*This was a gifted stay offered by The Elite Pubs Group
The Potting Shed has been on our local favourite list for a while now (in fact, it features on my top Kent restaurant picks post here) after completely winning our hearts a few summers back with its gorgeous garden, outside cocktail bar and unbelievably sexy sweet potato fries. So when Elite Pubs got in touch to say they were in the process of building accommodation and asked whether we’d like to come and for a stay in the opening week, I of course got VERY excited!
During the building work The Potting Shed teased us on social media with pics of the cosy wood interiors and quirky little hobbit-house doors. The vibe reminded me of the treehouse we stayed in for our mini-moon and looked like perfect place to drink wine, eat good food and get away from the craziness of life. When we turned up we were given the keys to the Big Griggle, the largest of the six rooms available, and as we were taken on the two minute walk across the pub garden (which came in very handy when stumbling back) we were greeted by the most perfect little nest for the night.
Where? The Potting Shed is located in Langley, Maidstone, just a few minutes away from Leeds Castle and just a lovely little walk away from the countryside
Vibes? Staying loyal to its name, the restaurant looks like a super sophisticated greenhouse with a big open space that looks out into their gorgeous garden. In the summer it’s bright and buzzing, and in the winter the fairy lights outside and dimmed lighting make it perfect for a romantic dinner or evening out with family and friends.
Highlights? Firstly, shout-out to the couple who were sitting on the table next to us and got engaged that night – swooning over them was definitely a personal highlight. I would say the overall vibe was the biggest highlight – as Steve Carell would say, it’s “the perfect combination of sexy and cute”. Also, the service = 10/10
The little touches? A coffee machine and bottled water were provided along with gorgeous smelling toiletries. There was an iron and hair dryer however a robe would have made it that extra bit more snug. We were massive fans of the Bluetooth speaker system built into the walls and spent the evening playing scenes from ‘A Star is Born’ on top volume. There are no fridges in the room but the staff are super helpful and bought us an ice bucket for our prosecco within minutes.
Dietary aware? Their menu is clearly marked up with allergens including gluten and every time we’ve been the staff have been more than happy to adapt dishes to make them low FODMAP
Affordable? The rooms range from around £114 to £130 depending on room type and the menu prices are very much standard for the area and the fantastic quality – would say they’re 100%worth the money.
When we checked in the room we took a little walk around the local area and nosed at the Christmas lights down the little country lanes before settling back in with a bottle of prosecco and Home Alone 2.
When walking over for dinner the menu was clearly marked with allergens and there were plenty of gluten free options available. I forgot to ask ahead about the no garlic and onion sitch but the team were more than happy to adapt the dishes so I went with scallops and gluten free bread to start, and steak and lobster with sweet potato fries as a casual main (honestly, their fries are INCREDIBLE and are all cooked in their own fryer so no cross contamination).
Half-way through our dinner the couple seated next to us followed the manager off to “check-out the new rooms” and twenty minutes later they returned with a bottle of champers and an engagement ring! After the enxt half an hour of Ross telling me to calm down and stop harassing them with questions and photo opportunities we then headed to the bar for a few more of their excellent selection of gins before retreating back to our nest to listen to The Star is Born soundtrack on full volume through the built in speakers.
The next morning, the brekkie matched up to the dinner standard and I opted for smoked salmon, poached eggs, avocado and tomatoes on gluten free toast (also grilled separately but always double check) .
We left The Potting Shed feeling super relaxed and like we’d had some real quality time together. A big thank you to all the staff who helped make it so special – we will definitely back!