The Spotted Dog in Sevenoaks - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Food poor quality Service dreadful Tables dirty Manager rude Paid very high prices for age of pub and it’s setting. Shocking!!

Lovely old pub in a beautiful setting. Unfortunately that is all that is positive about this place. Food prices very expensive for cheap/poor quality food. Service appallingly slow. Manager rude and uncaring. Do yourself a favour and go to The Bottle House Inn instead!!

Visited today for a family meal. The food was lovely but the service was terrible! Wrong menus given on arrival, not enough chairs for space booked. Drinks and food took a while to come out. Second drinks ordered when food came out and didn't arrive until prompted well after we had finished our food. Didn't bother ordering dessert as the wait didn't seem worth it. Even paying the bill at the bar took forever! Won't be returning.

I remember visiting here years ago when my children were tiny. The view from the tiered back patio was outstanding in those days. Showing far reaching views across Kent. Truly disappointed to discover that trees on surrounding areas are so grown up now that a very tiny slither of view is visible and the garden overgrown and unkempt. Can't comment on food as only stopped for drinks. But it looked like it needed a lot of care and attention. It's a quirky pub built in 1510 and shows great promise. Truly sad the magnificent view has been obliterated.

Lovely welcoming pub! Will definitely return :)

Went for a family meal on s Sunday. Food was OK, cuts of meat very nice, roast is advertised as having mash, this was a small tablespoon. The roast potatoes were dry. Staff brought 2 dinners out, we sat for 5 minutes waiting for the vegetables to go with the dinners. Once all meals were out we had to ask for more veg as extremely small portion was sent. When we ordered dessert, this arrived at table and again we had to wait several minutes, this time for a spoon. Counted 3 staff, all just standing at the bar chatting. Not good value, will not be returning

We went as have previously enjoyed the vast menu. This was very depleted. Table sticky. Food was ok but nothing to shout about. My chips were “warm” at best. The Diet Coke was a cheap substitute. Wish I’d checked the reviews before we went although some are 5* which is hard to understand.

Lovely, lovely pub….beautiful views, excellent service, plenty of spacious parking and what I loved is that there wasn’t any awful music playing….just the comforting hubbub of happy punters. Perfect! Just as a good old fashioned Kent country pub should be. We will be back.

Love this place, one of the few traditional pubs that haven't been taken over by chains. Great atmosphere, great food, lovely interior and if the weather's good there's a lovely view outside.

As soon as we arrived in the pub/restaurant we were given a very cordial welcome and shown immediately to our table, which was inside. However, since it was a warm sunny day, we chose to eat outside on their terrace. The four of us had a great fish and chip lunch, with an excellent bottle of rose wine. The food was hot and the portions were substantial. Our young waiter was very attentive, charming and exceptionally polite. I will certainly return to The Spotted Dog for lunch.

Excellent food. Staff fantastic.

Awful! Place was a mess, dirty plates and glasses everywhere, utter chaos. Wait 1 1/2 hours for luke warm food to arrive. Explained when paying the bill what a terrible experience we had. No interest, no apology. Won’t be returning

Visited today with my family and grandchildren for fathers days lunch - in summary absolutely dreadful experience - service non-existent, food - after 1hr 45 min wait just revolting, tasted as if had been under a hot plate for all that time. Very upset daughters and exhausted grandchildren - had to grab a takeaway on way home. Couldn’t pay me to return - don’t make same mistake as us in expecting a decent meal and experience for a special occasion.

Fabulous pub which is still as wonderfully atmospheric after all these years. Haven't been here for nearly 50 years and it's as if I never left! Please never change.

Lovely location, great food and fantastic friendly service, parked up in the motorhome for an overnight stay, ber welcoming and friendly will definitely return when back in this neck of the woods. Many thanks.

Great place to eat, super friendly service.

