insideKENT Magazine Issue 28 - July 2014

FOOD+DRINK The Ferry House Inn Off the beaten path? Yes. Way off the beaten path? Indeed. Worth every driving minute and out-of-the-way mile to get there? Without a doubt. Tucked away in a secluded hamlet on the Isle of Sheppey, The Ferry House Inn is idyllic in every sense of the word. B Y D ONN A MARTI N ©www.joannecollinsphotography.co.uk When I think of Kent’s most ‘out there’ restaurants – ‘out there’ as in distance from civilisation – I always wonder how they survive, and even thrive. I mean, it’s not like you can just say, “Hey, let’s take a stroll to The Ferry House Inn and grab a pint.” Have a look on Google Earth – you’ll see what I mean. These middle-of-nowhere eateries have to be something special – really special – and that’s exactly what The Ferry House Inn is. Winner of this year’s Dining Pub of the Year at the prestigious Taste of Kent Awards, this 16thcentury pub is a perfect example of how a committed team can create something spectacular, no matter how remote the venue may be. The traditional pub interior is enhanced by its own signature touches: wooden kegs line the bar, and interesting seaside décor adorns the walls. But the pub is only the tip of the iceberg. The Ferry House Inn also has a more formal restaurant (The Barn), offers three 4-star B&B rooms, a wedding and event venue, and only a few minutes away offers four beautiful self-catering cottages. Before ordering my meal, I took a moment to venture into The Barn – The Ferry House Inn’s main restaurant and wedding venue. It was set up for a wedding which was taking place the next day, and I could see why so many engaged couples choose the venue for their big day. Rustic stone ﬂoors sprawled out before me, and large wooden beams stretched out to a wall of doors, which opened up to the sunny patio and gorgeous views of the property’s groomed lawns and water views beyond. Back at my table, my dining guest and I ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio and settled in to have a look at the extensive menu. From fresh grilled Harty Estate wild duck to slow roasted belly of pork (all local of course), The Ferry House Inn is nothing short of a local produce lover’s dream. Members of Produced in Kent, the restaurant strives to use as much local produce as possible. Everything is prepared fresh and is the result of inspiration and product availability, so the menu changes frequently. From Eastchurch beef to Faversham eggs; Leysdown Bakery bread to Harty Estate game, The Ferry House Inn helps support the local economy by being so passionate about Kent produce. Alex Burden, The Ferry House Inn’s proprietor, says, “By eating local produce, you are keeping the local economy alive, and there is no denying that Kent has a lot of fabulous food to offer. We already utilise a lot of Kent’s best produce, and we aim to increase this as much as possible.” For our starters, my guest chose the goat’s cheese crème brûlée, while I went with the leek and potato soup served with to-die-for homebaked bread. The starters came out beautifully presented, and were both delicious. The Ferry House Inn’s menus change regularly, and we were lucky enough to come during a week of delightful dishes and specials. I couldn’t pass up one of my favourites: roasted rack of lamb with fresh green vegetables and Dauphinoise potatoes; and my guest tried one of the daily specials of local ﬁllet steak served with chunky chips, homemade onion rings and 73 salad. The perfectly cooked lamb was juicy and ﬂavourful, and my guest’s beef was as good, or better, than any 5-star restaurant we’ve tried. After we had devoured our meals, our server came back to our table armed with The Ferry House Inn’s dessert menu. Quickly scanning down the page, I knew immediately what I would ask for. One of my very favourite desserts on warm summer days is Eton mess, so having spotted the word ‘mess’ on the menu, I just had to try it. The Harty berry mess was a delectable combination of local berries, meringue, fresh thick cream and a berry coulis. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending. My guest continued with his crème brûlée theme and opted for the raspberry and blackberry crème brûlée with conﬁt rhubarb and shortbread biscuit, which was, of course, divine. There are only a handful of out-of-the-way restaurants in Kent that I would whole-heartedly recommend to friends and family, and The Ferry House Inn is the newest on my list. The atmosphere is stunning, the menu choices are fantastic, and the food is absolutely worth driving miles for. The Ferry House Inn Harty Ferry Road Harty ME12 4BQ 01795 510214 www.theferryhouseinn.co.uk

insideKENT Magazine Issue 28 - July 2014 | Page 73