Tonbridge Road

Wateringbury

01622 812632

https://www.chefandbrewer.com/pubs/kent/wateringbury

https://whatpub.com/wateringbury

Above photo March 1986, also showing it displaying the sign for the "King's Head."

Above photo 2013.

Above photo, 2013.

Above photo kindly supplied by Roy Moore. 21 April 2014.

Above sign 2001. With thanks from Brian Curtis www.innsignsociety.com.

Above photo kindly supplied by Roy Moore. 21 April 2014.

Above photo, date unknown.

The Wateringbury (formerly The King's Head) Tonbridge Road.

The King‟s Head was built by the local Leney Brewery in 1938 to replace the old Kings Head pub which had to be demolished). It was an imposing building and stood on the site of the Coronation Gardens at the Traffic Lights next to the Hair Traditional shop. In the 1970s the owners, Whitbread, extended the building and created an hotel complex. It was at this time that the name was changed to The "Wateringbury." When the Phoenix Brewery was closed by Whitbreads and demolished the large distinctive weather vane was kept and placed on the roof of The "Wateringbury." It was damaged in the 1987 hurricane and sent to a company in Essex for repair. Unfortunately the repairers went into liquidation and the weather vane disappeared. A smaller replica was made to remind us of the long association of the village with the growing of hops and the brewing industry. Happily for us The "Wateringbury" and the adjoining hotel (now a Premier Inn) are still thriving and open for our enjoyment. (Information taken from Whitbread The Inn behind the Signs by David Harper and Lest We Forget Wateringbury.)

The pub is a Chef and Brewer tied house (2013.) Now (2020) part of the Premier Inn Chain.

I will be adding the historical information when I find or are sent it, but this project is a very big one, and I do not know when or where the information will come from.

All emails are answered.

LICENSEE LIST