Went for Sunday lunch, sat outside the tables were old and needs updating. The area was full of weeds which was a shame because the outlook was really pleasant. I was very surprised when the salt etc came in small McDonald like paper sachets not the normal salt and pepper pots. I had Lamb and was not offered any mint sauce etc. The vegetables came in a small dish and this was for four people, very disappointed. Not the most enjoyable Sunday lunch.

I first visited The Spotted Dog in 1968 when I was at school. Then there were two doors to enter. It sold vintage cider which was a strong as sherry. The view used to be panoramic but a previous landlord decided to floodlight the façade and the neighbour planted trees to screen out the glowing lights. The result is the view in now obscured. There are new owners of the pub and neighbouring property but no solution to the obscured view. The beer, food and ambience are still top notch and special and The Spotted Dog is always worth visiting for an enjoyable lunch time or evening.

We stopped by for a drink and light bite in the pub garden and ordered crusty bread with oils and balsamic. However instead received slices of toast! I’ve never come across this before and super disappointed to be eating slices of supermarket bread and paying for the privilege. We raised this to the staff, however they seemed unfazed. We won’t be going back, our chips were out of a packet and very poor quality too. Not what we expected from a “lovely country pub.” -

Food was over cooked and not very nice. Not a ‘gastropub’ that’s for sure

I visited with a group on a Thursday lunchtime (and without a booking!). The Spotted Dog is off the beaten track, so we were not disappointed, and found a table (almost!) big enough for us! The Landlady was worried the chef would be a bit slow due to the unexpected number of orders, but he did admirably! Food was good and reasonably priced. The pub has great character and is situated on a steep slope offering far reaching views from the garden. I can’t match the photos from other reviews so I won’t try!

Good atmosphere and great service when eating 3 courses

We found this little gem via Search for Sites when looking for somewhere to stay over night in our camper. We chose the Spotted Dog because the reviews were all excellent AND they had outside toilets you are welcome to use over night, if you eat with them. We did and I appreciated the wine list, you could tell a wine lover had put that together. Food was good, we sat by an open fire and chatted to most people in there. Dog friendly too! The owner is putting his heart into the place, that’s clear. We need to celebrate this type of landlord when old traditional pubs are a dying trade these days. Well done. We’ll be back for sure!

Had a fantastic time with my boys, highly recommend steak night, great food and service!! we will be back very soon! Thank you.

Visited on a Saturday lunch. Food (burger and goat curry) took over 1.1/2 hours! We weren’t the only table waiting ages. Food was tasty but items were missing and when I asked was advised the kitchen had run out. Staff were very accommodating and moved us to the restaurant as the bar area was cold. Everyone had kept their coats on! The place needs a good dust too. On balance we won’t return for food.

Typical English PUB to eat, beautiful and very good atmosphere.

I am extremely concerned. There was four of us and we ordered two fish and chips which were gone off- smelt and tasted horrible. We also had the burger which was dry and not nice and this wasn't eaten. I had maccoroni cheese and it was just watery milk with melted cheese on top- fries weren't cooked through either. The service was sporadic, the waitress who was serving us was dropping chips and slurring speech, the manager offered us 50% off bill but honestly I don't feel like it compensated fully for our bad experience.

I had a fabulous goat masala in Kashmiri sauce, have rarely eaten anything so delicious.

Second time now. Another perfect service. Booked a few months back for mums birthday and requested a table next to the fire. Was all setup and ready for us. Pie night this evening, fantastic home cooking, staff so welcoming. If you want the full Kent pub experience, I fully recommend.

Hidden away. Cosy pub. Worth a visit. Nice local Ales.

We were a walking group with 12 diners who all had a great experience today. From our initial booking to lunch on the day, staff were really friendly and accommodating, efficient, great food and excellent service. We are very grateful and we'll all be back! Thank you to everyone at the Spotted Dog. Much appreciated and highly recommended.

