Bell

Are you an experienced pub, restaurant or chef operator ready to create a standout destination dining business in the Kent countryside? Dating back to the 1500s and built during the reign of Henry VIII, the Bell Inn is a striking, character-filled pub and restaurant with excellent outdoor space and all the ingredients to become a premium food-led destination.

Located just west of Ashford, Smarden is one of Kent’s most picturesque villages, renowned for its fifteenth and sixteenth century cottages, medieval church and warm, close-knit community. The village also benefits from strong visitor appeal, including trade from the hugely popular Big Cat Sanctuary, helping to support year-round destination dining potential.

Internally, the Bell offers everything you would expect from a premium food-led country pub. The spacious L-shaped trade area features exposed oak beams, flagstone floors, hops and fairy lights, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere with clear appeal for quality dining. The layout includes a main bar area with a statement servery and open fireplace, a small, cosy snug for intimate drinking and dining, and a separate restaurant dining room, providing approximately 75 covers in total. The ground floor trade kitchen is well-proportioned, with dedicated prep space, a wash-up area and cold store, giving an experienced restaurateur or chef operator a strong platform to deliver a standout food offer.

To the rear of the property, a substantial grassed garden offers exceptional seasonal trading potential and is complete with an outside bar and BBQ area, making it well suited to alfresco dining, private functions, food-led events and summer service. The large private customer car park adds further convenience and strengthens the Bell’s appeal as a true destination pub.

The generous tenants private accommodation is set out on the first floor of the property and includes three double bedrooms, a lounge, kitchenette, utility room, office, bathroom and separate shower room.

The Bell Inn presents an outstanding opportunity for an experienced, hands-on pub, restaurateur or chef operator with the drive, vision and commercial ability to develop a premium food-led destination dining business in one of Kent’s attractive countryside villages. The successful applicant will need strong sales and marketing skills to raise the pub’s profile, attract new custom from the local community and further afield, and implement a consistent, high-quality food offer that gives customers a compelling reason to visit and return. The property is available immediately, with flexible agreement options available. These include a traditional tenancy, a partnership agreement, or, for the right applicant, Shepherd Neame may also consider a tenancy at will or one-year agreement, with flexible terms and in-going costs.

To view and download the full trading information and letting details for this site, please click on the following link: https://snea.me/BellInnSmardenNrAshfordKent

Viewings are by appointment only at the Bell, so for more information or to arrange a formal viewing of this site, please contact the tenancy recruitment team on 01795 542132 or email us at tenancyrecruitment@shepherdneame.co.uk