About Us

Our Story

Standing on the High Street in the heart of Manston since the 17th century, The Jolly Farmer isn't just a pub — it's the story of a village. And under the stewardship of Clare and Lee Milsom, that story is entering an exciting new chapter.

Our kitchen focuses on hearty, traditional English cooking using locally sourced Kentish produce wherever we can from our famous Sunday lunch to seasonal specials that make the most of Kent's incredible larder. Pair that with well-kept ales, a carefully chosen wine list, and the kind of warmth that only a truly historic building can offer, and you'll understand why we're proud to be rated #1 on TripAdvisor in Manston.

But The Jolly Farmer is more than a place to eat and drink. With its centuries of character and beautiful beer garden, the pub is now available as a venue for weddings and celebrations. There's something rather special about saying your vows in a place where people have been raising glasses together since the 1600s. Whether you're planning an intimate ceremony or a larger reception, we'd love to help you make your day unforgettable.

Whether you're joining us for a pint after work, booking a table for Sunday lunch, or planning the biggest day of your life our doors are always open.

A Colourful Past

So how did a 17th-century farmhouse become the heart of a Kentish village? The building began life around 1672 as one of a pair of farm dwellings, but history has it that ale has been served here since 1639, making this one of the oldest licensed premises in the Isle of Thanet. In those early years, the pub traded under a different name, The Crown and Anchor, before becoming The Jolly Farmer sometime in the late 1770s.

And that name? It has a rather colourful origin.

Named After a Highwayman

"The Jolly Farmer" is believed to be a playful corruption of "The Golden Farmer", the nickname of one William Davis, a Welshman born in Wrexham in 1627 who settled near Bagshot in Surrey. To his neighbours, Davis was a respectable farmer, a devoted family man with eighteen children, and a generous member of the community known for always paying his debts in gold coin.

What nobody realised was that the gold was stolen. For over forty years, Davis led a secret double life as a highwayman, robbing travellers returning from cattle fairs and market days across southern England. His luck finally ran out in 1690 when he was caught, tried at the Old Bailey, and hanged. His notoriety was such that pubs across the country were named in his dubious honour throughout the 18th century and ours is one of the few that still bears the name today.

The Few Drank Here

Perhaps the most significant chapter in our history came during the Second World War. RAF Manston, barely a stone's throw from the pub, was on the absolute front line during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Throughout that fateful August, the airfield was repeatedly bombed by the Luftwaffe with raids on the 12th, 14th, 15th, 20th, 22nd and 24th left runways cratered and buildings ablaze. At one point, the damage was so severe that Manston was downgraded to an emergency landing ground only.

Through it all, The Jolly Farmer served as a refuge for the young pilots and ground crews stationed at the airfield. They came here to unwind, to share a pint, and, for a few hours at least, to forget the skies above. The pub's wartime connection ran deep: the landlord at the time, R.G. Walter, had his own son serving overseas with the Royal Engineers in Malta, enduring some of the most intense bombing of the entire war.

In May 1943, RAF Manston played another remarkable role when Barnes Wallis chose the airfield for testing his prototype bouncing bomb. Pilots from the legendary 617 Squadron flew from Manston to drop test munitions at nearby Reculver, preparing for the Dambusters raid that would become one of the most celebrated operations of the war.

And Then There's Ena

Every old pub worth its salt has a ghost, and ours is no exception. Ena, our friendly resident spirit, is said to haunt a quiet nook of the pub. We can't tell you much about who she was or when she lived but regulars will tell you she makes herself known from time to time. If you feel a gentle chill as you settle into your seat, don't worry. It's just Ena making sure you're comfortable.

Come and raise a glass. You'll be in good company. William Davis would have approved though we'd recommend paying in card rather than stolen gold!