Entire home

16th Century Former Alehouse

Photo gallery for 16th Century Former Alehouse

A cozy living room with a fireplace, leather sofas, and a wooden coffee table.
A bathroom with a bathtub, a glass shower enclosure, and a white radiator.
A two-story house with a white exterior and a tiled roof.
A kitchen with white cabinets, a wooden countertop, a stainless steel refrigerator, and a brick floor.
A bedroom with a wooden bed, a nightstand, a dresser, a radiator, and a window with a view of buildings.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Cook, dine, and unwind
    Top-rated for its fully equipped kitchen, perfect for every meal.
  • Games at the ready
    One of the few properties with video games available for guests.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to High Weald
4 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 11

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Toys
  • Dog-friendly
  • Barbecue
  • Internet
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View map
Cranbrook, ENG
  • Place, High Weald
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Cranbrook Museum
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, The American Garden
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Airport, London (LGW-Gatwick)
    ‪86 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.

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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

Property # 1989810
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
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

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 Biddenden Vineyards and Go Ape at Bedgebury. 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.
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Map
Cranbrook, ENG

What's nearby

  • High Weald - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • St Dunstan's Church - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Cranbrook Museum - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Cranbrook Union Mill - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • The American Garden - 15 min walk - 1.3 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Kings Head - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Bell And Jorrocks - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Milk House - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Bedgebury Cafe - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Granary Restaurant - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is 16th Century Former Alehouse pet-friendly?

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

How much is parking at 16th Century Former Alehouse?

On-site parking is available at the property.

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. 38 out of 38 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 38 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 38 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 38 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 38 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
All fantastic, thank you!
Stayed 10 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Aug 2023
Thank you Jane for your lovely review of our house. We appreciate your comments and are glad you enjoyed your stay. We would be very happy for you to return. Thankyou again, Frank and Martha
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug 2021
Thank you for your review of our house, glad you enjoyed your stay, you would be very welcome to return in the future. Thank you again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Aug 2023
Thank you Adena for your review of our house, we appreciate your comments. Glad the group enjoyed their stay.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful cosy house

We had a nice stay in beautiful surroundings. The house was comfortable and cosy. Communication with Frank was friendly and quick.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Fantastic

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

10/10 Excellent

Beautiful historic house! Spacious with everything you need in an great situation.

We stayed in this lovely house for 3 weeks this summer and felt really at home. It has everything you need. Spacious, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing! Outdoor space to sit and enjoy the evenings with friends, a glass of wine and the requisit barbecue! Stroll into the town for restaurants and cute shops, and a great Coop up the street too. Loved it!
Stayed 20 nights in Jul 2016
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Apr 2020
Hi Bev, I have only just realised that I can comment on the excellent review you gave our house in the summer! So a very belated thank you, we are glad you enjoyed your stay and if you are in the area in the future you would be very welcome to stay again. Thanks again, Regards, Frank
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Apr 2020
Hi Melanie, Thank you very much for such a lovely review of our house, very glad that you enjoyed your stay in Cranbrook. Thank you for leaving everywhere so clean and tidy, you would be most welcome to return in the future. Thank you again, Best wishes, Martha and Frank
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Aug 2023
Hello Vicki, thank you for such a great review of our house, it is very much appreciated. You would be very welcome to stay again in the future, thanks again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We stayed for a week at this charming former pub in Cranbrook which is full of character and turned out to be a great choice for a 2-family gathering (3 adults and 5 children). The original wooden beams give the whole place a warm, timeless feel, making it instantly welcoming.One of the real highlights is the water pressure — genuinely excellent and the kitchen is also well-equipped with a large table that’s perfect for hosting friends and family.On colder days, the wood-burning stove really comes into its own, creating a cosy, snug atmosphere that makes the house feel like a true retreat.One downside is external and entirely out of the owner’s control: a neighbouring backyard garden that was unfortunately not well maintained and contained a noticeable amount of dog waste. This didn’t detract from the quality or comfort of the property itself, but it is worth noting. Parking could also be problematic as the fairly large carpark across the street was (surprisingly to us) frequently full.Great house for a family meetup with Cranbrook as a good location for many Kent and East Sussex locations.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 12 May 2026
Thank you very much for the great review of our house, glad you enjoyed your stay. You would be very welcome to stay again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Bird in Hand is one of the best places I've ever stayed, combining a characteristic old building with all the modern conveniences you need (including a really well equipped kitchen). The property is ideal for large families or groups with a large living room area (that's bigger than it looks in pictures), four different bedrooms (with extra beds provided if needed) and three bathrooms. The free car park across the street had lots of space and the local area has lots of restaurants and shops. Communication was fantastic and told us everything we needed to know. Added to that the price of the property is fantastic as well (especially for such a large group over peak holiday periods).We loved it so much we're looking to stay again next year and if you're looking at the listing do not hesitate to book it as you'll have a fantastic time.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful

My son left his cap at the property and one we week later we received it by mail at our address in the US. Frank took the time and effort to mail it to us. That is all you need to know. Incredible hosts for an incredible house.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Apr 2020
Thank you for the great review of our house, we are very glad you enjoyed your stay. You would be very welcome to return if you visit the UK again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Groszügiges Haus mit viel Charme

Ohne viele Wörter. Das Haus it grosszügig, komfortabel und hat Charme. Ist gut platziert im Ort und für Ausflüge in der Umgebung. Wir sind mit Allem sehr zufrieden.
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Aug 2023
Hello Steve.Thank you for your great review of our house, glad you enjoyed your stay, you would be welcome to return again if you are in the area.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Aug 2021
Thank you for your great review of our house. We're glad you enjoyed your stay, we would be happy for you to stay again if you are in Kent in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 9 July 2021
Thank you Lorraine for the great review of The Bird in Hand. We're glad you enjoyed your stay, you would be welcome to return in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Excellent

Beautiful house, just perfect for our trip and excellent communication from the owner.
Response from VrboOwner on 28 July 2020
Thank you very much for your great review of our house, we are glad you enjoyed your stay! Also thank you for leaving the house so clean and tidy. You would be very welcome to stay again if you ever return to Cranbrook. Best wishes, Frank
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Apr 2020
Hi Sam, Glad you all enjoyed bringing in the new year in our house, thank you for your great review and for leaving the house so clean and tidy! You would be very welcome to stay again, Happy New Year Frank and Martha
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect stay!

Everything from start to finish was smooth. Location in the heart of Cranbrook as great for those of us who wanted to enjoy the town without driving anywhere and others who went to London and Leeds Castle and other places. The house is spacious and modernized. Heating worked well , and showers and beds were great too! Would definitely stay again. Thanks Frank.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Apr 2020
Thank you Vicky for your lovely review of our house and our little town. You were perfect guests and you would be very welcome to return! Thanks again, Frank
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Apr 2020
Thank you Geoffrey for such a fantastic review and comments for our house. I'll look into some instructions for the Wii. The weather was lovely so we're glad you enjoyed your celebration weekend so much! Thank you for leaving the house very clean and tidy, you would be more than welcome to return in the future. Thanks again, Best wishes, Frank and Martha
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Apr 2020
Thank you Bethan for such a great review of our house. We are glad you found the house so comfortable and enjoyed your stay in Cranbrook. Thank you also for leaving it all clean and tidy. You would be very welcome to return in the future. Best wishes, Martha and Frank
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

About the host

Hosted by Frank Bruce

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English
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