Pub of the year

ABOUT US

ON THE NORTH DOWNS IN AN AREA OF NATURAL OUTSTANDING BEAUTY, 581 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL, YOU WILL FIND THE BOWL INN, A 1740’S PUBLIC HOUSE SERVING ONLY THE FINEST LOCAL KENTISH ALES, FINE WINES AND LOCAL SPIRITS. THE WARM FIRES ROAR DURING THE WINTER MONTHS AND THE BEAUTIFUL BEER GARDEN BLOOMS IN SPRING. DELICIOUS HOMEMADE SANDWICHES AND PLOUGHMAN’S LUNCHES ARE SERVED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

OPENING HOURS

MONDAY CLOSED
TUESDAY 5PM – 10PM
WEDNESDAY 5PM – 9PM
THURSDAY 5PM – 10PM
FRIDAY 5PM – 11PM
SATURDAY MIDDAY – LATE
SUNDAY MIDDAY – 9PM

(QUIZ NIGHT IS LAST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH)

CONTACT DETAILS

TELEPHONE : 01233 750354
EMAIL : ENQUIRIES (AT) THEBOWLONLINE.CO.UK

* PLEASE NOTE THAT DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE PREMISES EXCEPT GUIDE DOGS *

OUR BEER

WE ARE A FREE HOUSE. ALL OF OUR ALES ARE LOCALLY SOURCED FROM KENT. WE LISTEN TO OUR LOCALS, REGULARS AND IRREGULARS FOR SUGGESTIONS ON WHICH ALES TO PUT ON NEXT. WE HAVE HAD CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE RECOGNITION FROM 2007 TO 2019 AND WON ASHFORD, FOLKESTONE & ROMNEY MARSH PUB OF THE YEAR 2012 AND THEN IN 2017, 2018 & 2019!

LOCAL BREWERIES

THE FOLLOWING ARE A LIST OF THE LOCAL BREWERIES YOU WILL SEE POPPING UP AT THE BOWL INN…

CANTERBURY ALES (CANTERBURY)

GADDS’ THE RAMSGATE BREWERY (RAMSGATE)

GOODY ALES (HERNE BAY)

HOPDAEMON BREWERY (NEWNHAM)

HOP FUZZ BREWERY (WEST HYTHE)

OLD DAIRY BREWERY (TENTERDEN)

RIPPLE STEAM BREWERY (DOVER)

ROCKIN ROBIN BREWERY (MAIDSTONE)

WESTERHAM BREWERY (WESTERHAM)

OUR FOOD

ONLY SERVED AT WEEKENDS

SANDWICHES & BAGUETTES

ALL SERVED ON WHITE OR GRANARY BREAD OR BAGUETTE WITH A SALAD GARNISH & CRISPS

• HOME ROASTED LOCALLY REARED BEEF & HORSERADISH £7
• HOME ROASTED CHICKEN, ROCKET & MAYO £6
• HOME ROASTED TURKEY, STUFFING & CRANBERRY SAUCE £6

PLEASE NOTE THE BEEF, CHICKEN & TURKEY ARE ROTATED WEEKLY, PLEASE CALL AHEAD TO SEE WHICH ONE WE HAVE IN

• HOME COOKED GAMMON & ENGLISH MUSTARD £6
• OAK SMOKED SALMON & CREAM CHEESE £7
• TAW VALLEY MATURE CHEDDAR & RED ONION £5
• CORNISH BRIE & GRAPE £5

HALF A SANDWICH FOR CHILDREN FROM £3 – £3.50

SALADS

A LARGE PLATE SERVED WITH A CHOICE OF CHEESE, ROAST GAMMON OR OUR ROASTED MEAT OF THE WEEK

• SALADS WITH CHEESE £8
• SALADS WITH ROAST GAMMON OR OUR ROASTED MEAT OF THE WEEK £10

ADDITIONAL BREAD £1

PLOUGHMAN’S LUNCHES

ALL SERVED WITH WHITE OR GRANARY BREAD OR BAGUETTE, A SALAD GARNISH & PICKLES

• ROAST GAMMON, CHEDDAR, STILTON OR BRIE £10
• ROAST GAMMON & ONE CHEESE £12

HISTORY

RECORDS OF AN ALEHOUSE ON THE SITE OF THE BOWL INN DATE BACK TO THE 1700S, WITH THE NAME FIRST APPEARING IN 1853 WHEN IT APPEARS IN DOCUMENTS DETAILING THE SALE OF THE PUB FROM SAMUEL JOHN SANKEY TO GEORGE ASH. THE PRESENT BUILDINGS WERE PROBABLY BUILT AS TWO AGRICULTURAL WORKERS’ COTTAGES, HAVING BEEN SUBJECT TO MANY ALTERATIONS SINCE.

THE BOWL INN HAS BEEN A HUB OF VILLAGE LIFE SINCE IT FIRST BEGAN. IT SERVED AS A MEETING PLACE FOR THE RAT AND SPARROW CLUB, WHERE MEMBERS WOULD GATHER ON A WEEKLY BASIS, BRINGING A LONG THEIR HAUL OF SPARROWS HEADS AND RATS TAILS TO BE COUNTED. AT THE END OF EACH YEAR THE MEMBER WITH THE HIGHEST TALLY RECEIVED A COLD DINNER AND A MODEST REWARD, PREPARED BY THE LANDLORD. THE BARN NEXT TO THE PUB, NOW FILLED WITH ANTIQUES AND CURIOSITIES, WAS FORMERLY A SKITTLE ALLEY.

RON AND ANN TOOK OVER THE PUB IN 2004, CLEANING AND RESTORING THE HISTORIC LISTED BUILDING, AND MAKING IT ONCE AGAIN A VIBRANT PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

FINDING US

WE ARE SITUATED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF CANTERBURY, ASHFORD AND FOLKESTONE ON THE NORTH DOWNS IN KENT… JUST UP THE HILL FROM WYE.