Historic Pubs on Romney Marsh
There are, and have been, about 50 historic pubs on the Marsh, ranging from old village inns that have hardly changed over the years to more modern pubs.
All have histories, some with stories of smuggling and the like and offer a warm welcome, with most serving food and some having accommodation.
On this page, you will find all the inns listed in alphabetical order by location and those now lost, together with some information about each one, a link to their own website and any Tripadvisor reviews they may have received. By all means, add your own review.
Ales by the Rails Dungeness 
Bailiffs Sergeant St Mary's Bay 
Balance Bar New Romney
Bell Inn Ivychurch
Botolphs Bridge Inn Burmarsh
Britannia Inn Dungeness
Captain Howey Hotel Littlestone 
Cinque Ports Arms New Romney
City of London Dymchurch
Dolphin Lydd
George Hotel Lydd
Jolly Fisherman Greatstone
Hidden Treasure Micropub Dymchurch
Neptune Inn Dymchurch
Ocean Inn Dymchurch
Pilot Inn Lydd-on-Sea
Plough Inn New Romney
Red Lion Snargate
Rose & Crown Inn Old Romney
Royal Oak Lydd
Shepherd and Crook Burmarsh
Ship Hotel New Romney
Ship Inn Dymchurch
Smugglers Alehouse New Romney
Star Inn St Mary in the Marsh
Warren Inn New Romney
Woolpack Brookland
Food Garden Dog Friendly Accommodation
Our Wonderful Marsh Pubs by Mark Kimpton
Lost Pubs of Romney Marsh
Over the years, many of the old pubs on Romney Marsh have closed and a couple have moved. This is a list of all such known pubs.
Alliance Inn Brookland
The Bay House St Mary's Bay
The Beehive Inn Lydd
Black Bull Newchurch
Bridge Inn Lydd
British Sailor Galloways
First and Last Lydd
Fleur de Lis Brenzett
The Galleon Lydd
Hope and Anchor Dengemarsh
Mason Arms New Romney
New Inn Lydd
New Inn New Romney
Prince of Wales New Romney
Railway Hotel nr Appledore
Rising Sun Lydd
Rose Inn Dymchurch
Royal George New Romney
Royal Mail Lydd
Royal Oak Brookland
Royal Oak Inn Newchurch
The Seahorse Greatstone
The Ship Lydd-on-Sea
The Star Lydd lost
Victoria Hotel New Romney
Ales By The Rails
Locally brewed beer seemed a natural pairing for the famous steam train that winds along Romney Marsh under big skies.
So Romney Marsh Brewery has teamed up with the RH&DR Railway to create 'Ales by the Rails' – a new brewery beer garden in the grounds of the railway’s Dungeness Station.
'Ales by the Rails' is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon throughout the summer months.
Bailiffs Sergeant
The Bailiffs Sergeant is the only pub in St Mary's Bay, located in Jefferstone Lane opposite the village hall.
The Bailiffs Sergeant is a friendly spirited pub at the hub of the local community, as it provides not only hospitality, but also post office and cashpoint services. It serves a range of Kent brewer Shepherd Neame beers.
The pub offers plenty of entertainment - at least once a fortnight there is either live music in a variety of genres or a very popular karaoke night see website below. There are darts, pool, cards and board games too for day to day entertainment while a real fire and a large garden add to the comfortable ambience.
Balance Bar
Opened in November 2021, Balance Bar located in New Romney High Street, offers the lively and vibrant atmosphere of a cocktail bar, the relaxed enjoyment of a sports bar and the innovative concept of a ‘profits for charity’ business. Coffees, cocktails and more.
From coffee to bar snacks, meetings to live sports, party celebrations, entertainment and live music, Balance Bar has it all covered, morning until night.
Meet with friends in a stylish and comfortable setting, offering a premium venue for lunch, after-work cocktails and great tasting food. Choose from a range of unique and locally sourced bar snacks and more...
Celebrate with a drink from our well stocked range of superior and carefully selected spirits, beers, ales and wines.
Surrounded by the original features of the former bank vault, a visit to Balance Bar is a unique experience, enjoying yourself whilst giving back as our business ethos means that all profits go directly to charity. Open 9am to 11pm (12pm closing Friday and Saturday)
Bell Inn
Set in the heart of the beautiful Romney Marsh, this mellow tile-hung inn of 1546 is neatly located next to St George's Church and is sometimes known as the `Stained Glass Windows' because of this proximity.
