From http://www.thisiskent.co.uk 27 January, 2012.

PUB landlord Jim Pearson has been warned he could end up in prison after admitting beating up his wife.

Pearson, 54, who runs the award-winning "Elephant" pub in The Mall, Faversham, struck his wife Kim during a row over money.

Maidstone Magistrates' Court heard on Wednesday last week that the couple, who have been married for six years, were having financial troubles after trying to buy the pub.

Pearson admitted assaulting his wife in November last year.

Ed Parton, prosecuting, said Pearson lost his temper at 10.30pm and began hitting his wife in the head.

She fell to the floor, where he continued to punch her.

It was only when he left the room that she managed to escape downstairs and call the police.

In a statement she said she had been "petrified" during the attack and could not stop crying afterwards.

She was left badly bruised and with a cut ear.

Chairman of the bench Alan Phipps told Pearson: "We have taken into account that you punched the victim while she was on the floor, the domestic nature of the incident and that the victim was petrified of you and the injuries she sustained.

"This is so serious that we must consider a custodial sentence."

But Rocco Marinaccio, defending, said the couple, who live above the pub, had since made up and were still working together.

He said Pearson was seeking help with anger management and added: "This was not pre-meditated.

"It was simply a loss of temper after an argument.

"The couple have taken a very mature approach and have agreed they have a future in the pub."

While they have been running the pub, it was named CAMRA's East Kent Pub of the Year in 2010.

Magistrates took the unusual step of granting Pearson unconditional bail to continue his duties at the pub until he returns to court on February 8 for sentencing.

He had been living at his parents' house in Oxford Road, Canterbury after his original bail conditions banned him from making contact with his wife outside working hours.

From the https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Secret Drinker, 20 October 2022.

Secret Drinker reviews The Elephant pub in Faversham.

The second I walked into The Elephant I was transported back to my youth, to a time when you knew what to expect visiting a pub and woe betide anyone who dared rub the landlord up the wrong way.

In a town where Shepherd Neame rules, this is a fairly rare beast – a free house in Faversham.

Distinctive and striking, the façade of The Elephant free house on The Mall in Faversham is bright and impressive.

From the painted façade, pictures of our late Queen and Britain’s greatest prime minister, to superbly politically incorrect facilities this place oozes tradition and quality.

The landlord Jim runs an incredibly tight ship but on the day we were in he was otherwise engaged upstairs and wasn’t due down until 8pm, so we were in the hands of the very capable barmaid Jo.

After much toing and froing, not to mention several taste tests, decisions on drinks were finally taken and my Apprentice chose a 3.8% Spring Tide from the Shivering Sands Brewery at Manston. Labelled as a UPA he said it was particularly hoppy but also had a sharp edge and reckoned it was a darned good pint.

Packed full of proper pub furnishings and decorations, from old shell cases to musical instruments, there’s plenty of military memorabilia on show.

I selected a 4.8% Prohibition from the Kent Brewery in Birling, near West Malling, which describes itself as an American Pale Ale. This is another highly hopped ale and was a fraction too citrusy for my taste, but it certainly packed a punch.

Even Mrs SD was swayed by an impressive array of pumps and although she went for a more obvious, well-known pint, she stuck with the pale ale theme and chose a 5.2% Punk IPA from Brewdog. She has had it before and enjoyed it but said this was a particularly good pint.

I’m told it used to be famed for Elephant pies, which were made specially for the pub, it even used to host free food Thursdays, but these days it’s strictly a food free zone.

We therefore selected snacks, which the barmaid then struggled to reach as the shelf is too high for her - set she says, at ‘landlord level’.

Then, as instructed by the notice, we dutifully moved away from the bar.

There is no music here, it just wouldn’t be right, this is a pub where people come to drink and talk. The first person we spoke to was a lifelong member of CAMRA, with beard of course, who waxed lyrical about the beers offered at this proper old free house and the way they are kept.

I took a brief break to explore the garden at the back, which is maintained equally as immaculately as the rest of the place and, as well as being a top spot to sit, is also packed full of interesting items.

I also discovered the cleverly named Room in The Elephant, which is a fantastic space for a party or other such social gathering and, in keeping with everything else, it is spotlessly kept and marvellously traditional with pictures of Nelson, Elizabeth II and Churchill no less.

Dogs, on leads, are welcome throughout, as are children (similarly restrained, as per order of the management).

At the far end of The Room in The Elephant is this beautifully furnished garden room.

There is a well-designed back garden which makes the best possible use of outdoor space.

Back inside our new CAMRA friend was explaining there is some food available but it is the landlord’s home-made pickled eggs and they come with a warning as he adds his own chilli to them.

I’d already spotted Les at one side of the bar, who was sharing his views on beer mats and life in general, and also noticed the designated Naughty Corner before encountering Refugee Corner in the saloon bar.

I’m told this latter corner needed to be introduced after another local pub closed and regulars transferring to The Elephant needed to be accommodated.

In conclusion I must give special mention to the toilets.

Both the gents and ladies’ facilities are fantastic – not only are they wonderfully old fashioned and authentic but also superbly politically incorrect.

I suspect several photographs I have submitted to the editor will not make it to publication here so you’ll just have to visit The Elephant yourself to view Jim’s excellent selection of slightly risqué pictures from times past.

In a town where most top drinking spots have long been dominated by Shepherd Neame, The Elephant has not only created room for itself, it is leading the herd.

As traditional and old fashioned as it’s possible to be, the gents is wonderfully presented and maintained.

The care and attention to detail in the ladies’ toilets is second to none – perfectly presented and maintained. Mrs SD was highly impressed by the free products made available.