ad – this is a collaborative post with Open Table.

The Chaser Inn Shipbourne has always come highly recommended to me and in recent years, I have had the pleasure of dining out there several times. We went there for a very special birthday brunch for my husband, a lunch with a dear friend who was visiting from Australia and more recently, my husband and I had lunch at The Chaser Inn as a midweek surprise while the kids were at school.

It’s rare that we get to do this but he happened to be off work that day and we had lots of things to catch up on, so decided to book a table there.

So what did we think of The Chaser Inn Shipbourne?

Located in Shipbourne, a small village on the outskirts of Tonbridge, from the outside, this pub is an absolute beauty! It is located across from open fields and country walks, which I haven’t had a chance to discover yet, but we have vowed to do a walk there next time. It is also next door to a beautiful church and the building itself must date back years?

The minute we stepped into the building, we could feel the cosiness and warmth radiating from all corners. The fires were lit and despite it being a Tuesday lunchtime, there was a steady flow of customers.

We were greeted by our friendly waiter who pointed us in the direction of the lounge, where our table had been reserved. We actually decided that we might prefer a slightly quieter area of the pub, which was next to an open fire and our waiter happily moved us there.

There is some parking outside the front but mostly, it is best to head off to the road on the right, opposite the entrance of the pub and stroll down to it.

The main menu….

The menu is packed with all sorts of gems to fill your tummy. Mostly hearty pub food, which in my opinion is THE BEST with healthier options available for anyone who is watching their calories and/or has dietary requirements.

I have been to a few pubs recently which in my opinion, have gone a little OTT with their fancy food, and I’m glad to say The Chaser Inn is not one of them. There were plenty of dishes I could have devoured.

Because it was a Tuesday lunchtime and I had enjoyed a weekend of indulgence, I didn’t go for a starter, but if I had been feeling particularly hungry, I may have opted for the homemade chicken liver pate or the oven baked sharing camembert. Yum!

We went straight to the main meal and I ordered the homemade ‘gourmet’ beef burger while my husband chose to have the slow braised beef casserole – such a comforting and hearty meal.

I know I said I was trying to counteract the indulgence from the weekend, but it is rare that we eat out these days (ahem!) so I did decide to sample the pudding – sticky toffee pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream – and boy am I glad I did!

So what did it taste like?

Well the burger was beautiful. Handmade, great quality meat which was cooked to perfection, with a soft floury bun and crunchy but not too crunchy chips! When I order a burger, I do sometimes worry that it is going to come out like a frozen style patty (but cooked of course) and thankfully this was not the case! This is a proper homemade burger and it is making my mouth water as I write this post!!

My husband enjoyed his meal and thought it was wholesome, tender and warming. But I do think he may have been slightly envious of my burger.

And pudding? Well this was 100% worth the insane amount of calories it must have been, because it was delicious with just the right amount of sticky toffee sauce surrounding a soft and moist sponge and of course, that much needed scoop of vanilla ice cream melting into it. If you ever hestiate ordering it – don’t think twice – get it!

How was the service?

The service can absolutely make or break a meal! The service at The Chaser Inn Shipbourne was fab. We spoke to several staff members during our visit and they were friendly, informative and efficient while also being relaxed too. Nothing was too much trouble and generally you could see that they were happy in their job, which really says a lot for this venue and the way it is run.

Would we visit The Chaser Inn Shipbourne again?

Hell yes! I can remember all of my visits to The Chaser Inn and wouldn’t hesitate to go there again. I think it’s a safe bet for a decent meal in beautiful olde-worlde surroundings!

It does get busy, especially at weekends, so make sure you book your table beforehand where possible. We booked ours through The Chaser Inn on Open Table and received confirmation straight away.

There are some amazing places to eat out at in Kent so look out for more reviews of our favourites, coming this way!

What else is there to know?

In warmer months, they have a fantastic garden for casual dining as well as a conservatory which is fab! Their roast dinners, are very well regarded too, though isn’t something we have had a chance to try. Yet!