From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Secret Drinker, 10 July 2020.

Secret Drinker reviews the Smoke & Cured – The Harrow pub in Ulcombe, near Maidstone.

Before and after – Secret Drinker visited this village pub just before lockdown and returned again this week.

If your pub is closed for 10 years, then surely waiting a few months for a pandemic to pass should be an absolute breeze.

Just before lockdown I heard about a boozer, nestled in the sleepy hamlet of Ulcombe, between Maidstone and Headcorn, which threw open its doors for the first time in a decade last August.

The first thing I needed to work out was what it was called - not as straight forward as you might think.

It’s been the "Harrow" for as long as anyone can remember and, to some extent, still is, but since being taken over by a four-strong village consortium they’ve made an addition.

It might have adopted a new name when it reopened in 2019, but if you’re driving past make sure you look out for The Harrow.

So, the Smoke&Cured@The Harrow it is – glad we got that sorted.

More importantly, was it worth the wait and what’s it like after lockdown?

There’s still parking at the front and the front door, which confused when it wasn’t in action last time I visited, is now clearly marked ‘way out’ - the main entrance on the right-hand side is now the way in.

When I visited pre-Covid the first person I met was Mark. And, right off I was reminded of the famous Carlsberg ad – as he ‘probably’ is the best local punter you’re ever likely to meet.

I couldn’t decide what to drink but as he’d just had a fresh pint of stout poured he insisted I try a mouthful first, what a generous gent. Of course, I wouldn’t expect such an offer post-lockdown.

And, having sampled the 4.5% Oyster Stout from Whitstable Brewery, my mind was made up and I instructed barman Tom, who Mrs SD thought looked a little like Lewis Capaldi’s better looking brother, to pull away.

Tom was our barman for our most recent visit too and made sure all the new rules were obeyed. This time I went for a pint of 4.5% Pearl of Kent from the Whitstable Brewery which slipped down a treat, even though it wasn’t overly flavourful.

Inside the pub has been completely redecorated throughout and a large area has been set aside for dining.

There are absolutely no distractions, no pool, no darts, no fruit machines, no jukebox, not even a board game – if you’re not the sort who wants to chat with the locals then avoid the S&C@TH as they will definitely talk to you.

The Grade II listed building has been completely made over in line with the most modern, trendy fashions. Stripped floorboards have been laid over the old quarry tiles, candles are on each windowsill and the lightbulbs have those trendy filaments that give off little or no light.

It’s been superbly done up with great attention to detail and the villagers are obviously delighted to have their reincarnated pub back in action. Mind you, it has gone upmarket and is charging in line with the changes, so will need to continue to be supported to survive.

Stripped floorboards have been laid over the old quarry tiles and even the back wall has been decked out.

Our waitress Lina, originally from Bulgaria, has worked here since it opened in August last year. Informative and charming she was happy to share her thoughts on the menu and leaves you in no doubt about her personal favourites.

We both chose starters as our main course – I went for the slow roast pork ribs, marinated and cooked exactly as I like them. Mrs SD chose beef croquettes, again superbly cooked and presented, and we shared the bread basket, though I’m sure she snaffled more of the great freshly baked rolls. I’m convinced the main courses were great too, but for us starters and a desert were more than enough.

I particularly rated the chocolate fondant but Mrs SD insisted I should have been more adventurous, like her, who chose the cranberry tart with a scoop of pistachio ice cream.

My slow roasted ribs were cooked exactly as I like them and were rich and sticky.

Mrs SD opted for a cranberry tart for desert, served with pistachio ice cream.

Main man Errol has got a good team in place and his efforts to breathe new life into this great old pub deserve to be supported. He’s concentrated on getting the important things right – the food, the drink and the feel of the place.

One chatty local told me the pub had hosted its first music session just prior to lockdown with a female singer and her dad playing saxophone and, following this success, more musical Sunday evenings were planned. Sadly they’re now obviously on hold but will hopefully return in ‘normal’ times.

It’s still fairly early days for the S&C and to date it seems to have remained quite a well-kept secret. They probably need to shout about the place a little more and hopefully this re-borne boozer will once again be the very heartbeat of the village.