We would like to say a big thank you to Chris and all his staff for hosting our mum's wake on 10th of November. We found you very helpful and sensitive at such a difficult time. Lots of our family & friends remarked at how well it was organised, lovely food & staff. A lovely pub & setting . We would definitely recommend yourselves ,and when in the area will pop in and say hi Thank you sooooooo much again Jenny & Gill

What a nice little gem hidden in the country!!! Even managed to fit us in on a Sunday for a lovely roast last minute!! The lamb was absolutely perfect!!! 😋 We did get seated on the wrong table and was asked to move which wasn't a problem and we got our drinks on the house for that so thank you!! It's very cosy and seating is a little tight but it brought people together from other tables which I thought was nice everybody all got chatting. Got a amazing view out the back. Staff are very friendly and welcoming too and service was perfect so definitely will be back!!

It was a quiet night for Sunday roast. The beef was a bit dry but the Yorkshire pudding and sticky toffee pudding were amazing tho.

We found this beautiful pub on park for night. The owner/ manager ( not sure) was very nice and even offered to move his car if we couldn't find parking. All the staff were fantastic and the food was lovely. Dog friendly. All in all outstanding. Definitely be revisiting.

A superb lunch! Great choices on the menu, good quality ingredients, cooked perfectly and presented well. Top marks to the chef! Will certainly be back.

Without doubt the worst roast dinner I have ever eaten. My partner and I had high hopes having read reviews, but what we were served up wasn’t fit for man nor dog. Stunning view out the back of the pub. We ordered two roast lambs and were served up two plates of Luke warm food. The roast potatoes must have been cooked last night and left under the heater since, they were rock solid and had we thrown them at the window I’m sure they’d have done some damage. The lamb had more fat that meat on it and the veg had clearly been cooked a long time ago, all served up with a pint of bistro’s best gravy drowning the plate. On paying the bill the lady behind the bar didn’t ask how the food was and so I explained to her how bad it was and her response was thanks very much.. Customer service was non existent apart from the young guy who did try to offer us a Yorkshire pudding to replace the “roast potatoes” We arrived and left within 30 mins of getting there.. that says it all.

Slow service. Took an hour to get the food. Charming old pub though

Very poor food I’m afraid. Service wasn’t great. Understaffed. We used to visit fairly often and hadn’t been for a while. Won’t be rushing back.

Wonderful evening at the spotted dog, the barmaid was exceptional, we tried a variety of dishes that were all cooked to a good standard.

Lovely pub, great food. Incredible historic pub!

Bit tired , old 500 yrs old pub but a bit grumby, tired. Junk everywhere, gardens overgrown. Lacking TLC. Could be a gem, needs a clearout. Didnt eat as menu not attractive.

Wonderful place. Lovely staff, dog friendly, fresh food, stunning location in the heart of beautiful Kent

Nice view and atmosphere bit expensive and small food portions

Clues in the name, dog friendly pup! Really lovely staff and great grub. Amazing atmosphere. Hidden gem in the countryside.

Lovely food, gorgeous views, prompt and friendly service

Just popped in for a quick drink. Went to the terrace at the back. Sorry, but it just doesn’t look safe. The 2 foot wall that stops people from falling over the side is cracked in numerous places and the floor is very uneven. It just looks like it hasnt been attended to for years. This is not meant to be disparaging, I am sure the rest is fine but it does leave me with concerns.

Nice place lovely food clean and tidy good service nice beer e.t.c.

Went on a recommendation. Bad service. One person took the drinks order and another brought over the order which was wrong. Waited at least 30 mins for our food. When it did arrive the only good thing was the vegetables, which we had to ask for, and they were luke warm. Our daughter ordered lamb and there was more fat than lamb. Roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings seemed to have been frozen which is not what I expected. Managers excuse for food taking so long was that it was sunday and they were short of staff. Such a bad experience for a pub whichooks so nice inside and out.

