The LowerBell

The Lower Bell has taken in travellers on Bluebell Hill since 1865, a coaching-era inn now run as a family business between Maidstone and Chatham just off the A229. Four en-suite rooms, two double, one twin and one single, occupy a stable block converted for guests, each with a kettle, television and complimentary toiletries rather than the anonymous fittings of a chain hotel. The bar and restaurant serve pub food including stone-baked pizzas daily and a Sunday roast running from midday to five, using ingredients sourced locally where possible. The building sits close to the North Downs and the old Pilgrims Way, making it a stopping point for walkers as much as passing motorists. A car park large enough for coaches reflects its history, and the function room is hired out for weddings, wakes and birthday parties through the year.