The Black Horse Inn - Maidstone

We were given a limited time in the restaurant and so after good service and average food we found an unoccupied table in the bar to enjoy some after sunday roast drinks. We were at this table 5 minutes when a waitress appeared with a small blackboard placed on our table saying it was reserved from 6pm. It was 4.30pm at this point so no worries. As we thought we had till 6pm, we ordered another round of drinks and at 4.45pm another waitress appeared with a second blackboard for our table saying it was reserved from 5pm !!! We gulped down our drinks to then discover this table WAS NOT RESERVED FOR ANOTHER CUSTOMER BUT FOR THE OWNER !! So just to clarify the PAYING CUSTOMER has to move to make room for the OWNER !! We were offered alternative seats so again to clarify the CUSTOMER has to move tables to accommodate the OWNER'S preference !! We LEFT !! Visit the Black Horse to play musical chairs according to the OWNERS rules!!

Visiting few times a year the food is always great and prepared nicely, rooms are clean and staff kind and helpful. I normally visit for work and always stay here for how good it is despite having hotels available closer to work. Would recommend

Had the best lunch yesterday, arancini and duck special were delicious. Never had a bad meal here and service is always spot on, highly recommend

Others are right, The Black Horse is not the gastro pub it once was. Delay of 40 mins in getting desserts we had ordered Some of ordered food was cold Slow to receive drinks we had ordered This used to be a pub to go to on special occasions. Now I would only return for a drink in the bar area.

Waitress didn’t put starters through and didn’t apologise for this just gave us the option to have started with our main which obviously isn’t what we wanted. So we had to say no to the starters so we could get our roast. No one came Over to ask of roast was okay or if we wanted another drink or needed anything else. And enough veg for 4 people. After this terrible service we went elsewhere for dessert. Defo won’t be returning. They didn’t seem to care or offer us an alternative.