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The Horseshoe & Castle Freehouse

Proprietor: Kevin Boyle FBII

Address: Main Road, Cooling, Rochester, Kent, ME3 8DJ

Contact number: 01634 221691

Contact e-mail: [email protected]

Website address: www.horseshoeandcastle.com

 

About The Horseshoe and Castle

Enviably located in the heart of the Hoo Peninsula, in the historic village of Cooling, The Horseshoe and Castle is a traditional country inn with five letting rooms set between two nature reserves in Dickens countryside.

An open fireplace invites you into the restaurant and a log burner is located in the bar.  A full A' la Carte menu to choose from using all home cooked local ingredients also offers seafood specialities.

The Horseshoe and Castle has over the years received good reviews from Kent Life magazine and other national publications as a fond favourite, and an exemplary mention from an article by Janet Street Porter taking a well-earned rest bite on one of many walks which included part of the Saxon Shore Way and RSPB Nature Reserve.

The Horseshoe and Castle is a dog friendly freehouse where dogs are welcome throughout the premises excluding the restaurant area. There is one double room out of five which can accommodate a small sized dog.

"Old style English pub , lots of character, quirky, open fire, very welcoming with great local beers and very very good food at very reasonable prices. We stayed one night - took two rooms which were both very clean and comfortable - and the staff were very polite, welcoming and friendly. Highly recommend. Short drive to Rochester which is a quaint and interesting town" - Trip Advisor review

Restaurant opening times

Restaurant opening times Lunch Dinner

Monday

12:00 - 14:30

18:00 - 21:00

Tuesday

12:00 - 14:30

18:00 - 21:00

Wednesday

12:00 - 14:30

18:00 - 21:00

Thursday

12:00 - 14:30

18:00 - 21:00

Friday

12:00 - 21:00

Saturday

12:00 - 21:00

Sunday

12:00 - 16:00

Bar opening times

Permitted bar opening times Opening times

Monday

11:30 - 23:00

Tuesday

11:30 - 23:00

Wednesday

11:30 - 23:00

Thursday

11:30 - 23:00

Friday

11:30 - 00:00

Saturday

11:30 - 00:00

Sunday

12:00 - 23:30

History of Horseshoe and Castle

The original pub was of timber construction and on the 23 April 1914 a fire broke out. With the pub being of wooden construction the fire took hold quickly and the pub was decimated. The village policeman of the time had arrived before the fire brigade and bravely entered the burning pub but it was too late to save anything except a bottle of whisky.

In 1987 the pub was faced with closure, developers had decided to build houses in the car park and turn the pub into a private dwelling. A Campaign by the villagers was successful and the plans for the development were altered to build three houses in the site of the pub’s car park and turn the pub’s garden into a car park.