Harden's says
Kent farm and kitchen that offers both vegetarian and vegan tasting menus
Harden's survey result
Summary
A visit to this “lovely restaurant way out in the country” is “like a trip to the theatre only better – with amazing cooking” on “a top-value tasting menu”. “Dishes are often surprising – I love that much of the produce is from the garden or nearby”, in line with Kent-born chef-patron Will Devlin’s ultra-local and sustainable ethos. He also runs Birchwood, a daytime venue in the nearby Flimwell Park sustainable woodland development, but was forced to close The Curlew in Bodiam due to rising costs in late 2022.
Summary
Widely acclaimed for its hyper-localism since opening in 2018 – this “fabulous little restaurant serves imaginative small plates of very locally sourced ingredients”, many of them grown on the smallholding after which it was named, or foraged nearby. Kent-born chef, Will Devlin qualified as a mechanic before switching to the kitchen, and trained at Gordon Ramsay’s Petrus. He also runs The Curlew (see also), eight miles away in Bodiam.
Summary
“Unusual dishes are brought out with a smile” at Will Devlin’s much-accoladed three-year-old which has taken Kent by storm. The “taster menus show the local roots of his sustainably minded philosophy” and deliver “sublime” results (“I can't believe there’s a better value anywhere”). “Superb service from his young staff” too. (In late 2021, he announced a new café-style opening in nearby Ticehurst, East Sussex).
Summary
“The first visit was amazing and I’m looking forward to returning”: Will Devlin’s “interesting tasting menus” (either the five-course ‘1/2-acre’ menu for £30, or the ten-course ‘full acre’ menu for £60) have Kent foodies in raptures, and this small, simple two-year-old venture (founded in April 2018) is the talk of the county. Part of the appeal are the “very generous wine flights and knowledgeable sommelier” to introduce them.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Small Holding?
Ranters Lane, Kilndown, TN17 2SG
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
Ranters Lane, Kilndown, TN17 2SG
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 6 pm‑8:30 |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑1 pm, 6 pm‑8:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑1 pm, 6 pm‑8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑1 pm, 5:30 pm‑8:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑1 pm |
Best British, Modern restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Biddenden
British, Modern restaurant in Southborough
British, Modern restaurant in Tunbridge Wells
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Cuckfield
British, Modern restaurant in Saltwood
British, Modern restaurant in Seasalter
