please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
We went here Friday evening 21/06/13 via The Wheatsheaf at Bough Beech which seemed closed.
The Rock is a popular pub on a summer evening with groups outside and inside enjoying a good drink.Dogs are welcome.There was a mixture of customers from suit and tie to tradesmen characters.There were a few diners.The bar staff were friendly.There were two pumps of Larkins Ale brewed locally and another guest ale.There is a garden around the back with picnic tables on a grassed area.Two pints of Larkins,pint lime and soda and three packets of crisps came to £10.40.The Larkins was very good.I can understand some of the other comments about this pub.It can be a little off putting to some people making your way through lively groups around the entrance door and through to the bar.The view to the guest ale pump was obscured by a regular at the bar but i'm sure he would have moved aside for me.We would go here again.It is just the same as when i went here 25 years ago.The stone floor and decor makes one welcome if you had been out walking or in work clothes.The toilets were clean and tidy with soap and paper towels.The car park could fill up quickly.Several cars were parked down the lane.I think this is a proper pub for a proper drink and you just have to mix in.
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I CAN ONLY ECHO THE COMMENTS HERE! I went to this pub on Sunday with my partner Kenneth to relax after a long shift. We have NO kids (thank god). We usually partake in a little PDA (public display of affection) when we get the time, as most couples do, however the matron behind the bar took HUGE offence to this and asked us to leave. I asked her what her problem was and if she would allow a straight couple to kiss and she said simply she didn't allow 'our sort' in here and ejected us. I asked for her name to report her to the Hate Crime Police and she provided it. I then tweeted about this pub to all my 3,206 Twitter followers and told them to avoid it as it was not tolerant. I have written to the Daily Mail and Mary Portas about this grossly unfair matter and will be seeking damages it is disgusting, we are planning to spend the winnings on a house in Majorca and maybe a new Porsche. Thank you to this website for alerting us to this pub, we are looking for other intolerant places to sue, if you can please PM me if you know some nearby. Thank you, Santana and Kenneth x
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Also Scrumpylicious I'd like to quote you from May 5th 2012 'This site is for reviewing pubs, not picking holes in others' comments'
I rest my case.
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Well Scrumpylicious I'm sorry to disappoint but I am not a local at all, I live in Tunbridge Wells... So whether you believe my story or not it is in fact the truth. I'm sorry if you had a bad time there but my experience has been very good, hence my positive review. Just because my time there differed to yours does not make me a liar!
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A nice, if wholly implausible, story there, KettleChip. It is so obvious that you are one of the many locals currently trying to sell your property. From what I have seen, nothing sells in that area and, judging by the locals that frequent The Rock, I am not at all surprised. A pretty little pub in a fetid backwater. What a shame.
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I went to this pub for the first time this week and I must agree with someone of the comments. When I walked in the door there was a silence as everyone stared at me for not being a local, lots of rowdy people in the bar area as they had been on a shoot. However get over this initial uncomfortable feeling and fight your way to the bar and everything is brilliant, I agree that the locals didn't want to move but a polite request and they moved aside to allow me to get a very nice pint. I sat down by the fire and found most of the locals very chatty, in fact a very interesting group of people... there were bankers in suits, game keepers in working gear and builders in jeans. I like a pint so I wasn't put off by the loudness of the group, however if I was going to go with my young niece I wouldn't choose a weekend evening but that goes for almost every pub! Long and short, I loved this pub with it's vibrant group of locals... In fact I liked so much I returned the next day!! Some locals came in from the night before and made the effort to say hello, inviting me into the local circle.... I'm now looking for houses for sale in the area!
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Lets remove the bar maids, no don't they take their tops off thats the fun.!! That why no women Piccaso, your not up to it.
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Picasso - Women should not be allowed in pubs.
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Cracking little pub. The larkins was very well kept. As was the cotleigh golden seahawk. There was another cotleigh available and they had stowford press on draft and some other cider in bottles. Didn't eat, but the menu looked tasty enough.Irrelevant of the arguments below, well worth a visit .
