From the https://www.kentlive.news By Stela Gineva, 19 July 2019.

The Waggon at Hale - a family friendly Chatham pub with its own petting zoo.

"Who doesn't like a cuddle with a pig when they've had a bit of a bad day?"

A pub with a large beer garden and play area sounds like the perfect family day out.

Even more so when you throw in a small petting zoo.

Emma Pearson, 38, has been running The Waggon at Hale in Chatham with her dad, Eric Pearson, 59, for nine years now, and the animal farm filled with adorable goats, chickens, pigs, rabbits, and dogs is one of the main attractions.

Children love playing with Hugo, Custard, and Cream, the three goats which currently reside on the farm.

Children can feed and pet the goats at the animal farm (Image: The Waggon at Hale)

Emma said: "We have bags of food so they can feed the animals. We do need to pre-warn the kids that the goats are greedy."

Sometimes they take the animals out on leads so the children can pet them as well.

Emma added: "Sometimes when we don't want to let them out, they let themselves out. They're very mischievous."

Emma said that many of her regulars visit more often than they would precisely because of the animal farm. She said: "You do get the kids nagging the parents for the animals and the play area."

The petting zoo is also a favourite with children with special needs. Emma said: "It's become part of their pattern. It calms the child down, keeps a bit of their routine.

"Who doesn't like a cuddle with a pig when they've had a bit of a bad day?"

Onions, Sage, Chilli, and Pepper are the rescue dogs that reside on the farm. Sage is the youngest member of the family, and can be a little wary around customers.

Emma added: "She was skin and bones when she was rescued. She was badly beaten."

Sage finds it difficult to trust men and spends her days sitting on a chair from where she can look down on everyone. Emma added: "She's now spoiled beyond belief."

The animals are cared for by two full time animal carers. They make sure they're fed and take them out on walks.

This is how Emma ensures that enough time is devoted to her pets while she runs the pub.

Dog owners are welcome to bring their pets to the pub as well.

They're allowed in the beer garden and the pub, but not the dining area where patrons can enjoy home-cooked meals prepared with local produce.

The pub also offers at least one Kent Ale at all times as part of their drinks selection.

How it all got started.

Emma and her father decided to adopt a teacup pig a few years ago.

"To be honest, it was one of them random nights and we started talking about a pig, a teacup pig, " Emma said.

A week later, they went to pick her up. They named her Crackling.

She came in a little cat box, wrapped in a blanket. Emma remembers her father joking "I love pigs in blankets."

They soon discovered there was no such thing as a teacup pig.

When she was little, she had her own bed in Emma's bedroom. But then she grew so big, she took the toilet off the wall.

Crackling had to be taken outside.

An area of the pub was sectioned off to make room for Crackling's new home, and this has now become the small animal farm.

Emma said: "I've always loved animals and always loved rescuing them."

Over the years, the animal farm has accumulated four pigs, four dogs, and three goats, as well as many chickens and rabbits.

Although there are currently no plans to adopt any more animals, this is only because the small farm is already bursting at the seams with adorable animals willing to give pub patrons a cuddle.