The charming village 90 mins from London once home to a legendary Jack Russell called Lord Whisky

Rhodes Minnis, a quaint village in Kent, may sound like a small Greek holiday spot, but it has much more to offer than just an intriguing name. The village, located just 90 minutes from London, is home to an animal sanctuary and tea room named after a Jack Russell called Lord Whisky. Adding to its charm, the village boasts a pub that never served a pint or even opened its doors - instead, it's a stunning home known as Flint Cottage.

With only around 100 homes, Rhodes Minnis offers a close-knit community where everyone knows each other. Its location is ideal, nestled in the heart of the countryside near the coast and the foodie haven of Canterbury, as well as the trendy town of Folkestone. It's also surrounded by beautiful walking trails.



If you're wondering how this village got such a unique name, 'Minnis' is thought to have referred to common land used for grazing. Approaching Rhodes Minnis, you're greeted by hedgerows, trees, stone walls, manicured lawns and houses ranging from white weatherboarded to flint, red brick and wood, to more modern styles. Many of these homes are elevated, offering breathtaking rural views.

At the 'centre' of the hamlet, which is simply a crossroads, stands the property built to be a pub that never was, reports Kent Live . This is clearly a place where animal welfare is held in high regard, with two sanctuaries that have collectively aided tens of thousands of animals over the years. It's impossible to discuss this village without mentioning the late Jack Russell, whose name graces the much-loved and highly-rated The Lord Whisky Tea Rooms, as well as the sanctuary located en route to the neighbouring village, Stelling Minnis.

The black and white dog lived an impressively long life of 22 years, and his legacy lives on through The Lord Whisky Sanctuary Fund. This registered charity provides a lifeline for abused or injured animals at the sanctuary and offers essential veterinary care for those on low incomes. You can sign up to get the latest news, top stories and exclusives sent straight to your WhatsApp from the MyLondon team.

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If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice . Click here to sign up for WhatsApp alerts. Whisky spent his life from the age of four with the sanctuary's founder, Margaret Todd, and her family.

It was the unique care that 'Lord Whisky' required - let's just say he was quite the character - that led Margaret to realise the need for a sanctuary. The Lord Whisky Tea Room, nestled in Gate Lane in Rhodes Minnis, comes highly recommended on Restaurant Guru 2024. The tea room, housed in a former pub, has both indoor and outdoor seating and serves food and beverages for dine-in or takeaway.

The Lord Whisky Tea Rooms boasts an impressive 4.5-star rating on Tripadvisor, with 77 reviewers praising the establishment's delectable food and welcoming staff. One recent review raved: "Incredible food and friendly staff would highly recommend.

Also popped by the sanctuary to see their animals and speak about their vets." Another reviewer from last year gushed about the Sunday roast, saying: "Oh my word it was absolutely amazing. Reminded us of my mum's legendary roasts.

Apparently the cook is new. Never let her go. Thank you so much and all for a good cause too.

Finally, the staff were so friendly too." Nearby, the Rhodes Minnis Cat Sanctuary in Green Lane has been providing a haven for felines since 1970, offering a tranquil environment with ample spaces for the cats to rest and play. The sanctuary takes in and cares for unwanted and homeless cats and kittens from Kent, London, and beyond.

However, the home has expressed concerns about finding new homes for older cats, resulting in more felines staying on at the sanctuary. To support their cause, the sanctuary is hosting a Christmas Fair at Hawkinge Community Centre on November 30 from 10am to 1pm. Unfortunately if you're after a pint in Rhodes Minnis, you might be out of luck.

Flint Cottage was originally built as a pub, but never opened and stands instead as a private residence. This stunning building sits at the junction of Longage Hill and White Horse Lane, featuring six large front windows, a midnight blue front door, and a lattice fence and hedge. In 2021, locals, including the owner, shared intriguing details about the property with the Dover Kent Archives.

Built in 1898, it has a large cellar with barrel access and a Victorian posting box from the same year built into the garden wall. It never opened as it failed to secure a licence as it fell within the Lyminge parish, the same as the Prince of Wales, rather than the Elham parish as initially presumed. According to the website, Lyminge councillors were hesitant to grant many pub licences.

Rhodes Minnis also boasts a village hall managed by a small group of trustees who organise two flower shows annually in spring and summer. Plus, there's a Monday yoga session with Tree Light Yoga. To reach Rhodes Minnis from London, driving via the A2 and M20 is your best bet - but it is still an achievable journey via public transport.

Hop aboard the Southeastern service at Stratford to Ashford International. From there, take a further Southeastern service to Sandling. Finally, the 18 bus will take you from Sandling to Rhodes Minnis.

Those eyeing a move to Rhodes Minnis, nestled in the Elham Valley beside the lush Lyminge Forest, will find the housing market anything but crowded. With so few properties, it's no wonder that listings are scarce. Rightmove data shows just one home sold last year, compared to five in 2022 and four in 2021.

Consequently, the average sale price currently stands at £250,000, skewed by the sole transaction since November 2023—a quaint two-bedroom detached cottage requiring renovation, as detailed in the property description. Nearby in Laing Bennett on Longage Hill, a sizeable four-bedroom family home recently came onto the market, listed for £799,500. Constructed in 1985, the property boasts expansive gardens both front and rear.

Airbnb lists three enticing options in Rhodes Minnis, with nightly rates from £127 to a rather grand £1,579. The high-end option may be pricey, but for the level of luxury and space provided, it's worth a peek even if just to indulge in some wishful thinking. You can view Airbnb properties in Rhodes Minnis here .

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