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I have been going to this pub on & off for years & have seen owners, managers, landlords, pint pullers, come & go. Some good some not so good (good again now) One thing remains the same - the people that drink in there. They can be loud, can be brash, can swear, can have dogs, can be wearing work clothes suited & booted, tweed or stinky old jeans, & oh dear heaven forbid there are sometimes children. Everyone turns to look when you walk in & you have to push your way to the bar if they are busy as yes everyone stands in the way. There is silence before someone asks if I would like a drink or I offer them one - phew I successfully ran the gauntlett of the locals once again! I also turn & look when the door opens - after all it may be someone I know. If not I look back, how rude I must be considered by some! It's the only pub I would happily go to on my own - I am a FEMALE - hmmmm are they allowed!
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even better, pistolknight posts the same thing twice, (and nothing else), wonder if he's related to scrumpy?, they might even run a(failing) pub together
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Well done littlecon proved the piont in your first ten words (hostile)!
I've drunk here on and off for 20yrs (seen them come and go).
food always very good ,company usually better but it is a serious drinkers pub,
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Well done littlecon proved the piont in your first ten words (hostile)!
I've drunk here on and off for 20yrs (seen them come and go).
food always very good ,company usually better but it is a serious drinkers pub,
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so who are you scrumpy?, not quite a one post, poster, You've posted twice! both about the same pub, that is a world classic, that I've never found "hostile", I wonder which failing pub you run
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This site is for reviewing pubs, not picking holes in others' comments. I stand by everything I have already said.
There is a general air of hostility towards outsiders in this pub, whether they have children or not, and I know I am not alone in feeling this. It is such a shame that you cannot pass through this beautiful area and enjoy a drink without being made to feel uncomfortable.
What these locals fail to realise is that a pub such as The Rock needs to attract outsiders for it to remain a viable business. Pubs are closing at an unprecedented rate and it would be a shame to lose another simply because the locals are too blinkered to see that they are doing this pub a disservice.
Sometimes things must adapt in order to survive in the modern world.
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"As for the selfish child-haters, they were once children themselves and someone had to put up with them!"
By and large, they didn't - at least not in a pub, as it simply wasn't the done thing to take younger kids into them until recently. I was born in the 1970s yet it still was very uncommon for pubs to allow younger children into the bar area even throughout the '80s. In 1980 my grandmother took me into a country pub near Bournemouth and politely enquired whether her grandson could sit quietly in the bar area and have an orange juice. I wasn't misbehaving (and no I wasn't quite into demanding decent beer at that stage!). The landlady politely but firmly replied "Sorry Madam; under no circumstances". This was accepted as par for the course and we moved on - to the garden if I recall! Looking back I think that was an entirely fair position to adopt and don't blame her at all, though I appreciate those with kids are likely to disagree.
It's only since the advent of pubs having to become less-drinker and more eater-orientated, and since parents insist on including their kids in every activity because they see so little of them during the working week, that it's gradually become more the norm. But even where food majors on an equal par with drink, it doesn't mean that every pub and its clientele must welcome large family groups with open arms, particularly as a vast amount of both anecdotal and observational evidence suggests that the majority of parents nowadays do not know how to ensure their offspring behave appropriately in a public environment - and that includes restaurants, shops, and other attractions. The times I've had to move or leave a pub because of noisy, careless, badly-disciplined children don't bear counting. Perhaps your family is a rare exception, but I don't blame some adult punters for being wary, at least until such time as it is manifestly proven that you and yours can behave unobtrusively.
I agree there should be no need for open hostility and personally I don't approve of that; I do give people a chance as after all pubs are now open to all and business is business. Maybe some older locals behaved poorly, but I'd be surprised if you were made to feel that unwelcome by the licensees? In any event however, some pubs are more willing to cater for children en masse and more suited to doing so. Those who want a more child-friendly approach can use one of the many alternatives (no need to resort to the depths of fast-food chains), while those who don't can relish the relative serenity of somewhere like the Rock. I don't think this pub should necessarily be reviewed so vitriolically just because it isn't a children-centric venue.
Still a 9/10 for me!
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A shockingly unwelcoming pub for such a beautiful location. What a shame. Even before entering, you are glared at in a menacing fashion by the locals sitting outside. It seems to be a private members club for child-hating, resentful, middle-aged men, who presumably live in the area. Perhaps the village mafia is alive and well around here. I wholeheartedly agree and support the comments already made in this regard. As for the selfish child-haters, they were once children themselves and someone had to put up with them!
A pub in such a beautiful area should welcome a mixture of people from all walks of life, including families. I fear a dog would get a better reception around here than a family with young children. How ridiculous.
