Ramblinns | The Five Bells Inn in Brabourne
Surrounded by the rolling North Downs in a remote countryside location is a beautiful 16th-century country inn, the Five Bells Inn. In early times, the inn was frequently visited by travellers following the Pilgrims Way; the route between London, Canterbury, Dover, and France. The Five Bells Inn was a place where they could halt for the night and partake in a hearty meal and drinks. Today, visitors and travellers will find a relaxed and welcoming pub with a good range of scrumptious pub dishes prepared from fresh & local produce and four varied (and beautifully furnished) rooms. Five Bells Inn is also a good base to visit the historic Kentish countryside.
The Five Bells Inn is a part of the Ramblinns brand which has three other pubs in the collection - The Globe Inn Marsh (in Rye), The Woolpack (in Warehorne) and The Radnor Arms (in Folkestone). The inns are located in the same broader area and guests can choose to walk or cycle between the inns (around 10 miles) with their luggage being transported to their next destination. A lovely way to explore the countryside and enjoy the beautiful rural views!
The Five Bells Inn looks like any other inn/pub from the outside. But on the inside, the offbeat and quirky decor adds a luxurious-cum-rustic vibe to the place. There are four suites at the Five Bells Inn all named after Kentish grapes (Bacchus and Ortega) and hops (Golding and Fuggle). We stayed in the Ortega and hands down it has to be one of the most unconventional and fun rooms we have stayed in.
Cosy, luxurious and beautifully furnished, the Ortega was full of character.
A truly unique room, with a quirky decor, this was unlike any other suite we have stayed in. An open fire and a huge copper bathtub were the focal points of the suite. The bed was comfortable and we enjoyed a good nights sleep.
The room was well kitted out - a selection of magazines & books, a beautiful dressing table with mirror and a retro-style radio were provided. Complimentary bottles of local (Cox & Bramley) apple juice and water were also provided. There was no TV in the room which both myself and Bhavin were fine with but there was no tea making facility either which we thought should have been there. However, the staff did make a note of our preferences and bought the morning tea to our room at around half past eight.
The open plan bathroom was eccentric in style - very good use of lighting, lots of copper, bold colours and the huge free-standing bath overlooking the Kent Downs. Toiletries from Romney Marsh Wools were provided on a huge brass tray next to the bath. The gleaming copper tones enhanced the bathroom's opulence and glamour quotient. Truly a bathroom fit for a movie star! We loved it.
The drink selection at the Five Bells Inn was amazing - lots of gins and local ales. With a seasonal all-day menu offering pub classics, the food did not disappoint either. For starters we chose Bruschetta with orchard plum tomatoes, garlic & basil (for Bhavin) and Candy stripe baby beetroots with goats cheese and herbs curd & black pudding bon-bon (for me). Both were fantastic. For the mains, we shared a Bonfire pizza with toppings of our choice and drizzled with chilli oil for that spicy kick. The desserts we chose were ice cream and Chocolate Nemesis, a flourless chocolate torte also served with ice cream. A lovely way to end a nice meal.
Breakfast was lovely too! In addition to a small buffet featuring croissants, granola, yoghurt, fruits and fruit juices there was a lovely cooked menu. We opted for the ovo-vegetarian version and it was delicious and filling. Again it featured local produce and was beautifully presented. Nothing to fault.
There are a number of lovely walks in the vicinity of the inn which we liked and enjoyed.
Further afield you can visit the following:
Wye National Nature Reserve: Beautiful views and an abundance of wildlife make the nature reserve an excellent place for those who enjoy the outdoors.
Dover Folkestone Heritage Coast: A beautiful walk along the coastline taking in the stunning scenery and visiting attractions like Samphire Hoe, the White Cliffs of Dover, Dover Castle and South Foreland Lighthouse.
Canterbury: The cathedral city is around half an hours drive from the Five Bells Inn and is the perfect place for a day trip. Along with the Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church (both of which are nearby) form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are looking for more activities or things to do in Canterbury, then you can visit Canterbury Castle, Canterbury Roman Museum, Beaney House of Art and Knowledge or get a unique perspective of Canterbury (by boat) with Canterbury Historic River Tours.
Godinton House & Gardens: Godinton is a working estate in Ashford. It has beautiful gardens, a delightful house to explore (guided tours available) and some lovely walks.
Sandwich: It is one of the finest and most well-preserved medieval towns in the country. The Historic Town Trail is a must-do if you are visiting the area.
We really enjoyed our stay at the Five Bells Inn. It is a quirky little place to stay in Kent. A remote location that is peaceful and tranquil and ideally located to explore the Kent Downs AONB. The rooms are well-appointed, the food great and the staff professional and welcoming. The Five Bells Inn is undoubtedly a place where we would love to stay again. We would also happily recommend it to couples looking for a romantic country break or ramblers keen to explore the Kentish countryside.
Prices for a night’s stay at The Five Bells Inn starts at £120, bed & breakfast rate. Check their website for availability and to book online.
Five Bells Inn | The Street, East Brabourne, Ashford, Kent TN25 5LP
Phone | 01303 813334
We were hosted at Five Bells Inn as a guest of Ramblinns. As always, all opinions, remain our own.
