England is famous around the world for its quaint village pubs, buildings that have often been a cornerstone of the community for hundreds of years. But, if a friendly, local watering hole with history is right up your street, The Red Cow has a more interesting story than most.
Today, The Red Cow is a charming pub with rooms in the village of Chrishall, Kent. Over the last decade, the team have lovingly restored its Grade II Listed features and completed renovations which now boast five, luxurious en-suite bedrooms, and a high quality restaurant.
But, this building's story goes back hundreds of years and its structure is actually thought to be the oldest in the area. Whether you're local or just visiting, Chrishall is brimming with fascinating tales, such as being logged in the Domesday Survey of 1086, with Anglo-Saxon and Roman finds discovered close by.
If stopping for lunch or dinner, guests can enjoy both crowd-pleasing classics and daily seasonal options which make the most of fresh produce, changing all the time. For example, to start, you might enjoy some nibbles such as homemade warm pork crackling with spiced apple compote, followed by starters like duck parfait with orange ginger plum marmalade, cucumber salad and oatmeal cookies or Green Goddess risotto with garden cress.
For mains, larger dishes include sliced pork tenderloin with Asian kimchi salad, honey roasted new potatoes and cider glaze, as well as vegan options like chickpea coated butternut squash fritters with five bean chilli and red onion relish. If you fancy something lighter, there's pantry options too, like the club sandwich with crispy fried chicken breast, pulled pork and fried egg, served with potato fries. Finally, those with a sweet tooth will love the dessert menu which has a plethora of options, like the chai latte cheesecake with maple syrup.
Before booking a table or dropping in, take a look at the website as The Red Cow also offers themed nights which might change what's on offer that evening. For example, Tuesday can often be for fish and chip fans, so if that's not what you're hankering for, you might want to choose another time.