The Stanhope Arms

Fantastic home made food and fantastic atmosphere and great hosts :-)
If you want a cracking home made steak pie, then this is the place to go.

Well what a difference new owners makethe pub has been totally transformed back to an original pub, no juke boxes, machines or sky sports! Fantastic décor and fitted out with old furniture, pictures and artifacts, a real home from home. Four of us ate and had a fantastic meal and great beer. Considering the pub has recently opened it was absolutely packed with a great bunch of people who have obviously made it their Friday evening meeting place. Great log fire in the restaurant and really friendly owners, what a fantastic turnaround from the previous years of neglect. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone who is looking for a traditional pub with great food and very drinkable real ales. Also dog friendly in the bar, alas our pooch had to stay in the car as we ate in the restaurant.

Went for sunday lunch 3 adults 4yr old neice and 2 big dogs. Dont think ive seen such an immaculate pub in all my life. We sat in the bar in big comfy chair and sofas with a gorgeous glass of house red. Landlady and landlord friendly and chatty. Menu is mouthwatering and backs up its promise on every aspect. We sat up to a lovely oak dining table and Had mixed roast with pork lamb and beef with the fluffiest roasties ive ever eaten. Vegetables and gravy were perfect. The love and pride that goes into making a roast like that does take time so dont go in here expecting a conveyer belt dinner cooked a few days ago and nuked in a microwave by a spotty teenager. I was halfway through my second glass of wine when the landlady came and let us know our dinner was 5 minutes away. We had gorgeous christmas ambience with decorations and unobtrusive music. Toilets were spotless and had lovely toiletries on offer. This pub is a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle, A gem to be treasured that has been here for a long time and i hope a long time to come. we will definitly be back very soon.

I wanted to like the Stanhope Arms. Lovely situation, pretty bar and garden, cosy seating. Sunday lunch on 4^th September. Booked table in restaurant for 12.30pm. On arrival we had a drink in the bar, one lady dealing with bar and restaurant order, an impression of a mixture of ‘very relaxed’ (chatting to locals rather than presenting menus or taking orders) and ‘overwhelmed’ (sudden rush to take order), we were the first booking and yet we waited a long time for a simple (cold) starter and a very long time for three mains. Staff for restaurant and pub seemed to be a chef and two multitasking ladies. Restaurant was not empty but neither was it full. No effort to offer wines, or indeed drinks, with meal although happy to bring drinks when requested. Not a good experience which is a shame. Food was reasonable but not excellent and a general air of a ‘hobby’ rather than a business.

I don’t want to give this pub a star but the format won’t allow me to leave it blank.
This pub needs to get more staff and perhaps some training in customer service for the existing staff, especially for the lady in charge. Most of the customers yesterday (Sunday lunch) were complaining and even told us not to bother. But the lady in charge was rude back, to an elderly lady in particular. If you apologise about delays people very rarely complain, a simple gesture. The same lady in charge also ignored us several times at the bar and served regulars as they came up to the bar when we had stood there for ages. She was obviously very stressed. Yes the pub is pretty and it is unusual in this day and age to find crisp white tablecloths and fresh flowers, but this is not enough. Service is everything. We can’t comment on the food because we didn’t stay long enough to order any! A little friendliness goes a very long way. We won’t be going back and neither will most of those customers that were there yesterday.

A friendly local tucked away in a chocolate box location of brasted, kent. Good drinks and good food at reasonable prices. It’s especially pleasant around Christmas time with it’s decorations. It’s full of history and the bar staff are always friendly whether you’re local or a visitor.