The Black Horse Inn

Hotels
8.8 (2229 reviews)
Pilgrims Way, Thurnham, Nr Maidstone , Maidstone , gb

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Business center
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Friendly staff
Comfortable rooms
Lovely food
Cons:
Issues with some amenities
Personal discomfort with mattress quality

Categories

Cleanliness
8.89
Overall cleanliness mentioned positively in many reviews, rooms described as clean.
Service
9.16
Staff described as friendly, welcoming, and helpful in various reviews.
Location
8.8
Great location for local walks and proximity to a lovely pub.
Room Quality
8.65
Rooms described as comfortable and well-equipped, with a personal touch.
Amenities
8.48
While some amenities were criticized (like unworking car chargers), the general atmosphere is pleasant.
Value for Money
8.64
Value perceived positively with regards to food and accommodation.
Food and Beverage
8.79
Food described as lovely with excellent breakfast options.
Overall Experience
8.96
Overall experience consistently positive, with many guests expressing desire to return.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-07 18:06

Property Description

Charming Rooms with Country-Style Decor
Individually styled rooms at The Black Horse Inn offer a cozy retreat with modern amenities including Freeview TV, ironing supplies, and tea/coffee facilities. The bright décor and private bathrooms ensure a comfortable stay.

Farm-to-Table Dining Experience
Enjoy a culinary delight at the on-site restaurant featuring a menu crafted from local and home-grown ingredients. The rustic ambiance with wooden beams and open fire adds to the charm. Don't miss out on the selection of Kentish cask ales at the bar and dine al fresco on the patio.

Scenic Surroundings and Outdoor Activities
Nestled in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the inn provides access to picturesque walking trails and stunning scenery. With Leeds Castle just a short distance away and Maidstone's amenities nearby, The Black Horse Inn offers the perfect blend of relaxation and convenience.

To book your stay at The Black Horse Inn, experience the charm and serenity of rural Kent today.

Important information:

Please note that you need to reserve a table if you would like dinner. Children under 10 years are not allowed in the restaurant after 20:00.

The reception for guests is open Monday to Friday 7am to 8pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sunday 8am to 12pm. When the reception is closed the keys can be collected from the pub/restaurant.

Breakfast is served Monday to Friday 07:00 to 09:30, and Saturday and Sunday 08:00 to 10:00.

If arriving by car, be careful when using satellite navigation. After M20 junction 7, as you come into the A249, most sat-nav systems will send you the wrong side of the Pilgrims Way. Please ensure you turn right into Detling Village, NOT left towards Boxley Village.

Check-in outside of the check-in times is not possible.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: LCY

Location

Guest Reviews

8.8
Based on 2229 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.89
Service: 9.16
Location: 8.8
Room Quality: 8.65
Amenities: 8.48
Value for Money: 8.64
Food and Beverage: 8.79
Overall Experience: 8.96
G
Gary solo_traveller gb
8
2026-08-22 via Nuitee
B
Badiani solo_traveller gb
9
2026-08-22 via Nuitee
F
Fabian couple ch
9
Perfect location to stop-over or even longer stay
Pros:

Perfect location for a stop-over to/from Dover or Folkestone (or longer stay if you want to explore the region),
Very friendly staff ready to help,
Good pub restaurant,
Ample private parking,

2026-08-22 via Nuitee
W
Woolston family_with_children gb
10
2026-08-20 via Nuitee
J
Jos family_with_children nl
8
2026-08-20 via Nuitee
W
Woolston solo_traveller gb
10
2026-08-20 via Nuitee
C
Carol couple gb
9
2026-08-20 via Nuitee
L
Lydia solo_traveller nl
9
Pros:

De Inn,met gezellige sfeer en mooie locatie.
Heerlijk gegeten in het restaurant.
Fijne kamers,met moderne badkamer in apart gelegen gebouwtjes.

Cons:

Niets

2026-08-20 via Nuitee
J
Jeremy couple gb
10
Great hotel with superb pub & restaurant
Pros:

Great location on pilgrims way
Nice room
Super breakfast
Great bar and restaurant

2026-08-20 via Nuitee
W
Woolston solo_traveller gb
10
2026-08-20 via Nuitee
G
GaSp solo_traveller fr
8
2026-08-19 via Nuitee
C
Claire couple gb
8
2026-08-19 via Nuitee
T
Teresa solo_traveller gb
10
Great stay and location
Pros:

Great location

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-19 via Nuitee
P
Polly family_with_children gb
8
2026-08-19 via Nuitee
H
Herlemann family_with_children de
8
Pros:

Urige Atmosphäre, großes und bequemes Zimmer, freundliche Atmosphäre!

Cons:

Es wäre toll, wenn man draußen irgendwo sitzen könnte. Um die Häuser herum ist überall Parkplatz.

2026-08-17 via Nuitee
R
Richard solo_traveller gb
6
Lovely pub and location, but over-priced food
Pros:

I like that this pub is here. We were walking the Pilgrims Way and it provided a convenient overnight stop. The pub building is lovely and the bar offered a great selection of local beers.
The staff were friendly.

Cons:

We dined at the pub. The food was expensive given the quality - over-described and under-delivered.
Breakfast was a long-winded and stressful affair. We were keen to make an early start on our walk because of the heat, but it took over an hour to get breakfast. Again, it was not worth the money. There was a very helpful and friendly woman waiting on tables who kept apologising for the delay, but a colleague of hers kept stomping around huffing and puffing. Not a great start to the day.
The accommodation was basic but ok. There were too many lights outside the room at night such that it was so bright in the room (even sith blind and curtains shut) that it was hard to sleep.

2026-08-16 via Nuitee
J
John solo_traveller gb
8
Fabulous country pub hotel.
Pros:

The food was fantastic, the setting was beautiful. The staff were brilliant.

Cons:

They advertised car charging but the rate (which might not be the hotels fault) is the same for a 7kwh charger as it is to charge at a motorway super fast charger.

2026-08-15 via Nuitee
A
Alexandre couple nl
10
2026-08-15 via Nuitee
S
Steven solo_traveller gb
10
2026-08-15 via Nuitee
C
Claire solo_traveller gb
8
2026-08-15 via Nuitee