From the https://www.kentlive.news By Mary Harris, 2 September 2025.

'End of an era' as Kent Beefeater popular for kids-eat-free breakfasts will become an Elite Pub.

Elite Pubs is about to launch a "full-scale refurbishment' of the Beefeater in Kent.

The rich and varied history of The Hilden Manor in Hildenborough, most recently a Beefeater popular with parents for its 'kids-eat-free' breakfasts, is entering a new chapter.

It shut its doors last month, following an announcement in June 2024 by hospitality giant Whitbread, which is also behind Premier Inn and Brewers Fayre, that more than 200 Beefeaters were earmarked for closure.

Elite Pubs said it was about to launch a "full-scale refurbishment" of the site, which was once gutted by a huge fire, to "transform" the venue. It will be called the "Never Say Never." The company hasn't revealed what changes will be made but said it would open to customers on December 1.

It already has 13 venues in Kent including the "Poacher and Partridge" in Tudeley and the "Wishful Thinker" in Sandway, and just over the border in East Sussex, there's two, including the "Lazy Fox." Hildenborough is around 2.5miles from Tonbridge and 10 or so miles from Tunbridge Wells.

The fire at Hilden Manor on February 21 in 2005 (Image: Lewis Durham/Reach plc).

There is fascinating information about The Hilden Manor in London Road, a Grade II-listed building dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, from Hildenborough History Society. It used to be an inn with a very popular swimming pool at the back, with diving boards, soft grass for sunbathing, and a rock fountain. Those at dinner dances had "midnight bathing" as part of the ticket price.

Old adverts from 1948 onwards show it was quite the venue, with "cocktails on the club", cabaret, jazz nights, guests in evening dress, fancy dress balls, and "huge fires" in the fireplace to keep guests cosy in the winter. There was even a riding academy.

During the 1970s, the discos were legendary and 'work dos' at Christmas hold memories for many in the area. But as our newspaper the Kent and Sussex Courier reported, a huge fire tore through the building on February 21, 2005, gutting the inside and causing most of the roof to collapse. It was thought to be an electrical fault. The rebuilding of the "Hilden Manor" saw a new Premier Inn hotel built alongside.

Reviews of the Beefeater vary wildly on Tripadivsor, with recent criticism including staffing standards, food and the building itself, while others heaped praise on the service and food, as recently as July.

One dad who lives nearby, told KentLive: "It's the end of an era (and all those kids-eat-free breakfasts) for some of us! Plus, of course, the Beefeater was always good value and so served the community well. As nice as Elite pubs are, they will be upping the cost of eating out considerably at a challenging time for families."

An Elite Pubs spokesperson said: "From newly designed interiors and a thoughtfully curated food and drink menu to the welcoming atmosphere and signature character seen in every Elite Pub, this venue promises to be worth the wait."

They said the former "Hilden Manor" would add to Elite Pubs' "expanding collection of distinctive character-filled venues".

"Situated in Hildenborough, Kent, a location full of charm and potential, the "Never Say Never" at the "Hilden Manor," marks the beginning of an exciting new journey for the group. Having taken over the site, Elite Pubs is now preparing to launch a full-scale refurbishment, transforming the venue to meet the high standards the brand is known for," they said.