The Five Bells Inn is a part of the Ramblinns brand which has three other pubs in the collection - The Globe Inn Marsh (in Rye), The Woolpack (in Warehorne) and The Radnor Arms (in Folkestone). The inns are located in the same broader area and guests can choose to walk or cycle between the inns (around 10 miles) with their luggage being transported to their next destination. A lovely way to explore the countryside and enjoy the beautiful rural views!
The Five Bells Inn
The Five Bells Inn looks like any other inn/pub from the outside. But on the inside, the offbeat and quirky decor adds a luxurious-cum-rustic vibe to the place. There are four suites at the Five Bells Inn all named after Kentish grapes (Bacchus and Ortega) and hops (Golding and Fuggle). We stayed in the Ortega and hands down it has to be one of the most unconventional and fun rooms we have stayed in.
Ortega
Cosy, luxurious and beautifully furnished, the Ortega was full of character.
A truly unique room, with a quirky decor, this was unlike any other suite we have stayed in. An open fire and a huge copper bathtub were the focal points of the suite. The bed was comfortable and we enjoyed a good nights sleep.
The room was well kitted out - a selection of magazines & books, a beautiful dressing table with mirror and a retro-style radio were provided. Complimentary bottles of local (Cox & Bramley) apple juice and water were also provided. There was no TV in the room which both myself and Bhavin were fine with but there was no tea making facility either which we thought should have been there. However, the staff did make a note of our preferences and bought the morning tea to our room at around half past eight.
The open plan bathroom was eccentric in style - very good use of lighting, lots of copper, bold colours and the huge free-standing bath overlooking the Kent Downs. Toiletries from Romney Marsh Wools were provided on a huge brass tray next to the bath. The gleaming copper tones enhanced the bathroom's opulence and glamour quotient. Truly a bathroom fit for a movie star! We loved it.
Food & Drink
The drink selection at the Five Bells Inn was amazing - lots of gins and local ales. With a seasonal all-day menu offering pub classics, the food did not disappoint either. For starters we chose Bruschetta with orchard plum tomatoes, garlic & basil (for Bhavin) and Candy stripe baby beetroots with goats cheese and herbs curd & black pudding bon-bon (for me). Both were fantastic. For the mains, we shared a Bonfire pizza with toppings of our choice and drizzled with chilli oil for that spicy kick. The desserts we chose were ice cream and Chocolate Nemesis, a flourless chocolate torte also served with ice cream. A lovely way to end a nice meal.
Breakfast was lovely too! In addition to a small buffet featuring croissants, granola, yoghurt, fruits and fruit juices there was a lovely cooked menu. We opted for the ovo-vegetarian version and it was delicious and filling. Again it featured local produce and was beautifully presented. Nothing to fault.
What’s nearby
There are a number of lovely walks in the vicinity of the inn which we liked and enjoyed.
Further afield you can visit the following:
Wye National Nature Reserve: Beautiful views and an abundance of wildlife make the nature reserve an excellent place for those who enjoy the outdoors.
Dover Folkestone Heritage Coast: A beautiful walk along the coastline taking in the stunning scenery and visiting attractions like Samphire Hoe, the White Cliffs of Dover, Dover Castle and South Foreland Lighthouse.
Canterbury: The cathedral city is around half an hours drive from the Five Bells Inn and is the perfect place for a day trip. Along with the Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church (both of which are nearby) form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are looking for more activities or things to do in Canterbury, then you can visit Canterbury Castle, Canterbury Roman Museum, Beaney House of Art and Knowledge or get a unique perspective of Canterbury (by boat) with Canterbury Historic River Tours.
Godinton House & Gardens: Godinton is a working estate in Ashford. It has beautiful gardens, a delightful house to explore (guided tours available) and some lovely walks.
Sandwich: It is one of the finest and most well-preserved medieval towns in the country. The Historic Town Trail is a must-do if you are visiting the area.
Our thoughts
We really enjoyed our stay at the Five Bells Inn. It is a quirky little place to stay in Kent. A remote location that is peaceful and tranquil and ideally located to explore the Kent Downs AONB. The rooms are well-appointed, the food great and the staff professional and welcoming. The Five Bells Inn is undoubtedly a place where we would love to stay again. We would also happily recommend it to couples looking for a romantic country break or ramblers keen to explore the Kentish countryside.
Book your stay
Prices for a night’s stay at The Five Bells Inn starts at £120, bed & breakfast rate. Check their website for availability and to book online.
Five Bells Inn | The Street, East Brabourne, Ashford, Kent TN25 5LP
Phone | 01303 813334
Wow! This is one stunning hotel! LOVE the bronze bathtub and the Asian inspired umbrella wallpaper. They really thought out their interiors beautful and all the colours and finishes are stunning! Oh and that bar......
ReplyDeleteYes, Amy. Very nicely thought out decor. I loved that the design offered aesthetic pleasure, an element of fun and comfort as well.
DeleteWas there anything not to love about this place? My gosh how unique, cozy and beautiful! I don't know if I love the copper sinks or the dresser with mirror better! And the bar and food!!
ReplyDeleteThe bathroom was fabulous! I loved all aspects of the decor and design in the room.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous hotel! Looks very typically English! I live in London but have never ventured to Kent - it looks really nice though so may have to visit someday soon :)
ReplyDeleteThis seems a good place to spend some days. Really nice bedrooms and landscape. Perfect!
ReplyDelete