Whilst the rest of the pub has been completely changed, looking at the gents they have been restored and improved but the old-look retained.

Decor: The place obviously needed a complete makeover and looks good, hopefully the building’s all-important history has been retained. ****

Drink: I wouldn’t normally choose stout but Mark persuaded me and this one was a real beauty. The Pearl of Kent is okay and easy drinking enough. ****

Price: Quality costs, but those prepared to pay will not be disappointed by either the food or drink. All pre-lockdown, the ribs were £8.50, the chocolate fondant £8, the stout was £4.50 and a large white wine £9. ***

Atmosphere: Prior to lockdown everyone talked to everyone and they’re still pretty friendly now - you can’t help but get drawn into the infectious, upbeat feeling around the bar. ****

Staff: Both our barman, Tom, and waitress Lina were efficient, helpful and cheery – they clearly enjoy working at this popular new gastro pub. ****

The Harrow’s original bar used to be longer, but has been reduced in length to allow for more dining tables.

From the https://www.kentlive.news 8 September 2024, By Mary Harris.

‘Last pub in the village’ which Kent residents tried to buy goes up for sale.

The Kent pub shut recently and is now for sale at auction.

This gorgeous pub in Kent - the subject of two revival attempts - is for sale with planning permission as a home. The Harrow Inn in Ulcombe is for sale

A pub which was once the last one in a village in Kent, and which residents raised £40,000 towards trying to save, is to be auctioned. The former Harrow Inn in Ulcombe is to go under the hammer this month, following "two revival attempts" as a pub.

The building, which is red brick with a tiled roof, is believed to be around 300 years old, and to have been a pub since at least 1841. It is a Grade II listed building and is near Maidstone and Ashford, and a short distance from Leeds Castle.

It has planning permission to be converted into a home, and the freehold guide price is £480,000 to £490,000. As KentLive reported in November last year, the owner of the village's "last pub" submitted plans for the residential conversion.

There had been a mixed reaction to the application, which showed its long days as a pub were probably over. Some villagers wanted it sold to a pub chain to keep it going, while others felt "its time had come" and that locals were happy to go to other pubs.

Although technically it was the 'last pub in the village, there is another in the parish of Ulcombe, the "Pepper Box Inn" on Windmill Hill. and the "King's Head" in Grafty Green.

Chris Milne, auction appraiser of Clive Emson, land and property auctioneers, said: “The permission allows for conversion into a four bedroom semi and it would be a fine home. It is situated close to the M20 as well as a railway station and shops and other amenities."

"It was a pub since at least 1841 but recently closed and now awaits a new owner to direct its future. The building is attractive and we anticipate interest from builders and developers."

Savills had attempted to auction the pub in 2016, but no-one bid. Then, residents joined forces in a bid to buy the pub as a community asset, but fundraising generated £40,000, which was not enough, and the plans faltered, said the report presented to Maidstone Borough Council planners last November.

There was an attempt at a gastro pub called "Smoke and Cured" - but it received a zero rating on March 26, 2021.

Later, a small group of locals formed a company with a view to running it as a community pub. The report said: "But after three public meetings and many hours of consultations, it became clear to the owners that the village members were not going to be able to facilitate the community venture.”

With the planning application, the owner had said “the community does not wish to support any form of pub in the village”. At the time, Richard Pillsborough, of the Ulcombe village hall committee said “its time has come”.

He said: “I don’t think that anyone realistically thinks it can be revived,” he said. Mr Pillsborough said many Ulcombe locals were happy to go to the "Pepper Box Inn" or the "King’s Head" in Grafty Green.

"My own view is that two attempts to revive it have been worthy attempts, people have tried hard, but I think we have to accept that the business wasn’t there and the property wasn’t of a nature that enabled sufficient business to be done,” he said.

“Sadly, as much as we would like a local pub, it’s gone the way of many others and I think we just have to accept it.”

It is among 178 lots listed for sale by Clive Emson Auctioneers, which holds auctions eight times a year. It offers specialist advice for auction purposes in Essex, London, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, and the West Country.

This sale will conclude on Wednesday, September 18.