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16th Century Former Alehouse

Photo gallery for 16th Century Former Alehouse

Exterior
Outdoor dining
Living area
Living area
Room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 11

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Pet-friendly

Explore the area

Map
Cranbrook, ENG
  • Sissinghurst Castle and Garden
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Bodiam Castle
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Rochester (RCS)
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 11)

Attic Family Room

2 Single Beds

Bunk room

3 Single Beds

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

Twin Attic Room

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Family Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Ground Floor Shower room

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

16th Century Former Alehouse

Set in the centre of Cranbrook, this deceptively large three storey house has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a large lounge, open plan kitchen, spacious dining room with breakfast bar and 2 inglenook fireplaces.

The property was newly refurbished for 2015 and has a fully fitted dishwasher, range cooker, microwave, fridge freezer, washing machine and tumble dryer. There is internet access with wifi, a TV and DVD player.
There are wood burning stoves in the lounge and master bedroom to give that cosy feel, as well as gas central heating throughout and under floor heating downstairs.
Bed linen and towels will be provided

Downstairs
Hallway, shower/toilet, lounge with inglenook, kitchen, dining room, utility room

First Floor
Very large master double bedroom with inglenook fireplace, dressing room and en suite bathroom, family bathroom, twin room (bunk beds + truckle)

Second Floor
Very spacious twin bedroom, can be used as a family room if required, smaller twin bedroom

The bedrooms sleep 8 but can easily accommodate extra. The second floor large twin can be used as a family room with folding beds for children.

Property manager

Frank Bruce

Languages

English
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space

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Exterior

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10.0 out of 10, (22 reviews)
Secluded Farmhouse set in 300 acres, sleeps 11 comfortably, and up to 14 people.

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
Not left in house unattended, not upstairs/sofas
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
We do allow a very well behaved dog but they are not allowed on the sofas or upstairs. Pets must not be left in the house unattended at any time.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Cranbrook

Cranbrook is home to this holiday home. Cranbrook Museum and Morgan Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Cranbrook Golf Club and Biddenden Vineyards. Travelling with kids? Consider The American Garden and Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest. Waterskiing and windsurfing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and horse riding nearby.
View more Holiday homes in CranbrookOpens in a new window
Map
Cranbrook, ENG

What's nearby

  • The American Garden - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Sissinghurst Castle and Garden - 7 min drive - 4.6 km
  • Balfour Winery - 12 min drive - 10.4 km
  • Bodiam Castle - 13 min drive - 15.4 km
  • Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest - 14 min drive - 12.9 km

Getting around

  • Staplehurst Station - 13 min drive
  • Gatwick Airport (LGW) - 57 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Arthurs - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Hawkhurst Cafe - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Bull at Benenden - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Eight Bells Hotel - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪M & S Kebab & Pizza - ‬2 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is 16th Century Former Alehouse pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at 16th Century Former Alehouse?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 16th Century Former Alehouse?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is 16th Century Former Alehouse located?

This family-friendly Cranbrook holiday home is steps away from Cranbrook Union Mill and St Dunstan's Church. The American Garden and Cranbrook Museum are also within 10 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 35 out of 35 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 35 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Lisa M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic

A wonderful property. Thank you!
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mathilde C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay in Kent

Lovely cottage, great location. We enjoyed our stay, Frank was a great host.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Declan D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely old building

Lovely stay in this old but modernised building. We really enjoyed the time spent with friends exploring the area. Easily accommodated all 10 of us.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jane P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Holiday House

A beautifully clean, well stocked and spacious place to spend a weekend with the family.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Vicki B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect experience

The house was a delight. The cleanest rental we have ever stayed in. Spacious dining and lounge area and rooms made really flexible with pull out and z-beds. The water pressure made showers a pleasure, the kitchen was beautifully stocked (always a pain to have just as many plates/bowls as beds!) and the renovation retained so much character. The owner was responsive and friendly too, just a perfect experience. We will be recommending widely.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Adena F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely, comfortable house. Perfect for a group.

This was the perfect base for our group of eight. Well equipped, comfortable, spacious. Lovely bedrooms, nice bed linen and comfortable beds.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Samantha M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Family Stay

Stayed here with a total of 10 members of the family, age range from 6-60+ years and we all had a lovely stay. Kitchen was well equipped with everything you could need including things like foil/bin bags/toilet roll and cleaning products. Beds were comfortable with nice linen, plenty of pillows and more than enough towels for everyone to use. We really couldn't fault the house. Check in and check out was smooth with generous times. Was nice not to have to rush around early on the morning that we left. Parking is literally one min across the road and we always found a space. Situated in a lovely little village with plenty of shops and takeaways. We sampled the very local kebab/chinese and fish and chip shop between us and we all said they were nice. So nice to be away with the family again.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Hayley M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thoroughly enjoyable place to visit

Property very spacious, well equipped for all your needs. Highly recommended
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lorraine N., Chard. Somerset

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect 3 night break.

The house is beautiful, the village is lovely and the coffee shop and neighbours great too. We all fit in there nicely plenty of room for 9 of us. I highly recommend this property.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jules B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great destination for large family with pets

A lovely, comfortable house with absolutely masses of space for games, relaxing and meals. We were 2 adults, four grown up children and 2 dogs. The kitchen is very well stocked and everything was clean and of great quality. Doesn't hurt that there is a wonderful tea rooms next door either!

10/10 Excellent

MARK K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent

Beautiful house, just perfect for our trip and excellent communication from the owner.

