insideKENT Magazine Issue 82 - January 2019 | Page 99

Arriving on a la te Friday afternoon, the pub was quiet, bar a couple of diner s and a few m uted conversations over a good glass of local wine. This was a good thing , and meant w e could find our bearings around the heart of the pub: the hea vy wooden bar from which a host of guest ales, craft beers, Eng lish wines and signa ture cocktails ar e served daily; the main dining room, with its wooden tables, panelled walls and muted calm furnishings; and our cosy and spacious superior doub le room with its comfy king bed, luxur y linen and White Company toiletries with ease. Returning do wnstairs f or dinner, the pub was transformed into an a tmospheric melting pot of activity: locals at the bar, cosy tables for two, friends at the back visiting f or pizza and beer and lar ge celebratory groups; it was friendly, busy and totally welcoming. I was impressed by the ‘British classics with a gastro twist’ menu, and the easy service offered not just by our waitr ess, b ut also b y manager F raser, w ho delivered brilliant menu recommendations and wine pairings thr oughout. After an e xpertly crafted Espresso Martini (thank y ou, bar man Josh!), we opted for the three cheese arancini, pickled red onion, Old Winchester and garlic mayo and the super tasty Josper smoked leek and potato soup to start. Now renowned for its wood-fired pizzas and Josper steaks (featuring hand-picked British and US beef and delivered with care by head chef Sean and his team), we were keen to make the most of the menu, and opted for the sharers plate of deliciously tender and beautifully seared 16oz Chateaubriand, and a cheeky side order of the wood-fired garlic bread, both delicious and devoured! Knowing we only had to make it upstairs, we even squeezed in the gooey chocolate brownie and sweet sticky toffee pudding a t the end of the e vening – winter dessert heaven! Making the transition fr om high str eet local to gastropub with rooms is a tricky endeavour, but The White Lion in Tenterden has done just that. Good quality seasonal f ood, great craft drinks and easy friendly service – all in a way that keeps locals and visitors coming back again and again. The White Lion High Street Tenterden TN30 6BD 01580 765 077 [email protected] www.whiteliontenterden.com WhiteLionTN30 WhiteLionTenterden whiteliontenterden 99