Everyone I have spoken to since my visit have also found this pub to be totally unwelcoming to outsiders, whether you have children or not. It is full of very sad old men, clearly well past their prime, who hate any sign of family life. What an indictment to Chiddingstone Hoath.
I understand the pub has recently changed hands. Let's just hope the new owners can ring the much-needed changes. Good luck to them!
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Didn't manage to re-emerge here since the pub changed hands (twice, apparently) until March 31st, when after a nice time supporting the last seasonal meet of the OS&B-WK Hunt (sorry to all you pro-Blairites and class-envyists, though no need for sorrow over the nearby fox population as all hunting is of course now within the Law) in Chiddingstone, lunch was called for and the Rock presented itself as the nearest and best option.
I'm happy to say - and this is notwithstanding Mr Warlock's commentary below - that the pub is certainly still well-on-track, and that the newbies seem to be bedding in pretty comfortably. I was welcomed by a very convivial lady (the lady of the land?) who was efficient and knew a thing or two about pulling a pint.
The menu was still broad in scope with good veg, fish and meat options represented - had me a corking venison burger which was perhaps the finest burger I've sampled in a decade (no exaggeration); perfectly-prepared with 'home-made' chips and well-dressed salad to match. Cask-wise, although no longer the official 'brewery tap' as it were, mercifully the Larkins still prevails - the Trad was in a superb state and I would've been likewise if I'd been without the car. Porter would've probably been sublime too but it was a peculiarly hot sunny day so dark ale was not on my wishlist.
The inherent character has not at all been altered - flagstones still down, wooden beams still up, bull still with ring. All trace of cobwebs and unkemptedness were removed long ago (including Dick the miserable manager) and when alive with the patter of well-heeled rural Kenitsh locals, I think the Rock remains hard-to-beat. It needs Harris tweed; it needs labradors. Doesn't mean it's pretentious - just down to earth chatter with an undercurrent of a little extra cash! I just wish someone would volunteer to drive me here one day instead of doing the honours myself.
Sweariness and anti-family sentiment is not a mark of a civilised pubgoing clientele, though frankly I never encountered this on my last visit and I'm sorry if some have found this previously. But - and if only in the name of honest personal opinion I must say this - happily, neither did I encounter any large family groups with gaggles of tedious children cluttering up what is arguably a primarily ADULT public drinking and eating environment. There, I've said it. Each to their own.
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Can anyone please advise me?
Is it a nice walk from Cowden train station to this pub.
Takes 45 minutes from London Bridge and it's always better to have a nice walk and a nice pub.
Cheers.
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Well, I am glad the pub is getting good reviews, but it is in serious trouble if it doesn�t know it yet. There is the same potential danger with all rural pubs in this area, let alone urban, but I can think of plenty that have dealt with it.
Me and the Mrs. are not local, but popped in for a drinkie as a change on Saturday afternoon around 12:30pm,as we have always enjoyed it on the odd occasion we have been coming here over the years.
Two things were immediately noticeable: a couple of the sort of large, prosperous, well behaved families-with-dogs these pubs rely on to keep going as they actually �sit at a table� and �eat food� ; secondly, three of the type of resentful and always vaguely threatening late middle aged men who obviously have an operation over the whole area, doing the usual of firstly deliberately swearing loudly within earshot of the families, then three more turned up and INEVITABLY blocked off the remaining bar area, apart from the single file narrow passage they begrudgingly leave. (and a particular savoury detail was the way a tall one blocking off a boy from playing Ring the Bull) As if it that wasn�t enough, as we were leaving the landlady shouted at us across the bar that we hadn�t settled the tab, but of course we already had. The tabs are there to check by the bar. So why?
A small but yet major detail was telling � on the noticeboard immediately to the right as you go in, there was a printed-off-the-computer A4 size �Joke� pinned up, and the punchline would have been �Get off my f***** tractor� if they hadn�t actually spelt the F word out in full in bold letters. It makes it appear as if the management are not simply accepting swearing but condoning it.
The management might not care if me and the Mrs. never go again, which we won�t, but if WE think that, what on earth are the large groups of family and just nice men with their wives who actually want to pay for a meal thinking?
We had a blissful rural pub experience elsewhere the next afternoon, the best ever, as if the Fates had deliberately designed the weekend as a lesson as to how things can go either drastically right or drastically wrong with the same kind of venerable centuries old rural pub in the area. The locals were, happy, jocular, yet Real Men from Real Backgrounds � Real men don�t behave like babymen, swearing within earshot of women and children and boasting how trashed they got last night.
