle and bustle of the kitchen.
The former Roux protégés Chris and James made a name for themselves at their eponymous former restaurant Tanners in Plymouth, as well as their acclaimed Barbican Kitchen, housed in the world famous Plymouth Gin distillery which they opened in 2006. Together they have created a modern menu making excellent use of the abundant supplies on their doorstep. Options worth considering could be their chicken liver parfait, blood orange, almond granola and brioche or maybe the crab gratin, crostini and parmesan before moving on to a main course of pan fried brill, brown shrimp butter, pink fir potatoes and monks beard. Meat lovers are in for a treat with their selection of succulent steaks cooked on the Kamado Joe grill and served with your choice of sauce. For a final fling there's baked rice pudding, plum jam and caraway biscuit or sticky toffee pudding paired with vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce.
Not only has The Kentish Hare been awarded two prestigious AA rosettes, an entry in the Michelin Good Pub Guide 2015, it was Newcomer of the Year at the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs 2016 and was also ranked number 6 in the Times Alfresco Britain top 50 pubs.
The Kentish Hare is also featured in: Michelin Guide, AA Guide
Rate this RestaurantCuisine
Gastro pub
Chef
Chris and James Tanner and Bobby Brown
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.00 - 2.30pm Tue-Sat (12.00 - 4.00pm Sun)
Dinner: 6.00 - 9.30pm Tue-Sat
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card