Bowleys at the Plough

4.8

212 Reviews

£41 and over

British

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2 people

Mar 11, 2025

7:00 p.m.

Booked 5 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Neighbourhood gem
Charming

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

Location
Taylors Ln, West Malling, Kent ME19
Phone number
01732 822233
Price
£41 and over
Cuisines
British
Hours of Operation
Bar Tue–Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–5:00 pm Brunch Wed, Sat 11:00 am–12:00 pm Lunch Tue–Sat 12:00 pm–2:45 pm Sun 12:00 pm–3:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sat 6:00 pm–9:00 pm
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment Options
Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Alex Yates

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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.

What 212 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
4.8Service
4.6Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

Kent
Neighbourhood gem
Kent
Good for special occasions
Kent
British

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Bowleys at the Plough is a culinary gem offering "fantastic food," "excellent service," and a "warm, welcoming atmosphere." Guests rave about the "attentive staff" and "locally sourced, seasonal menu." Highlights include the "amazing tasting menu," "quirky touches," and a "wonderful range of interesting dishes." Perfect for special occasions or casual dining.

212 Reviews

a
adrian
London4 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lovely pub/restaurant in tiny village. Staff very friendly and accommodating. Food was pricey but extremely well presented.
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J
Julian
Kent1 review
4.0
Dined on March 1, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The restaurant and friendly staff was very nice, a great ambience, very romantic. Unfortunately a couple of the dishes on the 12 course tasting menu were not great, but all other dishes were very nice.
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I
Ian
Kent2 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Perfect setting for a reunion after 30 years. Perfect all round and outstanding food service. The ambience was just spot on. Thank you.
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M
Martin VIP
London13 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 23, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
An amazing experience , ambience, food and wonderful service …… and a Michelin recognition so very well deserved .. We will definitely return
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S
Stephen
Kent1 review
5.0
Dined on February 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
super friendly service amazing food had a anniversay card waiting for us on our table a really nice touch. Great place to impress your posh friends if you have any ! the effort that goes into the food stands out, will defiantly be returning.
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A
Angela
London3 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We found this lovely co-operative ‘pub restaurant’ by chance last year and this is the second time we have visited. This is fine dining, not pub grub. We had another couple with us and they will be returning as well. The food was absolutely delicious, our food restrictions were not made into an issue. The food was fantastic and the service was the best type-friendly and still professional. I absolutely cannot fault the whole visit (including incredible value for this standard of dining) We will be booking again very soon. Thank you for such a lovely experience-again!
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M
Martin
Vancouver1 review
5.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Stunning flavours, beautiful presentation, lovely atmosphere.
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P
Paul
London2 reviews
4.0
Dined on February 8, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Lovely place. So welcoming and lovely service. We had a 3 course lunch with coffee. Also some lovely local Kent wines. All was best dining experience ive had in a long time.
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E
Elise
London3 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful 8 course tasting lunch. The staff explained what everything was and were attentive without being too much. The atmosphere was very chilled and relaxed and perfect for a Friday lunch time. Thank you for the beautiful food and I hope there is a Michelin star coming your way soon!
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K
Katharine
Kent1 review
4.0
Dined on February 6, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
My visit was on a weekday lunchtime, when the restaurant was half full. I had to ask for the music to be turned down as it was difficult to hear my companion or the waiting staff. The staff were attentive, but the restaurant would benefit from someone with a more outgoing personality to greet diners and lift the ambience of the place. The food was very good in both presentation and flavours.
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FAQs

Bowleys at the Plough is rated 4.8 stars by 212 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.