The Leicester Arms in Penshurst, near Tonbridge, Kent, has been named in The Good Food Guide’s prestigious inaugural 100 Best Pubs.
The listing comes hot on the heels of the pub’s recent inclusion in The Guardian’s 30 Best UK pubs for an autumn escape with great food.
The Grade II-listed pub will build on this momentum with a packed calendar of events and experiences that celebrate great food, drink and hospitality in the heart of the Kent countryside.
The Leicester Arms was transformed with a major refurbishment in 2024 by the Little & Large Pub Company, which operates the pub, and owners Brakspear. This saw the pub upgraded while retaining its charm and character.
Lunch and dinner are served inside every day or, in the summer, on the terrace overlooking the Kent countryside.
The pub also has 13 en-suite bedrooms, offering “all the luxury of a boutique hotel combined with individual, botanically inspired design that means every room is unique”.
Manu Bhatt, founder of the Little & Large Pub Company, said: “We are proud of the team and grateful to our guests, neighbours and suppliers for their support.
“Being named in The Good Food Guide and highlighted by The Guardian as a great place to stay and food destination is a real boost to what we have set out to create here. We are excited to welcome guests for a season of long lunches, cosy dinners and memorable celebrations.”
The Best 100 Pubs includes pubs across the country, rating them for their brilliant cooking, quality beers and other drinks, and warm welcome. Some of the country’s finest chefs feature on the list, creating approachable, affordable dishes from ingredients with local provenance. The Leicester Arms achieved No 91 on this year’s list.
Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said: “This is wonderful and well-deserved recognition for the team at The Leicester Arms.
“Under Little & Large, the pub has gone from strength to strength, thanks to their focus on achieving the highest standards in the kitchen and front of house. We’re delighted to be working with such a talented pub operator.”
