The Kings Head Bessels Green — Restaurant in Sevenoaks

Disappointing Experience Despite Good Food

We had high hopes for this restaurant, but unfortunately, the experience was overwhelmingly negative due to shockingly poor service and uncomfortable conditions.

Upon arrival, we were shown to a table clearly meant for two, awkwardly crammed with four chairs and a high chair around it—despite several more suitable tables sitting empty elsewhere. The heat inside was unbearable, with no air conditioning or fans to offer even a hint of relief. It felt like we were dining in a sauna.

As for the service, or rather the complete lack of it, our waitress was practically nonexistent. We had to go to the bar ourselves to get drinks, which is something I’ve never encountered in a sit-down restaurant, yet we were still expected to pay the full 12.5% service charge. Frankly, that’s outrageous.

Whoever owns or manages this place seriously needs to pay a visit undercover. I’ve never seen such unmanaged chaos in a restaurant. The waiting staff appeared directionless and disengaged—this venue is crying out for strong, effective management to bring structure, training, and basic customer service back into the mix.

It’s a real shame because the food itself was good. The kitchen team clearly knows what they’re doing, but their efforts are being completely undermined by a front-of-house operation that is in disarray.

Until the service and environment are drastically improved, I wouldn’t recommend...

This is an odd one. I was looming forward to going to this handsome looking pub just off the A25 near Sevenoaks. My partner used to visit regularly and we also got a recommendation from another person but my partners daughter had advised us that she found a few things that were slightly off after a recent visit so we weren't really sure what to expect as this place might have been great or simply a regular sort of quasi country pub. Wow that's a long intro.....

Ordering was easy and food arrived promptly although I wonder why we needed to ask for salt and pepper when they were available at the same station waiting staff used to pick up cutlery and napkins.

Food was decent although my partners salad with additional chicken breast was massively over dressed with an odd coloured vinaigrette. My main meal was sausage and onion baguette which defeated me as it was simply too much. That's almost a first but suppose I've stopped at too many places whilst out cycling and am always massively hungry when in the midst of a bike ride.

That's it. Reasonable but not better than that is my...

Ok, most of the group enjoyed their food, on the other hand I had quite a number of issues! I e mailed the venue two days ago asking if they had very rare beef, I was told yes, just tell the waitress.

I ordered the beef and the first plate arrived almost an hour after we arrived, was grey mostly, so I sent it back. The next plate I was served had some central pink, but peripherally it was grey. The sirloin was of mediocre quality was cut wafer thin with maybe 15% gristle and fat. My expectation wasn't michelin food, but I was expecting the parsnip and roasts to be properly cooked and sadly they weren't. The sage stuffing had a weird jelly like consistency. Unexciting desserts with ok ice cream. Toilets beautifully presented and staff were in general really lovely, although our "meet and greet" lady was very surly but improved later. Tables far too close in places, badly laid out. Overall not great for me ok for others. My partners 15 year old niece wanted a children's menu, bizarrely they bought her a high chair! They need to give accurate information...