Pooh Corner, Hartfield - Full Review
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Here’s everything you need to know about the adorable Winnie the Pooh themed cafe in Hartfield, England.
As a big fan of Winnie the Pooh, I’ve long wanted to visit the birthplace of the stories. Residing in Cotchford Farm in East Sussex, A. A. Milne (also known as Alan Alexander Milne) penned the first book here in 1926 for his son Christopher Robin Milne.
The Pooh Corner cafe is located on the edge of Ashdown Forest, just a short journey down the road from A. A. Milne’s home.
The cafe itself is adorable, based out of a building that dates back to 1703 and filled with an enormous collection of Winnie the Pooh themed memorabilia.
After arriving the friendly waitress invited us to wait in the gift shop and museum, where we only spent around 10 minutes before our table became available. Seating is spread throughout the ground floor of the house and out into the garden when weather permits.
We were shown to a small table tucked into a corner at the front of the building, which was perfect for us.
I was excited to order my own plate of Pooh Bear toast, which I’d seen all over social media, alongside a scone with cream and jam and a pot of English breakfast tea. My sister ordered a vegan sausage roll which was served with a side salad and crisps, and of course, a cup of tea.
We really enjoyed the food and thought that the theming was fantastic. Everything was served on Winnie the Pooh themed crockery, mismatched and charming, each with different designs. Pooh Bear artwork lined the walls and we were constantly finding new things to look at.
After lunch we made our way back into the gift shop, where we picked up a few souvenirs and perused the museum. The collection of vintage Winnie the Pooh memorabilia was impressive and really interesting to look at.
It was definitely a mistake for us to plan our visit during half term, as the cafe was extremely busy and quite loud. That’s not the venue’s fault, however, and it was purely down to poor planning on our part! If you don’t have children then I would highly recommend visiting midweek and during school term for a more chilled out experience.
How to find Pooh Corner & opening times
Arriving at Pooh Corner
Located in Hartfield, Pooh Corner is most easily accessed by car - although parking nearby can be limited. We arrived at lunch time and managed to find a space just a short walk down the road from the cafe. As we visited during half term, the local primary school had also opened their car park for visitors.
Local buses are available, and the closest train stations are located in East Grinstead and Tunbridge Wells.
The full address for Pooh Corner is:
Pooh Corner, High St, Hartfield TN7 4AE
It’s not possible to book and visitors are seated on a walk in basis only. For this reason, I would recommend arriving early. Alternatively, a limited number of bookings are available for afternoon tea outside of the summer season and school holidays.
Opening times
The cafe is currently open seven days a week, opening at 11am each day and closing at 5pm Monday - Saturday.
Pooh Corner closes at 4pm on Sundays and bank holidays, and food service finishes one hour before the closing time.
Other things to do nearby
After enjoying a light lunch at Pooh Corner, make sure you head over to Ashdown Forest for a walk through the inspiration for the Hundred Acre Wood.
Unless you’re up for a long walk, I’d recommend driving from Pooh Corner to the Pooh Car Park, and exploring the forest from there.
Along the route to the iconic Pooh Sticks Bridge you’ll see little doors that mark the homes of occupants from the Hundred Acre Wood. The walk takes around 20 minutes and is clearly signposted from the car park.
For dinner, I recommend dining at nearby pub The Bear Inn. My sister and I enjoyed a lovely meal here after checking into our hotel.
It has the feel of a cosy local pub, with a cute garden area and delicious food. I really enjoyed my vegetarian curry while my sister devoured her fish and chips.
Where to Stay
Look no further than the gorgeous Ashdown Park Hotel which is just a short drive away. Based in a beautiful old manor house with an onsite country club and sprawling grounds, this hotel is a wonderful escape from everyday life.
I was lucky enough to stay in one of their suites - you can read my full review of the hotel here (to come).
Other accommodation options include The Bear Inn itself, which has a number of comfortable rooms named after characters from the Winnie the Pooh books.
You can even stay at A. A. Milne’s former home, Cotchford Farm, which is available to rent on Airbnb. Ideal for large groups, this historic home has six bedrooms, including one that was home to young Christopher Robin.
Have a wonderful visit to Ashdown Forest and do leave a comment letting me know what you thought of Pooh Corner.
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