‘The perfect village pub’

Pulls up a pew to revel in the hop-picking heritage of a tucked away local

It was a Sunday evening and, for the first time, I found myself in the sleepy village of Selling where I spotted what looked like a very welcoming pub, the White Lion on The Street. I was still congratulating myself on discovering this wonderful 18th-century pub in an out-of-the-way spot when I walked into a pretty much empty bar.

Fortunately, I was swiftly joined by a delightful young lady who immediately summoned a barman, called Blue, from the depths of the pub. They both explained closing time on a Sunday is 8pm and as it was getting on, I didn’t delay getting my order in.

This being a Shepherd Neame house I knew what to expect - or at least I thought I did.

However, there was an unfamiliar tap with a juicy IPA which has been brewed specially for the spring.

The weather, as yet, hasn’t demonstrated the season has changed but I decided a pint of spring’s Rumour Mill was in order and I wasn’t disappointed – I reckon it’s the best Shep’s pint I’ve ever had.

I thought I was the only punter in the pub but a pair of booming voices from the room on the right quickly dispelled this myth. Whether they were speaking Romanian or Bulgarian I’m not sure but they clearly thought 100 decibels was required to hold a conversation with their nearest and dearest in their homeland.

My new friend, the aforementioned young lady who’d finished her shift, explained they worked on a nearby farm and, as well as enjoying the hospitality and a beverage, also greatly enjoy the free WiFi.

With stripped floorboards, hops strung along the beams and some great fireplaces there is plenty of traditional decoration at the White Lion.

However, there are also several more unusual items, one of which is the pair of hop picking stilts strung up to the ceiling in the bar on the left – you’ll find a number of great old photographs on the wall demonstrating how they were used.

Barman Blue was busy cleaning up at the end of his shift but when he got a moment he was just as ready to chat as Josie and it wasn’t long before I was fully clued up about the village, the trials and tribulations of the ‘other’ pub and why he likes The Kinks (playing on the sound system).

Josie had more contemporary musical tastes, including Mr Styles, but both she and Blue were adamant many of the bands booked to provide live music at pub are well worth a look.

One coming up they were particularly keen to promote were Sur Les Docks, playing this Sunday, who apparently favour ‘nautical folk punk’.

I left Josie ordering a spiced rum and settling her tab to

explore the rest of the pub and was really pleased I did as the covered outdoor area is excellent and there’s a lovely wellkept garden running off it too. I’ll definitely be paying another visit once spring has finally sprung.

I can further report this is very much a dog-friendly pub and the gents, which had several famous sayings framed on the walls, were spotlessly clean and fresh smelling.

A fantastic historic place, with open fireplaces, a beautiful garden and hops hanging from the beams, which loves to host live music and serves food seven days a week – is this the perfect village pub?

The fact is, it might just be, but great as this list is, this is not the major reason for its success. As we all know, it’s the people behind the bar

which make the place.

Josie and Blue, both aged only 22, were fantastic hosts with exactly the right attitude and I’ve seldom met better marketers for a business. They’ve worked here for three years and 18 months respectively and, unusually for people their age, speak about their jobs with real passion.

We were still chatting away when Dave the landlord, who’s been in charge for seven years, came in and expressed surprise the pub wasn’t already locked up tight!

I said it was my fault for keeping Blue and Josie talking but also felt it was only fair to make a hasty departure – if I’d had a little more time I would have waxed lyrical to Dave about the great, young staff he is lucky enough to have working for him.

My first time visiting the village of Selling and I was delighted to discover the White Lion on The Street

The garden at the back of the White Lion looked neat, tidy and well-kept - we could just do with some better weather to enjoy it