Balfour opens village pub in Goudhurst.
A fantastic evening attending the launch of The Winemaker’s Pub, as Balfour Winery opened the doors to its newest hospitality venture in the heart of Goudhurst. This village pub represents a significant step in connecting the vineyard with hospitality, rooted in British cooking and a strong sense of home, making English wine logistically accessible.
The Winemaker’s Pub completes Balfour’s trio of places to eat and drink across its Kent estate, alongside The Winemaker’s Kitchen restaurant and the more casual Cellar Door offering at the winery. Together, the three venues reflect different ways of experiencing Balfour wines, from destination dining to relaxed home comfort.
For Balfour, a pub is one of Britain’s great institutions and the most natural home for English wine. The space is designed as a place guests can return to again and again. It feels familiar, welcoming and generous, where excellent local food and English wines are enjoyed with ease rather than ceremony.
The kitchen serves British pub classics shaped by seasonality and local produce, with dishes that feel comforting, nostalgic and quietly elevated.
The drinks list is exclusively Balfour Wine. Guests can enjoy the full range of the estate’s English sparkling and still wines by the glass or bottle, including the iconic Balfour Brut Rosé and Nannette’s Rosé. The list also features bottles from the Winemakers’ Collection, an exploratory, small-parcel range focused on craftsmanship and artistry. Produced in limited quantities, these wines are distinguished by labels created by local artists. Recent additions include Cuvée Owen Erland Elias and Chardonnay 76, featuring original artwork by Nannette Balfour-Lynn’s daughter.
Upstairs, four boutique bedrooms named after Balfour vineyards offer relaxed overnight stays with warm textures and upcycled wood from the vineyard. One suite includes a romantic free-standing in-room bath. Rooms start from £150 a night.
The opening marks a milestone in Balfour’s hospitality expansion. In 2025, Balfour welcomed a record 75,000 visitors to the winery, up from 40,000 the previous year. The Winemaker’s Pub represents the next step in wine tourism commitment.
A complimentary shuttle bus runs frequently between the winery, The Winemaker’s Pub and nearby Marden station. Direct trains from Marden to London Bridge take 46 minutes.
“English wine is inseparable from where it comes from,” said Fergus Elias, Winemaker. “This pub allows people to experience our wines in the most natural setting possible, surrounded by Kent countryside, good food and good company. It’s about flavour, place and shared moments.”
Leslie Balfour-Lynn added: “We’ve always welcomed guests to Balfour Winery as we would at home, with warmth and generosity. The Winemaker’s Pub is an extension of that home, and the bedrooms mean people can slow down, stay over and experience Kent, our wines and our hospitality at a more relaxed pace.”
The Winemaker’s Pub will host relaxed wine tastings and private events. With four boutique bedrooms and welcoming spaces, the pub is designed to feel right for a quiet drink at the bar or large celebrations.
This development reflects broader trends where English wine estates are expanding hospitality offerings to create year-round destinations. The Winemaker’s Pub represents bringing what Balfour does in the vineyard into an everyday setting, through shared expertise and enthusiasm for British produce.
Balfour Winery www.balfourtastingroom.com