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Wow, what can I say! Found this little pub in the middle of nowhere and stopped for lunch. the beer, the food and atmosphere were all amazing. I highly recommend this pub for anyone who is looking for a real traditional oldyworldy pub. The staff are all very friendly and food as I say was fantastic, I had the roast beef which was out of the world, it just melted in the mouth! What's better is the meats are locally sourced!
The log fire was roaring away and we even managed to gets seats next to it! I advise booking as it was very busy.
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Went to the Rock today for the first time in many years, this was the first pub I went to as a youngster with my parents many years ago, and one I have always rated as one of the best. Great food and fast friendly service today as always.
I really hope it does not become yet another indian food takeaway, as this would completely ruin the place in my opinion.
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What a charming tiny little pub, a real find. Lovely original tiled floor (at a bit of an angle though so watch it after a few drinks) and a roaring fire.
A proper real ale pub selling the local Larkins bitters and a pretty strong porter. The staff were friendly and the locals are a colourful bunch. Plus if your staying for food, the Hungarian chef has to commended on his belly of pork, it was delicious.
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Lovely traditional English pub with great food, great Larkins beer and a warm atmosphere. No Gastro rubbish here, a simple menu with great choice and even better taste. Child, dog and evidently horse friendly. Beams, fires, gorgeous original brick floor and a strange beast with a hook in its nose?! Should be kept a secret really!
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Having just been back to The Rock we were surprised that it has changed hands again so soon! Arthur and Jackie said a silent farewell and we welcome the new landlords and their FABULOUS new Hungarian chef... what a star! We had delicious roast belly of Pork and a superb flat iron steak and it was a relief to know that our local actually serves GOOD food again... and at a reasonable price. It is apparently the intention of the new incumbents to keep it as a truly drinking pub that serves good food and they don't want it to turn into a bistro- which is just as well because the locals rely on a good, friendly place to visit whilst knowing they can get good service, great fare and a warm welcome- it would seem as if this pair are just what the locals have been waiting for.. and to top it all they open on a Monday night too.. welcome Phil and partner (sorry didn't catch your name)- you are welcome to Chiddingstone Hoath... we hope you'll soon settle in. PS: Put the Pickled Punters auction in your diary as soon as the date is announced it was such a fantastic afternoon- surreal in places but can't wait for next year!
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We went to the Rock on Sunday just gone. What a day! they were having a auction to raise money for help the heros, it was fantastic, the atmosphere was great, full of people, everyone enjoying themselves. We had lunch before the auction started, had a lovely homecooked roast beef dinner, it was very tasty and tender, good food. Then the auction started and the place just came alive! The owners should be very proud of themselves, they obviously worked very hard, all the staff were getting in the mood and having a laugh with the customers, which was really nice to see. We will be back soon and good on all at The Rock!
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I've been a regular at this pub for a number of years now, it was taken over about a month ago by a nice couple who seem to be fitting in well. I had a pint of larkins, there was a problem with it but the landlord soon changed the barrel and it was then back to the true traditinal larkins taste. Had a lovely meal, had the liver and bacon, good honest home cooked food. Great atmosphere in the pub as always. I love this little pub and its really nice to see that even with the change of ownership nothing has changed. You don't find may pubs like this little gem anymore, lets hope it continues to be supported, would hate to see it close.
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Visited as was #2 in BITE's overall list. Pleasant enough and maybe the second best pub in the Edenbridge area (after the Queens Arms) but not the country.
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very good food no piped music when we were there long established landlords who will make this pub great again
Free house
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A fine English country pub, lovely location in a quiet and idyllic area. So pleased to welcome the new Landlords who are a breath of fresh air to the pub with their friendliness and welcoming nature. I would recommend The Rock to anyone.
Very surprised at a previous comment by another commentor, can only assume this person is in the wrong pub.
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In many ways the perfect pub. Fine Larkins ale, an ancient Bull Ring game in the corner, beamed ceilings, uneven floors, etc, etc. Love taking the Wealden Line train from London to Cowden, then walking to this delightful watering hole. A must. West Kent's finest.
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The Platinum Blonde was delicious and kept well. This washed down our Ploughman's and beef and horseradish sandwich which were lovely. Not many in on a Tuesday lunchtime, hope the place survives.
