Eric & Helen Gaskell reopened The Abbot's Fireside on the 3rd December 2015. All of our letting rooms are fully operational and can provide full cooked breakfasts and light lunches. The main restaurant will be offering a fine-dining experience from mid February 2016. Our well stocked bar is now open and we welcome non-residents to join us too.

Eric & Helen also run The Duke of Cumberland in the neighbouring village of Barham, the newly opened Gatekeeper in Etchinghill and The Jackdaw in Denton. All three pubs are within a ten minute drive and offer a full restaurant and bar service.

The Abbot's Fireside, surrounded by breathtaking countryside, has seven delightful bedrooms all named after the well-known or local people relating to the history of this ancient building. The Duke of Wellington used the hotel as his headquarters whilst preparing his battle with Napoleon at Waterloo. King Charles II and the Duke of Richmond hid in the main fireplace when being chased by the Roundheads.

When you enter the Abbot's Fireside, you will encounter a warm and friendly welcome, be surrounded by antique furniture, open fireplaces and original leaded glass windows throughout the lounge, restaurant and bedrooms. Our lounge and restaurant feature huge medieval fireplaces which, like the hotel itself, are listed by the Historical Society.

Built as an inn in 1451 and throughout Tudor and Stuart times, the building was known as 'The Smithies Arms'.

The village of Elham lies in the centre of Elham Valley, declared an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You can walk or cycle for hours through the unspoilt Kentish hills. There are three golf courses in the area, together with a course at Leeds Castle, which is only 30 minutes away.