A hefty and expensive renovation project has been taking place over the past year at a former pub in a quaint Kent village. The Blue Pigeons shut down suddenly in 2023, leaving 15 couples without a wedding venue.
Following a fresh makeover, its new owners unveiled their new luxury countryside escape and restaurant, bringing in a chef with Michelin-star experience. KentOnline was invited over to see it for ourselves.
The village of Worth is almost silent as I roll up to my accommodation for the night.
It’s the early evening, and the warm glow from the windows of The Blue Pigeons lights up the dark, quiet street below.
As I step out of my car, I can hear the chatter and bustle from inside, with the only other sound the gong of the church bells opposite.
It’s quite a scene as I walk through the door of this former pub, now a luxury boutique hotel.
In the main lobby, a wreath-making class is well underway, with a table of ladies excitedly arranging foliage.
The smell is fantastic, inviting and puts me in a festive mood as I step over holly and sprigs of eucalyptus to the check-in desk.
In 2024, this formerly run-down wedding venue was purchased by the current owners, Tom and Jan Kelly.
On first entry, the effort that has gone into the makeover is apparent, with a grand piano in the elegant bar, which, along with the rest of the venue, is painted in light, earthy tones.
You can, however, see how some family-owned flair has made it past the clutches of interior designers, as some golfing memorabilia is hung proudly on the walls.
The welcoming host Fran leads me to my room, named Lily after the owners’ daughter – incidentally, all the sleeping chambers bear the names of their children – which is at the very top of this 19th-century former rectory.
As we climb the three staircases to reach it, I am amazed by how spotlessly clean the crisp cream carpet and white walls are. Cleanliness is something which has obviously been given attention throughout the premises.
Walking in, the room smells beautiful, and Classical FM is calmly playing on the radio.
It is the epitome of calming, and with a fizz in hand, I am left to explore.
The bathroom has the deepest rolltop bath I have ever seen, with a dollhouse window overlooking the landscaped garden.
There is a huge walk-in shower, lined in tasteful coloured tiles and with Pelegrims toiletries.
The bed has more pillows than one could ever need, and sits opposite a cabinet full of tea, coffee, biscuits and a mini bar, if anyone should wish to indulge further.
Soon, it’s time for dinner, and my mum and I are given a lovely round table by the window in their small – but not overcrowded – dining room.
The menu has a good selection of nibbles, starters and mains, with a variety of fish, meat and veggie dishes.
We start with olives, which are served in a slightly warm marinade. I love them and I’ve never tried them like this.
Their strong taste is somehow heightened by the subtle temperature difference – a fantastic idea from the kitchen team.
To start, I am immediately drawn to the smoked trout (£15), with cucumber relish, oyster emulsion, dill, and kelp cracker.
When it is placed in front of me by our wonderful waitress Donna, who made every moment of the evening feel special, it looks so polished and professional (almost too good to eat!)
But I dig in, and every mouthful is a symphony.
The strong dill and oyster sauces complement the smoked fish, and are cooled by the cucumber, with the bite rounded off with a crunch from the cracker.
It’s so tasty, I have to stop myself from licking the plate clean, and I am still thinking about it weeks later.
My acquaintance has the same, with a glass of Chapel Down’s ‘Touch of Sparkle’.
With dinner, I am excited to see that one of my favourite local wines, Tadpole Bacchus, is featured by the glass – a rarity in somewhere like this.
The wine list is plentiful without being overwhelming, and you can get a reasonably priced tipple.
Quickly, the main courses arrive. I have chosen the wild bass with crab tortellini, hispi cabbage, and crab sauce (£32).
The fish is perfectly cooked, swimming in a healthy amount of a rich, savoury accompaniment along with carefully folded pasta filled with sweet crab meat.
It is delicious, and once again I polish off every bite, but if I had to criticise, I would say I’d have liked a bigger fillet of the fresh bass.
Thankfully, my mother has ordered fish and chips (£26) – but not as you know it.
A healthy chunk of flaky cod is covered in the crispiest batter with curry ketchup, tartare sauce and chips, which would be better described as rectangular roast potatoes.
I quite happily polish them off for her, and with full bellies, we decide to share a sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream ice cream (£13) for dessert, which is suitably warm and nostalgic.
After a drink in the piano bar, we head upstairs to our suite, where a comfy bed with soft sheets awaits.
Our night’s sleep is uninterrupted, as the room is perfectly silent, tucked away upstairs and separated from the hubbub of the restaurant.
In the morning, our well-stocked selection of tea and coffee serves us well, and we spend a lazy start to the day admiring the sound of birds and the church bells from bed.
For breakfast, we opted for a continental selection of yoghurt and fruit, cheeses and sourdough bread.
Checkout is at 11am, and the room is so lovely, we spend the rest of the morning lounging and making the most of the experience.
The crisp, winter air is a perfect awakener as I haul my bags back to the car.
Worth is such a quiet, peaceful village – the perfect place for this luxury escape, where the price for our room for the night starts at £165.
The Blue Pigeons has been tastefully and thoughtfully designed, with no stone left unturned.
The effort that went into its detailed makeover shines through, and I would certainly go back.