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we live in nearby Edenbridge and have been to The Rock several times lately. It has become our favourite pub. Great beer from Larkins - either Traditional or Platinum Blond. It's just a great relaxing little place tucked away in a small village. Very friendly staff. Have yet to eat there but it won't be long before we give it a try. Fantastic!
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we live in nearby Edenbridge and have been to The Rock several times lately. It has become our favourite pub. Great beer from Larkins - either Traditional or Platinum Blond. It's just a great relaxing little place tucked away in a small village. Very friendly staff. Have yet to eat there but it won't be long before we give it a try. Fantastic!
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Another classic country pub. Low beams and a well-worn stone floor add to the character. Had an excellent couple of pints of Larkins: they had 'ordinary' and 'platinum blond', they also had Doombar on. Food was good with big portions and reasonable prices. Very friendly & efficient bar staff.
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The Rock in Chiddingstone Hoath is a gorgeous little pub set in the Kentish countryside. A beautiful little building seen from the outside and upon entering, the bar area has a stone floor characteristically worn where locals have stood in places through the ages of time. The beer on tap was Larkins and very nice, too. I even managed to have a go at swinging the ring onto the bulls nose, and if this intrigues you, visit this fabulous pub to find out what it is for yourself! We were made to feel most welcome and the locals drinking there seemed very friendly. We�ll definitely go out of our way to come back here again. Top marks!
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First visit was all that I expected from reading previous reviews. We watched the crazy game being played by two 'expert locals'. Great pub which is certainly on my frequent list now.
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What can I say, fantastic little pub, great atmosphere and food was good home cooked grub! Will be back
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We visit every now and then and have seen the change with Matt and Laura - it's all for the good. The pub food (scampi & chips, steak & chips) gets a 10 out of 10; brilliant pub grub on a cold wintery lunchtime. The pub is a real traditional place and upon entering makes you feel warm inside. My only request might be that they stop allowing the horses to stand right in the entrance way of the pub - I'm highly allergic and on a couple of ocassions recently, after a local horse event, have been forced to walk behind the horses without the owners making any effort to move them. They should be tied up somewhere slightly more appropriate and a little more consideration given to us paying customers and non horse lovers. That said, take the time to visit as these small country pubs need the trade from people making the effort to seek them out.
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Great pub. Few like this left. glad to see that there are people like Coalhole left who will leave this wonderful legacy (not that I know his age).
Even managed to enjoy it despite the hunt crowd being there. Us townies find it difficult to get over our prejudices!
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As it's the end of Matt and Laura's first year as licensees of the Rock, I thought it was time for me to put something into the mix. I am the owner of the Rock. I bought the pub in 1999 and leased it to Bob Dockerty at Larkins Brewery until October 2009 when Bob decided to give up the lease. I offered it to Matt and Laura who had no previous experience of running a pub but who have brought energy, enthusiasm and a cheery smile to the place. They've done a great job. When the pub closed for a couple of months at the end of 2009, there were those who thought I wanted to sell it as a private house. Not so. While there's breath in my body, it will stay as it is - a classic English country pub where all are welcome. And when there's no longer breath in my body, my family have instructions to keep it as it is. Please keep coming, give Matt and Laura your support, and continue to enjoy a very special pub. There are very few left!
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I have only ever been an occassional visitor to this pub over many years but will always take any opporunity. It is the classic English pub. I have never eaten there but love the timbers. the brick floors, the Bull on the wall, all of it. Nice atmosphere, Larkins Best and Porter. The other local pubs are also very good but the Castle is very expensive, the Wheatsheaf feels more commercial and I've never found the Greyhound to have the atmoshere. Just my opinion but I consider the Rock to be a lovely pub.
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Really surprised that overall this pub is currently showing 8/10 as although it's a good pub, it's not better than the Castle Inn, the Wheatsheaf at Bough Beech or indeed the Greyhound at Hever which are all within a few miles and show lower marks. Food we had was good, but not spectacular, and the Larkins Porter I had was a nice pint. That said I only had this because Larkins Traditional tastes like watered down beer to me! Overall, a good experience, but not fantastic and will visit again some time.
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It�s hard to avoid repeating what earlier posters have said but this is a gem of a pub and is well worth the trip. We have been there for lunch three times in the past few months while walking in the area. Each time the menu has been different and everything is home cooked. There�s usually something interesting. How often have you seen venison liver on a menu? It was very good as have been the other dishes we have had there. The side dish of fresh vegetables is particularly enjoyable.