The pub has not always been as cosy as it is today. The owlers and smugglers would give a hostile welcome to strangers drinking there - not surprising considering the nearby church was blatantly used as a warehouse for contraband.
The Bell offers a wealth of good food and well-kept beers, Dave & Sarah welcome you to their home.
The Bell Inn has won CAMRA's Pub of the Year for the Ashford, Folkestone & Romney Marsh in 2016, 2013, 2011 and 2010, plus they were runners up in 2012
Botolphs Bridge Inn
This remote inn takes its unusual name from a 7th century saint who, according to legend, lived and died here. The pub sign illustrates the story of St Botolph's burial, when a group of monks had to remove his body for protection from marauding Vikings. The pub's connection to the local sheep farming industry is in evidence too, with even the toilet signs indicating Ewes and Rams!
Botolphs Bridge Inn is a quaint family run pub and restaurant on the Marsh. They offer freshly prepared home style cooking, including a traditional Sunday roast, as well as Cask Marque accredited quality cask ales, lagers or a glass of fine wine. In the winter there is an open fire.
Britannia Inn
The Britannia Inn is a renowned pub and restaurant serving fish & chips and other home cooked food.
A two minute walk from the beach at Dungeness, via a walkway opposite, this fantastic pub is in the heart of Dungeness estate, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and home to some extremely rare wildlife.
The pub is sited between the two Dungeness lighthouses and within a few minutes walk of the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, which dates from 1927.
Captain Howey
The Captain Howey Hotel has a large, bright and comfortable bar area where you can lay back and relax in one of the large leather sofas, sit around one of the tables placed in the lower, quieter area or at the bar on one of the high stools. There is a large screen television showing either sport, or one of the many music channels available on Sky television.
All hotel rooms have been recently refurbished and have an en-suite shower room; flat screen digital TV with Freeview (100+ channels); stable, free WiFi access; tea & coffee making facilities and to guarantee a good nights rest, an orthopedic mattress. The price of your room also includes a full English breakfast.
Cinque Ports Arms
The Cinque Ports were a federation of south-eastern ports, the original five being Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich. It was built in the 18th century, probably on the foundations of an earlier building.
The building of whitewashed brickwork, deep-pitched roof and rooms with low, beamed ceilings, has barely changed for over 100 years.
The Cinque Ports Arms is a cosy and friendly, welcoming public house with a wealth of oak beams serving up to 4 ever-changing real ales.
City of London
Jamie and Emma welcome you to the City of London. We pride ourselves on using the freshest produce from around the South Coast. Everything is made in-house from the bread, to the chutneys and even the ice-cream.
Originally called 'The Seawall Tavern', this was a 16th Century inn. During a storm in 1775, a ship called City of London was blown ashore and collided with the inn, causing substantial damage. The ship's figurehead and timbers were used to repair the building, and the name was changed to reflect this.
Dolphin Inn
Traditional pub on the edge of Lydd town. A timber-framed listed building built in the 18 century. There are two bar areas, one a traditional public bar and the other a lounge area with a tv.
George Hotel
We are a family run business with a warm and welcoming approach. The George Hotel comprises of 9 guest rooms varying in price, bar food and restaurant dining, also two separate bars with a large beer garden. We are situated in the town of Lydd on the High Street near to Lydd airport, dungeoness power station and camber sands beach.
Bar food and restaurant served Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri and Sat from 12pm til 9pm. Carvery served Sunday 12pm til 5pm.
Hidden Treasure
The HIdden Treasure is a new micropub opened in the High Street Dymchurch serving real ales, cider and wines. Open 12 noon to 8pm.
Jolly Fisherman
The Jolly Fisherman is the pub for the people who live and work in, and visit, Greatstone and the surrounding area. There is a restaurant, bar food, tv, pool table and regular live entertainment. Open from 12 noon everyday.
Neptune
The Neptune is a large pub on the main coast road about half-way between Dymchurch village and Hythe. It has a carvery.
Ocean Inn
The Ocean Inn is a lovely traditional pub in the quaint village of Dymchurch, found beside the sands on one of Kent's most scenic coastlines.
This establishment is locally renowned for its mouth-watering cuisine, refreshing beers and friendly staff. What's more, with the local funfair and world-famous Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway nearby, it makes for a great start, or finish, to a day's exploring.
