Please note that we will be closed 6th - 20th January, inclusive
Reopening 21st January as normal. Thank you for your understanding!
A Kentish country pub with centuries of tales to tell
A 16th-century country pub in the picturesque village of Charing Heath, between Maidstone and Ashford.
Rooms
Stay with us. Book direct for an exclusive deal!
See poster.
Catch us on TV!
Four in a Bed, on Channel 4
Family friendly
Family friendly, with an invitation extended to well-behaved dogs, it’s a relaxed and homely place to savour exceptional ales, wines and spirits, plus a delicious menu of home-cooked country style food.
Built in 1562, the pub exudes character and charm with authentic oak-beamed ceilings and wooden paneling - but it’s not the only historic building around these parts…
Just off the M20 near Leeds Castle, the Red Lion makes an ideal stop-off for a country pub lunch on a day of historical appreciation.
What's on
There's always something happening at the Red Lion.
Follow us on Facebook to see all details and see our events page for a list of all upcoming events including regular live music.
History
The Red Lion in Charing Heath has rich history, having been built as a thatched farmhouse in 1562, in the reign of Elizabeth I.
An ale and cider licence was granted in 1709, before the Red Lion officially became an inn later that century.
The pub has been trading ever since - including a period of time when it doubled as a postal sorting office.
Visitors here can see for themselves a piece of the pub's fascinating and somewhat spooky history - a child's leather shoe found in the chimney during refurbishment. Dating from circa 1850, rumour has it that strange things occur if the shoe is taken off the premises…
