Harden's survey result
Summary
“Notably creative dishes chosen for flavour not curiosity” are the hallmark of this community-owned village pub operated by a remarkably young team headed by ex-Goring Hotel chef Alex Yates, 25, and his younger sister Grace, who runs the “engaged and well- informed” front of house (their father, David, is an ex-Balls Bros wine merchant). “The room is a traditional old pub bar smartened without changing its character”. This “good neighbourhood community venture deserves to succeed and is trying very hard”; and “well done them for retaining à la carte as well as tasting menus in the evenings”.
Summary
This cute weatherboard-fronted pub in a North Downs village is “well worth finding” for its “beautifully presented food” that “goes beyond local gastropub standards” – “great flavours and marvellous balance provide a real gastronomic experience”. Owned as a community asset by villagers who raised money to save it from developers, the venue is operated by the Yates family: David, an ex-Balls Brothers wine merchant, and his son Alex, a “chef very engaged in his craft who loves to get feedback on his superb dishes”. He and his young kitchen team have high aims for the 26-cover restaurant – whose regulars would “love it to go from strength to strength”.
Summary
“It’s going places!”, according to fans of this village pub – originally two weather-boarded farm cottages from 1483 – which was saved from development six years ago when 120 villagers raised £450,000 to secure its future under community ownership. The Yates family now runs its 26-cover restaurant; David Yates is a wine merchant who worked in a senior role for Balls Brothers in London. But while fans trumpet “sensational” dishes from chef David’s son, Alex (ex-Goring Hotel, London) and his young kitchen team, other reports are more nuanced: “has potential and I want it to succeed as a community venture but they really need to get some input if they aspire to convert the recent Michelin listing to a star, as they do”.
Summary
“There is a dearth of good pubs in the area”, making this boozer, a village fixture for 200 years, a rare asset – so much so that, determined to stop property developers acquiring it, a community group raised the £450,000 needed to purchase it. As of summer 2020, the Yates family – who have three generations of experience in the trade – are at the helm and “have put a lot of thought and effort into the enterprise”; son Alex is chef and “producing interesting food”, including a “well-executed tasting menu”.
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 Bowley's at The Plough?
6 Taylors Lane, Trottiscliffe, ME19 5DR
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £30.00 | £35.00 |  |
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| Dinner | £32.00 | £38.00 | |
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| Drinks |
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|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £20.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.50 |
| Extras |
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|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
6 Taylors Lane, Trottiscliffe, ME19 5DR
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm |
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