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Bowleys at the Plough, West Malling, Kent

Bowleys at the Plough

4.8
4.8
186 Reviews
£41 and over
British

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2 people
21:30
Booked 4 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
The Plough isn't your average countryside pub. Sitting on a quiet lane in a quintessentially English village, The Plough was set to be sold off the developers when 120 members of the community came together to invest, and save, their local. After its purchase and renovation, the Yates family took over the kitchen and opened the pub's small, but proud, restaurant, Bowleys.

Head Chef Alex Yates is still very early on in his career but though only in his early twenties, he has already spent two years in the kitchens at The Goring Hotel in London, as well as having gained experience with Rick Stein and even once cooking for the Queen.

Bowleys menus have a traditional feel and adhere to classic, English fare with a fine dining twist. There are several options to choose between including a tasting menu, set lunch, a la carte, brunch and Sunday lunch. The tasting menu is the jewel in Bowleys crown and consists of five courses, with an optional sixth.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £41 and over
  • Cuisines
    British
  • Hours of Operation
    Bar Tue–Sat 11:00–23:00 Sun 12:00–17:00 Brunch Wed, Sat 11:00–12:00 Lunch Tue–Sat 12:00–14:45 Sun 12:00–15:00 Dinner Tue–Sat 18:00–21:00
  • Phone number
    01732 822233
  • Payment Options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Alex Yates
  • Catering
    We offer a range of dining options to suit any occasion, from an intimate tasting menu celebration in our Dining Room to canapés and champagne with your bespoke menu. <br /><br />For a day created around your style and your guests, we have it covered. Please contact Bowleys@theploughkent.com or call 01732 822233 to discuss your event requirements.
  • Private party facilities
    We are delighted to be offering private events and dining, celebrations and wedding breakfasts at Bowley’s at The Plough. Hospitality has been in our family for generations and the art of hosting the perfect party, blending wonderful food, wine, atmosphere and, most importantly, service, is something we excel at.
  • Area
    West Malling
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Vegan, Wine
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Experiences

  • À la Carte

    Multiple dates available
    Enjoy a À la Carte Menu, composed by Chef Alex Yates. Vegan option included. Available for Wednesday to Sunday Lunch or dinner.
  • 8 Course Kentish Tasting Menu

    £90.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    8 Course Kentish Tasting Menu: Immerse yourself in the flavors of Kent with a specially curated selection of dishes that showcase the best of local ingredients.
  • 12 Course - British Isles Tasting Menu

    £135.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    12 Course British Isles Tasting Menu: The best of what Britain has to offer, from all parts of the country. We work closely with farmers, fishermen and growers, as well as going out foraging ourselves, to get the best seasonal produce.
    12 Course - British Isles Tasting Menu photo

What 186 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseEnergetic

Loved For

  • Kent

    Best Overall

  • Kent

    Best Food

  • Kent

    Best Service

  • Kent

    Best Value

  • Kent

    Good for special occasions

  • Kent

    Vegetarian-friendly

  • Kent

    British

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Bowleys at the Plough offers an exceptional dining experience in a charming countryside setting. Known for "fantastic food" and "impeccable service," the restaurant delights with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Guests rave about the "attention to detail" and creative touches like amuse-bouche. Highly recommended for memorable meals and special occasions.

186 Reviews
  1. David

    Cornwall

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Delicious Christmas Lunch at a good price with nibbles beforehand.

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  2. David

    Hampshire

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 18 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Lovely food beautifully served by the chefs with excellent cooking descriptions. Very good wine list. Nothing to dislike at sll

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  3. Susan

    Kent

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Was a wonderful meal everything was to a very high standard. Nothing too much trouble, loved the homemade bread and tartlets the salted chocolate Lego bricks r to die for

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  4. Sheryl

    Kent

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 13 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We took my mother-in-law for the 8 course tasting menu for her 80th birthday. It was our first visit and we were very impressed. The food was fantastic, the service very good and accommodating and the restaurant cosy and inviting. We will definitely return.

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  5. tina

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 12 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The dining experience was amazing from start to end. We enjoyed hearing about the background to the food, the personal story about our selected wine, and being looked after throughout our meal. The food was presented brilliantly and was amazing, deserving of a Hollywood handshake 😀.

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  6. suzanne

    London

    20 reviews

    4.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on 12 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Fairly good meal at lovely local restaurant/bar/pub

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  7. Ian

    Kent

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 11 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food at lunch as usuaL Nice decorations as well A good touch is that the chef who cooks your food also brings it to the table

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    Kent

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a excellent evening the food and service was outstanding

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  9. Julie

    Kent

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 7 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was amazing as allways staff amazing allways great food

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  10. Tricia

    VIP

    London

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 5 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were greeted by Alex & Gloria as soon as we walked in the door of this beautiful pub. A delightful couple who are so passionate about what they have created and rightly so. Everything about this place hit our buttons. The food was excellent. We ate from the set lunch menu which was perfect but will return for the a la carte as there looked some interesting choices.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bowleys at the Plough is rated 4.8 stars by 186 OpenTable diners.

Bowleys at the Plough does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
21:30
Booked 4 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Bowleys at the Plough

Taylors Ln, West Malling, Kent ME19

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Area
    West Malling
  • Hours of Operation
    Bar Tue–Sat 11:00–23:00 Sun 12:00–17:00 Brunch Wed, Sat 11:00–12:00 Lunch Tue–Sat 12:00–14:45 Sun 12:00–15:00 Dinner Tue–Sat 18:00–21:00
  • Price
    £41 and over
  • Cuisines
    British
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Payment Options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Alex Yates
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Vegan, Wine
  • Phone number
    01732 822233
  • Catering
    We offer a range of dining options to suit any occasion, from an intimate tasting menu celebration in our Dining Room to canapés and champagne with your bespoke menu. <br /><br />For a day created around your style and your guests, we have it covered. Please contact Bowleys@theploughkent.com or call 01732 822233 to discuss your event requirements.
  • Private party facilities
    We are delighted to be offering private events and dining, celebrations and wedding breakfasts at Bowley’s at The Plough. Hospitality has been in our family for generations and the art of hosting the perfect party, blending wonderful food, wine, atmosphere and, most importantly, service, is something we excel at.
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card
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