10/10 Excellent

Samantha A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cranbrook

Lovely property, very clean. Owner was very helpful. A great way to bring in the new year
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Melanie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful house and tastefully decorated

Great location in the heart of the village with interesting shops, pubs and restaurants. The house is beautifully decorated with no expense spared and in keeping within the period when the house was built. Kitchen is fully equipped and thoughtfully planned with plenty of crockery, saucepans etc for home dining. Main bedroom enormous with lovely en suite and all other bedrooms a good size with quality bed linen. We enjoyed the BBQ in the courtyard! Would thoroughly recommend this gorgeous property.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Geoffrey F.

The Bird in Hand at Easter- A wonderful family holiday

Ten of us including three young children and a baby stayed for three nights at Easter. The house is even bigger than it looks in photos so we all had plenty of room and shared meals around the big table. The decor is stylish without detracting from the age of the building. There is a great assortment of china, cutlery, cooking utensils etc. and the oven, dishwasher, microwave and fridge freezer are modern and easy to use. We cooked roast chicken and a chilli while we were there. The bedrooms are very attractive and the three children took turns to sleep on the top bunk. The master bedroom with en-suite is lovely. As grandparents we took the small top bedroom but it was fine although the stairs are steep as you would expect in such an old building. The children absolutely loved the Wii although it took us ages to work out how to use it so some instructions could come in handy. The baby crawled happily on the floor as everything was very clean.and our baby alarm worked well when he was sleeping on the top floor. Although there is a cot and highchair thoughtfully provided we took our own as he is still very small. The weather was absolutely brilliant for Easter and we had an Easter egg hunt in the small garden. We went to the beach near Hastings and to Bodiam Castle. Cranbrook is lucky to have a good local museum and a windmill very near the house and the volunteers who run them are very good with children.. Parking was easy in the free carparks nearby and we shopped at the co-op. We ate a meal on Good Friday at the Goudhurst Inn in Goudhurst nearby, it was excellent and has a play area for kids. The house is only a two hour journey from London which is ideal if you have small children. The weekend was to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary and the house and the weather could not have been more perfect.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jacqui Jefferson

Fantastic stay, a gem of a property.

Had a wonderful long weekend at Bird in the Hand, with my family to celebrate a 60th Birthday. All had a great time and made the most of the facility’s. The house was fabulous for our get togeather and it was great that we could all sit around the lovely table for a big roast dinnner, and play fabulous board games. Really felt spoilt. Jessica was lovely popping around to make sure we were all ok.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Bethan R.

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay at The Bird in Hand

The house was exceptionally well equipped. It is not often that we stay at a house that provided free logs for the fire and kitchen supplies etc! The location was great, being so close to all amenities, in a great village. The house was warm and spacious enough for 4 adults and 4 teenagers. Beds were very comfortable. We would definitely visit again!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Andy R.

Fab weekend stay in a property full of history and character

We had a great weekend with friends and family at the Bird in Hand. The photos on the website hardly do it justice - what a beautiful old building, lovingly restored and spotlessly clean. Would love to come back again.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2018

10/10 Excellent

Lesley E.

Excellent

Brilliant place, very central. Accommodation was great
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Kerry H.

Quaint house in pretty village with everything you need

This is a beautiful, spacious house with everything you need, all to very good standard. Showers are hot and powerful. Beds are very comfortable. Within walking distance to the village which has almost everything you need; restaurants, co-op, two pubs and shops. We stayed there for three nights for my mother’s birthday; 6 adults, 2 teens, 1 toddler and 1 baby plus 2small dogs. Everyone was impressed! Would definitely recommend. Thank you Frank and Martha!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Ruby H.

Lovely spacious property, great facilities

We had such a wonderful stay, there was even more space than we wanted for 9 people. We couldn’t have asked for any more or different facilities.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Terri R.

Spectacular and versatile

We rented the Bird in Hand because our daughter was getting married in nearby Goudhurst and we needed a property big enough to accommodate us, the bride, her bridesmaids and our dogs. We weren't disappointed!! With versatile accommodation set over three floors the Bird in Hand is charming and quirky. Everything has been well thought out and the standard is exceptionally high. Cranbrook itself is quite a find with excellent shops and lovely country walks. I would have loved to stay longer! I highly recommend this lovely property.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Dana U.

Great property

We have stayed in Frank's house for the second time. The house is perfectly allocated, well equipped and look after. The communication with Frank was straightforward. We will most likely to visit the house again.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jon D.

Comfortable, spacious and very nicely decorated house.

The cottage is very nicely furnished and fitted to a high standard and it has bags of room for a large group to stay in.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kirsty H., London, UK

A beautifully converted, spacious but cosy escape

We have just returned from a wonderfully relaxing girls weekend away in the beautiful Bird in Hand. The alms house has been restored beautifully, with tons of original features but also all you need to make a lovely relaxing break. It was a cold weekend but the house was warm and inviting and the inglenook fires a real treat. The kitchen is well stocked and everything seemed to work well. The photos do not do it justice at all. There is plenty of space and Frank was helpful and responsive with local tips etc prior to our time away. I would love to return with my family and would highly recommend to others.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Rae C.

Perfect for a Family Gathering. Cannot fault the property!

11 of us had a wonderful 3 night stay at the Bird In The Hand. We all love cooking, the kitchen facilities are excellent, and a lovely table for us all sit comfortably around. The house has a super atmosphere. All the beds and bedding excellent quality. Would not hesitate to recommend this property to anyone.

About the host

Hosted by Frank Bruce

Host profile image

Languages:

English
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