There is a good mix of locals (and their many dogs) and visitors, and the atmosphere is always warm. It is not a big pub so finding a table at busy times can sometimes be a bit difficult but the food is well worth the trip. Beers are limited to Larkins - nothing wrong with that! - and Doom Bar (not tried).
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Just a quick visit before we boarded the train at Cowden, down the road. There were at least a dozen locals in there but we didn't feel out of place at all and were engaged in conversation at the bar by perhaps the longest attending regular - who knows. The beer was good and the landlord welcoming - we shall be back soon (perhaps on the walk to Penshurst Place). And we almost missed our train!
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This is a wonderful example of a proper, unspoilt old English country pub. The food is good but unpretentious and the beers (Larkins Traditional and Platinum Blonde and Sharps Doom Bar) are excellently kept. The locals are welcoming and amusing and, unlike some pubs, dogs are warmly welcomed quite often with a biscuit. To make this clear dogs are welcomed with biscuits not the punters!! But most important of all Matt & Laura, the licensees are brilliant. Although having no experience in the licensed trade they have, in the ten months they have been here, made this a "must visit" pub and a focus for the local community. Long may they continue.
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May we, please, put that Oily Fish Debate to rest. The place is the best it has been for donkeys - Laura is lovely & frothy front of house, Matt is charming, and I disagree entirely with the oily fish brigade. Maybe a bad chef day? Our chips were crisp, dry and this side of well done, just right. On a recent (wet) Sunday long Kentish walk we came in with our two dogs, sat down to a blazing fire, welcoming pub, a few locals, and a fab chilled Leffe Blond, a draft cider and then, as they came in bit by bit (just as muddy) enjoyed a bunch of other locals, walkers, lots of dogs, muddy boots and conversation ranging from harvest to shooting to the City and latest FTSie.......tell me one place where you can do that 50 mins outside London..........and have a decent Sunday Roast for under a Tenner?! long may Laura & Matt be there!
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Good Pub Food, like agetrundler I cannot contribute to the oily fish debate either as have never had the problem. It must be approaching their 1st anniversary at The Rock and what a transformation Matt and Laura have brought about. This Pub is a little like stepping through a time warp, no one arm bandits or other electronic intrusions, the redecoration that was undertaken has maintained all that was good about this traditional pub whilst the wash rooms are now completely 21st century. This Pub is a little off the beaten track but it seems many people have found it. A gem.
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I can't contribute to the oily fish debate because I had ham, egg and chips.For the record, I liked the chips (and the ham,maybe the eggs were a tad overdone). My wife also enjoyed the ploughmans (with chips), I liked the beer (Rock from Cornwall) and we both liked the totally unspoilt surroundings and the friendly welcome.
A very good pub..just a shame that it is out of bounds unless one of us agrees not to drink.
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Superb example of a country pub...
No makeovers no schemes or Sky tv.
Well kept Larkins ale (brewed just round the corner) and a good selection of Pub Grub for the hungry.
Sit inside or out and soak up the summer..... You are just as welcome
if you arrive by car .. pony .. bike ..or just walking the dog...evident by the local drinkers who TALK to you.
With respect .. if you want restaurant.... go to one....
If you don't want oily food ... Don't eat fish and chips !!
Top marks all round ..
And lastly .... whats a doggie ??
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Nice friendly young owners and gorgeous honey-coloured doggie, but shame about the twice-cooked chips and extra-oily fish I was served yesterday. Was too tired to complain and return the food to the kitchen. Should have, because it wasn't cheap and as I'm pregnant the effect of should heavy oily food turned my stomach. A shame, because the Rock Inn is a really nice pub in a quiet location which is why I'm giving it a 5. Do work on the food menu so there are more healthy choices please!
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One of the few remaining true Kentish character pubs, this tiny wee public house is a real gem, made so particularly by the recent arrival of the new young managing couple. Huge fireplace, odd matching chairs and small tables, a large bar area dining table and a small snug next door for dining make it a welcoming place to pop into just for a drink or for some decent and partly quite inventive home cooked pub food. So far we have only had the Fish & Chips (if a pub can't to chips, they are not worth going to!) and the fish was spanking fresh, the batter light and the chips yummy. They do special Wednesday nights (a recent one a Belgian Night with Moules Mariniere, Steak Frites and Belgian Beers) which is a nice touch to an otherwise rather traditional area and their Sunday lunches are said to be fab. Good walks from there and it's a pub where you don't have to take off your muddy boots - good on you and much success!
