Table of Contents
- Quirky Pubs in the UK
- Discovering The Rising Sun
- The Walk on the North Downs
- Meeting the Landlady
- The Future of The Rising Sun
- Local Attractions
- Final Thoughts
There are numerous quirky pubs throughout the UK, and some of the most remarkable ones are those that catch you off guard.
I recently discovered one of the most extraordinary pubs I’ve ever visited—only to learn that it may not be around for much longer.
The Rising Sun is nestled in the Kentish village of KemsingCredit: Alamy
The pub is housed in an old flint building, featuring a painted sign depicting the sun rising, a slightly overgrown garden, and no lights on insideCredit: John Sturgis
I discovered The Rising Sun purely by chanceCredit: John Sturgis
We had set out for a walk on a beautiful day along the North Downs, a ridge of hills that stretches along the southern edge of the M25 and is interwoven with ancient pathways.
There are paths like the Green Sand Ridge Path and The Pilgrims Way, which has been used by those traveling to Canterbury Cathedral since the time of Chaucer and his tales.
Our journey began in Kemsing, a charming village with historic redbrick cottages located at the base of those hills.
Initially, we intended to start our walk from the Wheatsheaf pub, only to find that it had closed in 2011. Fortunately, Kemsing’s other pub, The Bell , is still open and appeared quite inviting.
The walk involved a steep ascent to reach the summit of the Downs, but the breathtaking and expansive views across the Weald made it worthwhile.
You can see as far as the coastal hills many miles away.
Once at the top, our path took us along a few of those ancient trails in a loop across the hilltop and back down again—about five miles in total.
As we walked, I was checking the map on my phone to ensure we were on the right track.
On Google Maps, I noticed a place labeled “The Rising Sun” with no further details—almost as if it were a landmark just off the path we were following.
Could this indicate an operational pub? Our walking guidebook hadn’t mentioned one, but the name implied ‘pub,’ and after climbing that hill, the idea of enjoying a refreshing pint mid-walk was becoming increasingly tempting.
If it was open, it had no website or social media presence, but there were a few mentions of it being ‘a time warp pub’ and ‘eccentric,’ which sounded promising.
The Rising Sun is a ‘hidden gem’ and one of the most eccentric pubs I’ve encountered
I was welcomed by a friendly landlady and her catCredit: John Sturgis
The landlady serves local beers from nearby Westerham, along with ciders. She does have a card machine, but it’s currently malfunctioning, so cash is recommended.Credit: John Sturgis
And then there it was, an old flint building, with a painted sign depicting the sun rising, a slightly overgrown garden, and no lights on inside.
