The Pied Bull, Farningham.

This image shows a flat-lay view of a classic Ploughman’s lunch served on a white plate, resting on a wooden table. The meal includes several traditional components arranged neatly across the plate. In the upper portion, two slices of plain white sandwich bread are stacked on top of each other. Tucked under the bread, there are two slices of cheddar cheese and a slice of brie cheese, creating a creamy contrast to the sandwich-style bread. To the left, a small white ramekin holds a generous portion of dark chutney, which looks rich and tangy, ready to complement the cheese and bread. Beside the chutney is a fresh, colorful salad with mixed greens, sliced red onions, and strips of red and yellow bell peppers, lightly drizzled with a mustard dressing. The salad adds a vibrant, fresh element to the otherwise rich and hearty plate. In the lower right corner, there is a thick slice of ham with a slightly pink center and well-defined edges, which appears to be home-cooked or freshly carved, contributing to the traditional feel of the meal. Next to the ham, there are slices of crisp green apple, adding a sweet and tangy balance to the dish. In the background, you can see a half-filled pint glass of what appears to be ale, placed to the top right of the plate. A pair of black eyeglasses and a pen sit to the right of the plate, suggesting a relaxed pub setting. The rich brown, wooden texture of the table adds a rustic touch, enhancing the hearty, comforting nature of this traditional British pub meal. Additionally, a colorful drink coaster with a partial glass of a dark-colored beverage is visible to the left, further completing the atmosphere of a cozy dining experience.

Ploughman’s Lunch at Pied Bull, Farningham reviewed

Location – 
Pied Bull,
High Street, 
Farningham, 
Dartford, 
Kent, 
DA4 0DG.

Website – https://piedbullfarningham.co.uk/

Date of Visit –  23/12/2023

The Food

I should stop making claims about not introducing the food, as this is now the second time I have done it, but with good reason.

I do not want the judging below to put you off in any form as it was a fantastic lunch in a great place – I do not want the first score you see to put you off – READ ON, and try it for yourself.

0 – Pickled Onion: I cannot judge what is absent. There was no pickled onion! A lot of points dropped for such a small thing. This is indeed a first.

I have experienced substitutes – good substitutes, like gherkins, beetroot or other interesting items. I have sampled onions so acidic they could be classed as biological or chemical weapons, I have had multiple pickles –  but never an absence. 

8 – Pickle: Safer territory here, the pickle existed. Phew.
Nice enough, standard ploughman’s type pickle. About the right amount too. lovely.

This image shows a close-up of a Ploughman’s lunch served on a white plate. The plate features a variety of classic components, including thick slices of cheddar and brie cheese, and a portion of ham with a visible pink, succulent texture. A small dish of dark, chunky chutney is positioned in the upper left corner of the plate. Fresh slices of green apple are arranged alongside the cheeses, adding a crisp, sweet element.

In the center, there is a vibrant mixed salad with colorful strips of red and yellow bell peppers, cucumber, spinach leaves, and thinly sliced red onions, all drizzled with a mustard dressing. The salad appears fresh and lightly coated, adding a tangy contrast to the other elements. There is also a portion of fresh, thick-sliced white bread or baguette, slightly visible under the salad and cheese. The wooden table beneath the plate adds to the rustic, comforting feel of this traditional British pub meal.
Close-up of the Pied Bull Ploughmans

10 – Cheese / Ham. A great selection and taste – as ever, I would welcome more cheddar, but that’s because I’m a cheese addict.

Cheese. Cheddar. – Spot on. Mature, creamy, tasty crumbly. Lovely.
Brie. – Delicious. At the peak of its game. Creamy and soft with a very light rind, and the two-tone interior.

The Ham. It was magnificent. If it wasn’t a proper, home-cooked ham then hat’s off to their supplier. Nice thick slices, exactly what ham should be unlike the usual supermarket nonsense.

8 – Bread. The bread was good. It tasted like proper bread. Nice thickness, etc. Before you say “Why not a 10” it’s because 10 is excellence, freshly baked bread of excellence deserves a 10.

5 – Spread. Butter, perfect temperature, lovely taste, generous without being wasteful. Nice.

5 – Presentation. Beautifully presented. It would have been better with the onion, as this ploughman’s lunch really is very, very nice and outside of this scoring system, an entirely delightful repast.

4 – Salad, etc. Fresh, tasty, nice dressing that delivered a nice punchiness to proceedings. Just a nice amount to break up the more substantial components and act as a digestif.

5 – Originality. No knockouts here, but it’s a lovely interpretation. The salad dressing was delightful, and the whole lot was arranged nicely.

Food Total: 45


This image shows a flat-lay view of a classic Ploughman’s lunch served on a white plate, resting on a wooden table. The meal includes several traditional components arranged neatly across the plate. In the upper portion, two slices of plain white sandwich bread are stacked on top of each other. Tucked under the bread, there are two slices of cheddar cheese and a slice of brie cheese, creating a creamy contrast to the sandwich-style bread.

To the left, a small white ramekin holds a generous portion of dark chutney, which looks rich and tangy, ready to complement the cheese and bread. Beside the chutney is a fresh, colorful salad with mixed greens, sliced red onions, and strips of red and yellow bell peppers, lightly drizzled with a mustard dressing. The salad adds a vibrant, fresh element to the otherwise rich and hearty plate.

In the lower right corner, there is a thick slice of ham with a slightly pink center and well-defined edges, which appears to be home-cooked or freshly carved, contributing to the traditional feel of the meal. Next to the ham, there are slices of crisp green apple, adding a sweet and tangy balance to the dish.

In the background, you can see a half-filled pint glass of what appears to be ale, placed to the top right of the plate. A pair of black eyeglasses and a pen sit to the right of the plate, suggesting a relaxed pub setting. The rich brown, wooden texture of the table adds a rustic touch, enhancing the hearty, comforting nature of this traditional British pub meal. Additionally, a colorful drink coaster with a partial glass of a dark-colored beverage is visible to the left, further completing the atmosphere of a cozy dining experience.
Flatlay of Pied Bull, Farninghmam, Ploughmans.

Beverages

8 – Drinks. I didn’t have a tea – I had a bitter shandy. All drinks seemed good, and a reasonable selection.

Drinks Total: 8

The venue

10 – Service. The service was particularly good. One of our group had a mobility issue, and the staff were extremely helpful.

10 – Atmosphere. Nice country pub feel with a convivial atmosphere.

5 – Location. A slice of old Kent hanging on at the edge of the metropolis. It’s 6 minutes from the M25 (J3) / M20 (J1) interchange, offering a lovely stop for lunch.

5 – Toilets. The loos are great. Tip top.

Venue total: 30

Total Score: 83

Editors note.

As hinted above – a great place to stop if on a longer journey. If a small percentage of people diverted from motorway services to local facilities, it could help save or reopen many pubs, shops, and garages.

Do you like a ploughman’s? Fancy doing a review? Drop me a line. It’s quite easy. You can pretty much work out the scoring regime from this review. Send me a few words and pictures, and you will be fully credited.

Do you make products that would feature in a Ploughman’s lunch? Then perhaps you might like to sponsor this website for a feature article for your product.

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