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A classic rural pub.
Mode of transport used by frequenters of this establishement seems roughly equally split between muddy landrovers, muddy boots and (relatively) clean horses.
Beer is dominated by the Larkins (ideal for lunch at only 3.4% abv, but a good taste).
Food is less Michelin star and more Michelin Man - large portions of dead animal and chips - and none the worse for it.
Decor is towards the mediaeval, but with the curious exception of the gents, where the expected garderobe is actually rather 21st Cent.
I rate this highly and would like to spend more time here, but alas it is a fair walk from anywhere with a train home.
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The new young tenants are a great improvement to a lovely old pub, I agree with TWG below about the grumpy old landlord, he put everybody off for years and I don't understand why he was left to run the place, when quite clearly he should not have been in the "hospitality" industry.
Good food, well priced, but the new couple need to focus on up grading the drinks offering, local ciders on draft would be a good start.
Well worth a visit
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I was absolutely thrilled to pitch up here last week and find all the charm of the old place intact - and all the charmlessness of the previous manager disappeared! Matt & Laura are a genuinely pleasant and hard-working young couple, who appear to have exactly the right attitude and outlook when it comes to running a classic traditional local such as this. Both were very chatty and made me feel enormously welcome, despite not being a regular (if I lived closer that would change!).
A few subtle changes have taken place, but you'd barely notice (sad to see the old pumps now gone but as they'd almost rotted away one can understand that sometimes function must triumph over the appeal of antiquity). Cards are now accepted, and so are mobile phones, if you're lucky enough to get a signal!
2 Larkins ales are still very much available and both were on spanking form when sampled. The food menu covered down-to-earth pub fare such as fish pie, ham egg and chips, cod and chips, via the slightly more upmarket homemade venison burger, chilli and rice and a Thai offering. I had the fish pie and it was truly superb - they have a good chef apparently, and it shows. Prices were also realistic.
With the new management, the Rock is finally realising its full potential as a great local beerhouse and excellent eaterie, without any of the pretense that so often comes with it. Good work folks - long may the labour of love continue.
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Thank goodness Dick has finally gone - the new Landlords Matt & Laura are doing there best to redress the damage. Have just returned from a wonderful roast Sunday lunch washed down with a great pint of Rock Doom Bar Bitter and house Shiraz. Also offer a range of Larkins beers that won't disappoint.
Support this place - it's a classic English Pub in the middle of no-where that could all too easily be lost if you don't visit. I will!
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The Rock Inn, now re-opened thank goodness.
Get here here quickly folks while the Winter Porter is still available.
Cheers
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I am flabbergasted that I appear not to have written a review for this place in the past - it's been one of my favourites for many years. What was essentially Larkin's Brewery Tap, one could be assured of finding 2 or 3 of Bob's offerings in excellent nick (if a little pricey but then it usually is wherever you go), and really rather good pub grub too. Throw in a slightly dog-eared but still delightful unspoilt interior with log fire, ring the bull, flagstone floor and so on, and this really was a gem. The only downsides were a) the bizarre and somewhat ungenerous opening hours, which foxed many a would-be visitor, and b) the presence of Dick, the cantankarous and curmudgeonly old fart who used to manage the place, whose off-hand attitude could only be tolerated when one realised it was not reserved for me personally; he was like that with everyone!
I was surprised to drive past at the end of Nov and find it shut, but encouraged by the fact it was clearly not permanent and is to be re-opened. I have yet to revisit, but I really hope that the new licensees have realised the huge draw this kind of pub still has, and have chosen to capitalise on it further by not being over-zealous in their refurbishments. Stick to a similar formula as before, but with better opening times and a pleasant bar manager, and you'll have it made!
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Great news, Laura, and good luck with the pub. It's one of the few real pubs left to us in this part of the world, and it would be a tragedy if it were to be lost.
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Hello everyone, I can confirm that The Rock is only closed until the end of November as myself and my partner have just taken over the running of the pub. Looking forward to seeing you all then!