Nice place to eat and drink, friendly staff make you feel welcome

1st visit Nice place, good atmosphere, great food and lovely staff.👍 Was able to change reservation time to later with an early phone call. Would visit again when next in the area

I feel so bad writing this review after just reading everyone elses because our food was not very nice at all. We went for an extremely long walk and couldnt wait for our roast but it was not nice. The Yorkshire puddings were burnt on the top and the roast potatoes looked really undercooked. They wernt crispy like other photos i have seen. It was like they were frozen ones that hadnt been roasted. Its such a shame because the pub was lovely and the staff were friendly but the food did not match. Two of us had a roast but the dish of veg was so small (I thought too small for even one person). There was no stuffing (i have seen other photos where peoplpe have had stuffing?) such a shame, maybe nice for a drink but we definately wont be eating there again. Also the food was extremely expensive. We looked at the menu online before hand and thought it was reasonable but when we were given the menu, it had all gone up like £3/£4 per roast.. :( I had a toby carvery last week and that was a lot better...

Service was appalling. We arrived on time only to be told food would not be available for 50 mins. They don't stagger the bookings which would put less pressure on the kitchen.

Excellent location. Food OK but expensive for basic pub grub.

We had a lovely meal at The Spotted Dog in Penshurst today.. we had a short wait for our table, as the pub was very busy when we got there! It's always a good sign. Lots of seating outside, and a fantastic view out the back. Parking is available across the road from the pub. The food was really good, we had a bit of a wait between courses, but again it was busy. Really old, beautiful pub, full of character. Well worth a visit.

Worst Sunday roast my wife and I have ever had.If I could give no stars I would. Roast beef was dry ,looked more like a rasher,and the Lamb was all fat.

We both had fish and chips the fish was very thin and dry a shame 😞

Can't beat a traditional pub in the Kent countryside!! Great views from the back garden... As for the pie of the day.., Steak n Guinness, Mash Pots with Veg n Gravy... What more could you ask for on a Wednesday evening!!! Cracking Pie!!! See you soon!

Excellent lunch. Welcoming staff and lovely views on the back terrace. Well worth a visit if in Penshurst area. Interesting selection of ales and ciders.

Amazing service and great food as always I love to spend time there.

Stunning historic pub! Great food and staff! Many thanks Sean & Gaetan

Very pleasant meal this evening for me and my wife, her brother, and a friend. Excellent staff who know how to talk to customers, perfect food, beer and wine, and an unfairly perfect location. Well done. Much appreciated.

This is a traditional, slightly quirky pub. Tables at front and if you go to the back the tables overlook a small Vale of trees. Food very pub oriented. A place worth visiting and a great pint of Harvey's ale.

A little cramped but very cosy . Food was very good but unfortunately was luke warm. Server very pleasant . I would return but would insist on hot food.

The restaurant manager was very cool, happy and quick to serve, and great listener and cool gent to have a chat with, just stopped for a quick passing pint, i noticed there is an eden of a back garden yard of more outside benches, quite scenic out back as well, very cool i tell ja!

Sunday lunch, generally disappointed overall, yappy dog,pork tough, no apple sauce, had to ask for it, minimal veg, dinner not hot, oily potatoes,on the plus side parking available.

Beautiful hidden spot for some lunch and drink after a hike. Terrace on the back with a great view makes it the perfect place to relax and enjoy. And what a great people work there!

Went out just for a change of scene and came across the Spotted Dog so decided to have lunch there. Greeted by a very pleasant host who showed us to a table and left us to make choices. A non complex but very tasty menu, and a comprehensive wine list. Orders taken quickly and served with a smile. Food good and very enjoyable. Would highly recommend this pub, and hope to return soon.

Not a pleasant barmaid service here today.

Lovely setting and good choice of drinks. Cozy classic interior. But not a great roast dinner. The crucial test is roast potatoes and these were not crispy and a bit oily.

The one staff member who ignored us and was then quite abrupt, during a busy lunch-time, makes this a poor venue in our book! Seems popular with locals having hot meals at lunch-time.