You'll never be short of amusement, thanks to the pub's jukebox, pool table, dart board and regular live music events. At the rear, you'll find the comfortable restaurant-bar with doors leading onto the patio and large beer garden - which is complete with outdoor seating for alfresco dining, as well as a children's play area.
Pilot Inn
The Pilot Inn is a family run pub and restaurant situated a stones throw (and there's a lot of them around) from the sea, in the heart of the breathtaking Dungeness National Nature Reserve.
Steeped in the smuggling history of Romney Marsh, its inception followed the luring aground of the Spanish vessel, Alfresia, in 1633. They murdered the crew and looted the cargo of spirits. The ship was used to build the original Pilot Inn and some of the original timbers remain in the bar today.
Plough Inn
Recently (November 2017) re-opened under the new management of New landlord Christopher Waters who is also the Head Chef , the Plough Inn is just outside New Romney on the A259 road to Dymchurch.
A real ale pub with food served all day and a carvery on Sunday.
Red Lion
The 200-year old clock in the taproom is a clue to the age and tradition of this pub. The bar itself is an antique marble slab which has played host to the inn's long association with pre-First World War games such as 'Toad-In-The-Hole', and `Nine Men's Morris'. A game known as `Goal Running' used to be played here too - a 20 or more a side combination of cross-tag, chasing and fist-fights!
The pub has been in the same family since 1911 and has remained virtually unchanged since WWII. They don’t sell lager and all the real ales are poured straight from the cask, food consists of crisps and pickled eggs, and the toilets are outside. It’s also one of the few pubs to still open at 11am and close again for the afternoon at 3pm.
CAMRA Romney Marsh Pub of the Year for 2015
Rose & Crown Inn
The Rose and Crown Inn at Old Romney is a traditional English restaurant and bar in the heart of the English countryside – enjoy a meal with friends or family, or relax in their beer garden with a cool beverage. A popular family-friendly restaurant and bar providing excellent service and great food.
They serve a wide range of beers, spirits, wines and soft drinks, including; Fosters, San Miguel, Strongbow, Guinness, Greene King IPA, Bulmers and Biddenden Bushells as well as bean-to-cup coffees such as latte and cappuccino.
They are a family-friendly pub, and for the children there is a playground in the large garden. There is a children’s menu, including a child-sized roast dinner on Sundays. When first built in 1689, the property was two farm dwellings, and these two, with ten others and the church of St. Clement formed the entire parish of Old Romney. In 1806 the property was granted a licence to sell ales on the premises.
Royal Mail (Closed)
Closed at present as it is being sold.
The Royal Mail, built in 1746, was designed to cope with the increasing volume of coaching traffic. It is a popular community pub in the heart of Lydd. They have four rooms: a single, two twin rooms and a triple (double with single bed) room. Tea and coffee, wifi and TV is provided in all rooms.
Royal Oak
This pub ceased trading on 31 October 2017.
The Royal Oak, an Elizabethan building of 1570, was constructed adjacent to St Augustine's Church as a dwelling for the parish clerk and sexton. It remained as such until the I8th century when Jacob Ferriss was granted a licence "that he may suffer ale to be tippled in his house, but he may not suffer ale to be tippled during divine service".
A lovely old Grade II Listed village inn offering home cooked food and 4 star accommodation. It's main bar has a woodburning stove with a fine inglenook and restaurant area. There are picnic-sets in the narrow garden beyond and quaint views of the ancient church and graveyard next door. Previously known as the Yew & Ewe.
Royal Oak, Lydd
Situated at the southwest end of Lydd, the Royal Oak is a spacious and welcoming pub featuring friendly conversation and fine real ales. Originally two cottages which were joined together (and eventually extended), the pub consists of two large rooms. The main room features a long bar as well as cosy tables and seating around the sides. The second room is furnished with a pool table, dartboard, and jukebox, and there is room for musicians to perform.
The pub is run by Trevor and Mandie Brown along with the help of their dog Sasha and a family of cats.
Shepherd and Crook
The Shepherd and Crook Burmarsh is a 16th Century Free House set in the picturesque village of Burmarsh Kent. Amongst our beers, we serve well kept, usually local real ales and a cask cider.
Our food is cooked to order using local produce, where possible. We have vegetarian and gluten free options.
The Shepherd and Crook has a dog friendly bar and a separate restaurant, which can also be used for private dining occasions.
The charming village public house hosts friendly locals, a log fire for those colder days and an enticing sun terrace for those warmer days.
