The Black Horse pub ,Pluckley — Local services in Ashford

I visited this pub years ago had a good mid priced meal and remember it because of the warm friendly traditional feel to pub so when Marie said she wanted to go on a paranormal evening that happened to be in her birthday I agreed thinking worse case we would have a nice meal and a bit of a laugh, instead we were met with an escapee from the Jeremy Kyle set behind the bar who clearly saw us as an inconvenience to have to serve us “ weird ghostie people “ instead of flirting with what I can only assume we’re the eight suspected fathers waiting for the paternity test results from Jeremy, one lacked a shirt two in vest tops and a combined IQ to match the number of teeth they shared, and then she serves us, two pints and two Malibu and diet cokes “Run out of Malibu we done cocktails “ ok there are so many ways you can tell people you’ve not got the drink they requested that isn’t in the top 100, personally I would of gone with “ I’m so sorry we’ve had a real run on Malibu today we’ve sold out can I offer anything else? “ so two pints and two diet cokes it is then, one of the other staff helpfully suggests nipping to the shop across the road and getting a bottle, now there’s an easy answer to this if you don’t want to do that and it’s “ I can’t do that this is a tied house if I buy a bottle from outside the Brewery I could loose my job” but she went with “ lm not paying £25 for a bottle over there” perhaps that attitude is the reason there was only eight toothless and shirtless locals using the bar maybe they don’t want to pay £2.50 measure still the 24 weird ghostie people have paid £50 for burger and chips and a look round your disgusting pub so that’s good, except we haven’t we’ve only paid £15 deposit each so we decide to give it a miss, out of politeness I go and tell the paranormal group who were very nice it has to be said we’re gonna cut our losses and go to which they apologise and try to convince us to stay but we’re done so we’re outside finishing our drinks when ‘cash me outside’ the barmaid who it turns out is actually the manager comes over to us to find out what’s wrong with us, we tell her...... she ignores all reference to her rudeness or lack of people skills and decides it’s just the guy from the mister muscle advert with his shirt off that offends us and says “well he hasn’t got a shirt” I feel mean now I didn’t realise he didn’t own a shirt, part of me thinks should he be buying beer in a pub if he can’t afford a shirt but the nicer me thinks we should have a whip round and buy this poor guy a shirt, but miss primarny says “no he has shirts he just didn’t wear one out” so before I make any judgments I check that there’s no early onset Alzheimer's or other medical conditions before I suggest as manager she should of been the one to point out he was unsuitably dressed but apparently she’s only rude to newcomers so I give up after all I can explain it to you but I can’t understand it for you as well, so even though Marie really wanted to do the paranormal thing we’re about to go when the chef comes over with apologies offers us our deposits back and turns it all around tells us she threw a strop in the bar and stormed off, so now he’s so nice and marie wanted to do this so we’re back in the game we even refuse to take our deposit back we join in eat the food but the night really was ruined by the backwards boys who grumbled in the corner about us but lacked the balls to actually confront us all in all save your money you can see the live filming of Jeremy Kyle for free if your into that sort of thing and the only spirts in that pub...

This is not a review of the Black Horse, per se, but it is my experience from today of the rudest, most unpleasant hostess I have ever experienced. Let me explain...

My wife and I had just been to the hospital in Canterbury, where she was having an ultrasound. As I'm sure many of you ladies are aware, consuming water is required. Hence on our return home, my wife required the toilet. We were planning on stopping off for a drink and so as we passed the Black Horse in Pluckly, proclaiming from it's signs "Open All Day, Real Ales and Food" it seemed a great place to pop-in.

When we entered, the place was dark and quiet. There were a bunch of people sat around one table but no one behind the bar. I looked for somewhere to be served, walking past the seated group. My wife who is a bit more aware, realised they were the staff and asked if they were open. We were told quite abruptly, "no, we're closed". She then asked if she could use the toilet and explained the situation. The middle-aged woman, who we assume was the manager, appeared to be working out how best to say "no", but finally settled on "Well, if you're quick"

Why did they not politely say "sorry we're closed" as we entered? I have never received such an unwelcoming reception. I appreciate they were closed but then perhaps they need to change the signage to indicate that.

From reading other reviews, I now see that they have pretentions of grandeur and don't intend to be a good village pub, but would prefer to be a high-class restaurant. That makes more sense.

However, having lived in the area for over 20 years and always keen to try out a new restaurant, you couldn't pay me to return. An unpleasant person, is just that, you can't turn it on just for the public. I would never help someone to prosper who is so unpleasant.

Edit after response: I don't understand how you can call it trespassing, when we entered through an open door and walked past a party clearly just concluding lunch. If there was a sign saying you were closed we certainly didn't see it, but we did see the two large signs on the road saying "Open All Day". I would suggest you update those to accurately represent your business.

We absolutely did not climb over any barrier either.

You are right, my wife did not say "Excuse me", but did say "Sorry..." as she recognised she was interrupting your conversation. Again, I wouldn't have thought this was necessary, a decent hostess would have just said "I'm sorry we're closed" As for offering money to use the toilet, once she realised you were closed she wanted to offer something for your inconvenience. How you can determine based on the brief experience of us that we are the sort of people who would sue (never have) says a lot more about your character than ours.

Anyway, you can be assured we will never set foot in your...

I have visited the Black Horse in Pluckley twice now and both times I was impressed with the service, the food, the drinks and of course, the setting.

The first time I visited was in the summer and for lunch. We sat inside but grew jealous of the beautiful sun so asked to move. Sitting outside with our cocktails, the staff were attentive yet distant. Unfortunately, my friends and I grew irritated with nature and asked again to move but we were faced with such pleasant responses from the staff. They couldn't do more to please us and for that I am grateful, because I knew we were being a pain. The food was delicious and served in such a way that I could taste every part of it with my eyes as it landed before me! When I actually ate it, it was just as good, if not better, than it looked!

I returned again last night with the same friends, Jo from Sheldon Spa and her partner, but brought my husband too. The setting was fantastic!! Candle light, Live Violinist and a really fun magician visiting all of the tables. Frankly, we could have kept the magician with us all night as he was so pleasant and kind. I did arrive about 10 minutes late because of childcare timings, but I was greeted with smiles and warmth despite my poor punctuality. Each and every staff member that tended to us was warm, funny, pleasant, giving and most of all professional. With the bartended I enjoyed a conversation about shared experiences tasting Whiskey. I felt like I was visiting a friend's house for dinner, but without the stresses of cooking and entertaining yourselves at home. The Violinist was absolutely impeccable. And lastly, though certainly not least, the owners...I simply do not know what to say. They glide around the room with elegance, joy, love and care for each and every person in the room. Their company I just wish I could have more of, as they are such wonderful people to be around and with them I love talking.

If you are ever looking for a beautifully styled old English looking restaurant, look no more. Duck when you enter, but beyond that...you'll feel like absolute royalty, I assure...