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28th October 2009
Visited today and barmaid told us that Larkins were not renewing the lease and the pub would be closing at the end of October 2009. First visit, seems a real shame as the pub has unspolit features. Therefore, recommend calling before visiting to ensure it is open. Difficult to say how good as pub was running stock down but Larkins on tap was fine, if a little expensive.
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Visited after a tour of the Larkins Brewery.
Larkins nicely kept, must travel well !
Food good but maybe a little expensive , or I may be behind the times
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Seems a nice pub, and also a pub that locals like going to. I understand its the brewery-tap for Larkins which I've not tried before - the beer we tried was great summertime easy drinking. It was also nice to see that canines are welcome.
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Lovely looking pub and water for the dog too! Beer selection was Larkins which is not the most tasty I must say, their bitter is like drinking a pint of water.
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I visited the Rock on Saturday with a coach party, the general feeling was that "Mine Host" lacked that certain something, in all fairness possibly he thought that perhaps one or two of our esteemed company also lacked the plummy vowel sounds that bray loudly around these parts.A wonderful pub which is a tied Larkins house. Beer wise the traditional was very good, Platinum Blonde exceptional and the Best was fruity and the absolute pick of the three ales. Home made (art and craft) Handpumps caught the eye.Ring the Bull is available to play, don't worry the poor creature died a long time ago and the RSPCA need not investigate.The outside is half tile hung and though the building is smaller than my house the tiles are identical to chez Slerpy a real twilight zone moment for me.The garden is exceedingly small, I could do the lawn with shears ! All in all a delightfully twee pub, a living time capsule.
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Oddly I'll post something negative about what was a most wonderful find (Thanks BITE posters). Only a couple of reasons why not a perfect ten - a grumpy barman, who I am told used to be the landlord, and had no interest whatsoever when I told him of the rave reviews and I was a little intimidated by the number of posh stockbroker accents. Oh the third is the classic, victim of its own success (ie it was busy!). Apologies for the whinge.
Excellent beer, well priced food, lovely smell of woodsmoke, looked unspoiled (although I was informed there have been modifications over the last fifty years).
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Great pub and all that, but on my visit a couple of days ago they only had the Larkin's Traditional on. Admittedly it was very good!
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The Rock remains totally unspoilt, and on a sunny Sunday afternoon sitting in the garden with a pint of the excellent Larkins Traditional was a joy.
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Such a delight these days to discover a pub that has not had a makeover - bistro, foodie, kids playground, velvet curtains, etc. I doubt much has changed in this place for decades - except the price of a pint of course! The brick floors, the furniture, the fireplaces and the atmosphere - "we don't rush here" seems to be the theme. It's a genuine unspoiled (take that imaginatively) country pub, well supported by locals and in the back of nowhere. Larkins session beer (the "traditional" 1034 bitter) is a bit too thin and bland for me so I opted for the "Platinum Blonde" 1036. It was so good for a lunchtime pint I sank 3 and didn't have the capacity to move on to the Best bitter - so I will have to go back for that! The food was basic and unadventurous but of good quality and a reasonable price. I had heard that the landlord was " a miserable sod" but I think that's unfair. "Reserved" is a more generous description and he did smile at least once. I really enjoyed my visit and will certainly go out of my way to call in again.
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Perfect place. Quiet, with lovely Larkins on tap. One for locals, cyclists and walkers. Pretty area and no fuss, gimmicks, nonsense or kids. A rare treat.
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As earlydrinker says, a gem. The Larkins Traditional (3.4%abv) was delightful in the June sunshine this afternoon. Customers arrived in mud-spattered vehicles fresh from the farm,; others sat enjoying lunch in a quiet corner of the brick-floored bar. Outside several dogs lazed sleepily while their owners drank and chatted under the naked siren sitting on the eponymous rock on the pub sign...
You'll probably need an OS map to find the Rock, but I think it's worth it.
Cheers,
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Since I suggested adding this pub, perhaps I'd better write a review. I was hoping others would comment first, since I've only been in once in the last year or so. The place seemed exactly as it's always been -very quiet when I was there, with just a few locals chatting amiably. The same old uneven brick floors, 'Ringing the Bull' still there (same old bull, or buffalo, or whatever it is).
The main difference from the old days was the beer. This is, as far as I know, Larkin's Brewery's only pub -more or less the brewery tap, simnce it's just down the road; so it's the place to go to sample the full range. The limited quantity I tried was in excellent nick.
Surrounded by lovely country, in a perfect setting - well worth a visit.
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