The Beacon

As the address suggests, there were tea gardens here in an area called Happy Valley. They were created about 1820, but the late-Victorians presumably lost interest, because in 1895 Sir Walter Harris was able to buy the land and build a house, Rusthall Beacon, here. After a wartime spell as a hostel for Jewish refugees, in 1950 it became a hotel. Standing in nearly seventeen acres, the building is jam-packed with impressive architectural features - moulded plaster ceilings and stained glass windows in particular. The bar offers a trinity of real ales - Harveys Best, Larkins Traditional and Timothy Taylor's Landlord, as well as Stowford Press draught cider and Weston's Organic bottled pear cider. Take a pint out to the terrace and enjoy the terrific views. Food is served in the bar, the restaurant, or in one of three private dining rooms, where the menus take full advantage of local produce, not least the fruit, vegetables and herbs from The Beacon's own kitchen garden. Start perhaps with roasted fennel and orange salad with balsamic dressing; or Shetland mussels with creamy cider sauce and Rusbridge bread from nearby Southborough. For a main course, select from a list containing braised blade of beef with dauphinoise potatoes, caramelised onion, glazed french beans and red wine jus; home-cooked gammon with free-range egg and hand-cut chips; and seafood and saffron tagliatelli with Noilly Prat and dill sauce. There are plenty of others to choose from, as well as the daily specials board. A good wine list offers plenty of choice by the glass. The area offers a lot of things to do, making an overnight stay in one of the individually themed, impeccably furnished and decorated bedrooms something to consider.