Great pub: good food & a wonderful location

Looks derelict from outside when approaching from smarts hill. Bar and tables covered in dirty glasses and plates. When it wasn’t even busy. Person behind the bar seemed to be having a bad day and couldn’t really be bothered to serve us.

Pleasant pub with good range of beers.

Lovely views, tasty food and great service... what more could you want? Made a last minute reservation for mother's day and the staff accommodated us in the most pleasant way. Ordered the roast leg of lamb which was really good. The pub is dog friendly and the setting is cozy for the cold winter evenings. Will definitely be back.

A warm welcoming pub with good no fuss food reasonable prices and Amazing views.

The food was lovely, and good value with really decent portion sizes. The service was much less impressive. We were seated, then immediately suggested we move to a worse table. Trying to pay was beyond painful. Overall probably wouldn't return.

Great historic pub with low ceilings that serves a lovely pint of Harvey's. Always feel you are made welcome by the staff.

Been a few times and the food has always been superb and reasonably priced for the quality. A great place to start and finish a walk.

Great place to eat. Friendly staff, good menu and reasonably priced. Well worth a try.

Lovely country pub. New. Owners since we last visited, and the food was amazing. Attentive staff, and feels like a proper country pub with great views and am open fire. Will definately return again.

A shadow of it's formal self, no atmosphere, poor food, a sad day as this was my favourite pub.

Food was good, service was awful. If you're looking for a warm welcome and attentive service then look elsewhere.

Food was good, bit crowded and one of our group had to keep getting up to let the staff through (we didn't change any of the seating arrangements)

Just had a lovely Sunday Lunch!!! Great Service and Food. Although I hadn't booked they were very helpful to accommodate us despite the fact of being a busy Lunch. Thank you so much and we will be back soon!

Fantastic Sunday roast. Location is great for a walk.

Really nice place with very high-quality food. Very tradicional. Good experience! Good for lunch or dinner.

Attended the “Indian Street Food Evening” with friends and the food was amazing!! The chef is soo good and produced dishes that were fresh and authentic and some of the best we’ve had outside of India. Can’t wait for the next one! The service and atmosphere was also warm and welcoming. Thanks

Sunday lunch 4th December. What a cheerless, charmless experience, with no hearty welcome (no welcome at all), no roaring log fire (well there were some billowing clouds of black smoke), our table for 6 people crammed up against a disused fireplace and an adjoining table for two (so close, I suggested they could join us). Back to the car to collect overcoats to ward off the cold. The Sunday roasts followed a similar pattern, just off cold roast beef lunch, tasteless fatty pork and so on. I always tip because none of this is the fault of the waiting staff, but on this occasion just couldn't bring myself to do it. The car park was rammed and the road filled one side with parked cars, so why were we all there I ask? A first and last visit so far as I'm concerned thankyou very much!

We went for the Christmas dinner and wasn't disappointed with the food or the service. The food was amazing and I must say the cider was really good too. 11/10 will be coming back again!

nice country pub with a good menu. down some narrow lanes but a large car park. Quite a few steps to get to the bar.

Sitting by the open fire as you eat wonderful food (from a wide choice) is a great experience. The staff are friendly and helpful. I only wish it was my local. Use a satnav as it can be difficult to spot in the dark.

Friendly Codsy and good cooked food

We didn't feel welcomed so didn't stay to sample the food. Place seemed a bit tatty and it was really cold inside. We may have been unfortunate.

Fantastic food and nice staff. We will definitely be back.

Lovely food in lovely pub with lovely staff

Beautiful countryside pub with very nice staff and tasty food

Had a great meal on Saturday - menu was varied, food was great! had the local tap - super. The location and oldyworldy nature of the pub is also brilliant - I was delighted with everything!

Pleasant atmosphere, friendly service and excellent and tasty food. Good all round experience.

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