The Leicester Arms

The Leicester Arms is a Grade II listed property with a rich and proud history. To give some idea of how much this part of the world is steeped in proper medieval history, this pub was once part of the Penshurst Estate, it was named in honour of a previous owner of Penshurst Place, Robert Sidney, Viscount De L’Isle, when he was appointed Earl of Leicester in 1618. My name is Laurence Bowes, as a hospitality operator I have worked for some of the best in the industry collected a number of accolades along the way and proved my ability time and time again. Covid 19 was not to hamper my determination to build a business for myself out of the ashes of a lockdown. I took over the business in May 2020 and haven't had time to look back since. The Leicester Arms is the first under my ownership where I can really take responsibility for its entire performance alone. As a start up business in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic I'm either incredibly brave of incredibly stupid, time will tell. We have survived three lockdowns and consistent restrictions on our standards. We have stood outside the pub and sold coffee and cake every weekend come rain or shine simply to remain the beating heart of village life in Kent. We are very proud of our beautiful village and the people that inhabit it. As the latest custodian of the pub I understand fully my responsibilities not as a business owner but maintaining this beautiful pub for generations of the future to enjoy. I know that I am another in a long line of publicans of the premises and hope that my experience and passion will represent the village with pride. I want to ensure the future of The Leicester Arms is bright and its history honoured. We are investing everything we have into the upkeep of the building and its aesthetics this past twelve months alone we have renovated most of the bedrooms, build an epic garden bar and barbecue and continued to present the pub in a modern by sympathetic way to the Great British pub.