Ship Hotel
The Ship Hotel is a 15th century pub and hotel situated in the heart of Romney Marsh. It has 10 comfortable en suite bedrooms, and an indoor and outdoor bar. The hotel is tastefully decorated and offers a warm welcome. It is situated at the end of New Romney High Street.
Ship Inn
The Ship Inn inn retains character and charm whilst blending the old with the new after extensive refurbishment, completed in September 2017.
Open fireplaces, comfortable accommodation, and a very warm welcome. Dogs are allowed in the Bar and Patio area.
The menu is seasonally inspired, with good, honest, wholesome pub food and changing specials to tantalise your taste buds! The kitchen is happy to cater for all kinds of dietary requirements and given enough notice, will design dishes to suit all your needs.
There is complimentary car parking onsite, patio garden to the rear of the pub, special requirements catered for. Children welcome.
Smugglers Alehouse
Opened in 2016, the Smugglers Alehouse is a micropub, which means that the emphasis is firmly on good beer from microbreweries, great cider and carefully selected wines. Tap water is freely available, for you or your canine friends. They are open every day from noon. The pints keep flowing until 9pm Monday to Thursday, 10pm Friday and Saturday, and until 4pm on Sunday.
Star Inn
Situated on Romney Marsh and not far from the local town of New Romney, The Star Inn was built during the reign of Edward IV in the year 1476. Surrounded by the marshes and opposite the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, The Star Inn offers a traditional pub setting with a modern menu and well kept selection of real ales. Tucked away in the heart of the countryside, The Star Inn is the perfect place for lunch or dinner.
When first built, the house was a thatched farm dwelling. Following the custom of the time, it was given this religious name being the closest inn to St Mary's Church, within the precincts of the parish. In more recent times the famous playwright Noel Coward lived next door to The Star and wrote his first successful play there.
The Star has seen and undergone many changes since it was first built, but its historic character remains unchanged.
Warren Inn
The Warren Inn was first licenced about 1860 and still retains its Victorian interior. It is a cosy and welcoming pub with a lovely log-burning open fire and a wood-burning stove - and they even have a resident ghost called Old Sid!
The pub has a large and spacious garden overlooking the fields that run down to the sea. A children’s delight with swings and a play house, there is also plenty of room for tables to be well-spaced, the marquee to be put up and the outside bar to be opened for special occasions.
The Warren takes its name from the fenced area behind it; itself named after a Roman expression for an enclosure.
Woolpack Inn
The Woolpack Inn, dating from 1410, retains many of its original features such as wattle-and-daub walls and a low, beamed ceiling. Its name comes from its popularity with `owlers'- wool smugglers - who used the inn as a base for their lucrative trade. The Woolpack is so perfectly old-fashioned that very little had to be altered when, in 1947, scenes from `The Loves of Joanna Godden' were filmed there.
Located in great walking country, the Woolpack is a perfect place to stop and satisfy the thirst and appetite during a day out in the country. Excellent traditional pub food is served, with all fish and game locally sourced, and the delicious mature British beef steaks are always prepared to the individual customer’s taste. The pub has two large beer gardens with neat lawns, shrubs, hanging baskets, picnic benches and a barbecue area. Dog friendly.
Main Index
Comprehensive A to Z Index
Anglo-Saxons
Archaeology
Beacons
Beginning
Black Death
Buildings, Historic
Churches, Historic
Dungeness History
Dymchurch History
Greatstone History
History Societies
Invasion Coast
Longshore Drift
Lydd History
Martello Towers
Military Heritage
Napoleonic Wars
Natural History
New Romney History
Origins
People of Romney Marsh
Pubs, Historic
Railways on Romney Marsh
Royal Military Canal
Sheep
Shipwrecks
Smuggling
St Mary's Bay History
Storm of 1287
Timeline
Tokens
Villages
World War Two
Comprehensive A to Z Index Anglo-Saxons Archaeology Beacons Beginning Black Death Buildings, Historic Churches, Historic Dungeness History Dymchurch History Greatstone History History Societies Invasion Coast Longshore Drift Lydd History Martello Towers Military Heritage Napoleonic Wars Natural History New Romney History Origins People of Romney Marsh Pubs, Historic Railways on Romney Marsh Royal Military Canal Sheep Shipwrecks Smuggling St Mary's Bay History Storm of 1287 Timeline Tokens Villages World War Two
Romney Marsh Location Map
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd.
