The Kentish Rifleman Public House

The Kentish Rifleman Public House is a traditional, family-run free house set in the Kentish countryside in England, close to the villages of Plaxtol and Shipbourne and within easy reach of both Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. It is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, making it a popular country pub stop for walkers and locals. The pub presents itself as a charming, old-fashioned English pub with low oak-beamed ceilings, open fireplaces and a cosy setting, offering homemade, freshly prepared food alongside locally sourced drinks. The pub has been in the same family for nearly twenty years. Jon, the father of current custodian Vicky, was landlord from 2004. Vicky and Simon officially moved in on 20 March 2020, only two hours before pubs were closed for the first Covid lockdown. After Jon passed away in 2022, Vicky and Simon took the helm, determined to keep his legacy of running a traditional English pub. The kitchen is led by Head Chef Adam, who joined from Sankey's in Tunbridge Wells, and the team produces traditional pub dishes and changing specials. The Kentish Rifleman operates a restaurant dining area and a bar (the Rifle Bar), with separate opening hours for drinks and food service. It offers lunch and dinner menus, Sunday lunch, puddings, a festive season menu, a groups menu, and a recurring 'Pie & a Pint Tuesdays' promotion. The pub is dog friendly in designated areas and provides free parking opposite the pub and in its own car park, with additional parking along Roughway Lane. It welcomes walk-ins for drinks and bar snacks but recommends booking for restaurant dining. The pub is listed on Wikidata as a pub in Shipbourne, Tonbridge and Malling, Kent, England, UK.

The Kentish Rifleman Public House is a traditional English country pub in Kent, near the villages of Plaxtol and Shipbourne and within easy reach of Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. It is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The pub has been in the same family for nearly twenty years. Jon, the father of current custodian Vicky, was landlord from 2004. Vicky and Simon officially moved to the pub at 7pm on 20 March 2020, which gave them exactly two hours before pubs were closed for the first Covid lockdown. Jon passed away in 2022, after which Vicky and Simon found themselves truly at the helm, determined to keep his legacy of running a traditional, old-fashioned, good old English pub. The kitchen is led by Head Chef Adam, who joined from Sankey's in Tunbridge Wells. The pub continues to operate as a family-run free house, serving homemade, freshly prepared food and locally sourced drinks in a cosy setting with low oak-beamed ceilings and open fireplaces.

• 2022

  Jon passes away; Vicky and Simon take the helm.

• 2020

  Vicky and Simon officially move in on 20 March 2020, two hours before the first Covid lockdown closes pubs.

• 2004

  Jon becomes landlord of The Kentish Rifleman.

Traditional, old-fashioned, family-run English country pub offering homemade food and locally sourced drinks in a cosy setting.

• Lunch Menu

• Dinner Menu

• Sunday Lunch

• Puddings

• Festive Season 2026 menu

• Groups Menu

• Pie & a Pint Tuesdays

1. 1The Kentish Rifleman - Free House | Charming, traditional family run pub in the Kentish countrysidethekentishrifleman.co.uk
2. 2About usthekentishrifleman.co.uk
3. 3The Kentish Rifleman Public House - Wikidatawikidata.org