The atmosphere was formal rather like a private Golf Club. Staff did not go out of their way to chat, but focussed on chatting to fellow staff. It definitely felt a case of 'you're not local' and 'why bother chatting as you won't come back'. Coming from a farming background (and hunting), I found it far too formal for me, made worse by the Home & Garden magazines littered around everywhere, like in some kind of Ikea shop. I wonder if they got the idea about the printed French posters from Home in Gardens, so you would feel like you were iin France. It was a bit incongruous. If I wanted to be in France, I'd go to France.It had a kind of Wetherspoons corporate Kentish theme to it. You kind of felt that you couldn't sit on a chair 'as it may move the cushion, which was part of the Mary Portas type theme'. On the bright side, the quirky, though rather blokey oriented pictures of classic cars 'blokes toys', showed that the place did have some kind of individuality, a rather 'cold' stamp. I did like the pictures though and the stuffed ducks. I quite enjoy the skill of taxidermy. The ladies loo was gorgeous, perhaps the best part of the place as the decor was pretty and ladylike with the burgundy walls and wicker baskets, and towells set up really nicely. It was really clean. I didn't want to leave! Yes, it was themed, but it was done really well. Having stayed in Ladies Clubs up in London ie Sloane Club, it was a bit like that. It has probably the best loo in Pluckley! I think if you want a formal setting where staff are 'polite' and that's it, go here. After this pub we went to the Black Horse whose staff and customers were great and fun. It was really friendly, even to us non Pluckleyians. I won't go back here again but I will do the Black Horse. read more