Five of the oldest pubs in Dartford

If you’re looking for some historic pubs to visit for your next pub crawl, Dartford offers some very old and historic drinking spots for you to try.

From one that has links to Henry VII to another that was listed in this years’ CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2024, here are five of the oldest pubs in Dartford to try:

The Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel

Located in the city centre of Dartford, The Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel is believed to date as far back as the 14th century.

The current building was first built in the 1700s, although it is thought that an inn has existed on the site since the 1300s.

Today the pub serves a range of beers, wines and spirits, as well as a menu of pub classics like fish and chips, homemade lasagne and Eton Mess.

The pub also hosts regular events like sports screenings and one-off events like its Fawlty Towers dinner event.

Wat Tyler

Claimed to be one of Dartford’s “oldest pubs”, according to its Facebook page, the Wat Tyler dates back to the 1400s.

Originally named the Crown & Anchor before it was renamed in 1966, the pub is believed to date back to the 15th century.

It’s located within a short distance of Dartford station with links to the high street, and is easily recognisable with its old white timber structure that stands out agains the modernity of the high street.

Today the pub serves a range of wines, ales, cocktails, classic pub dishes and bar snacks along with three regular beers.

Royal Oak

According to records from WhatPub, the Royal Oak is a former coaching inn dating back to the 17th century.

The pub, now a Grade II listed building, is located on the top of Dartford High Street in close proximity to nearby shops and restaurants.

According to the pub's website, it’s rumoured to have links with Henry VIII, who paid a visit to the town in the 16th century to visit his fourth wife Anne of Cleves.

The pub still keeps to some of its historic roots, serving ales and lagers from the UK’s oldest brewery - the Shepherd Neame - along with classic pub dishes and a traditional Sunday roast.

Despite being one of Dartford’s oldest pubs, it still has mod-cons including TVs to watch your favourite sports games.

Malt Shovel

The Malt Shovel is a traditional country pub dating back to the 1500s, with records dating it back to 1673, according to WhatPub.

The pub serves a selection of cask ales, craft beers and wines, along with a range of home-cooked food including tapas dishes and classic pub-style meals, from steak and chips to its “famous” Sunday roast.

Quiz nights are also hosted at the pub on Monday evenings, crib on Tuesdays, and jazz nights also take place on the first Wednesday of every month.

It was also recently in the 51st edition of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide for 2024, along with three other Dartford pubs.

The Rose

Located on Overy Street, The Rose is a traditional family-run pub believed to date back to the 1600s.

According to records from Dover Kent Archives, The Rose is referenced as early as 1773, although it isn’t known exactly when the pub was built.

Today the pub serves a range of home-cooked dishes along with a variety of drinks, and also offers punters a chance to watch their favourite sports games and matches.