The Eight Bells Hotel in Tunbridge Wells

Excellent homemade food and attentive staff. Lovely decor in bar and restaurant. And an excellent range of beers. Exactly what a good pub is all about.

We had an excellent supper here. Nothing was too much trouble. Our vegan friends were impressed with their food options and our meals were delicious. Nothing too much trouble for the friendly staff either. Would recommend one hundred percent.

Quick pint , quick lunch , long drink , long lunch. Always pleasant. Check opening before you go as not sure there open Monday Tuesday and Wednesday ? Saturday popped in. Good crowd 👏 👍

Great food , the waitress wasn't friendly , seemed unhappy to be there , I run a pub and picked up on it straight away , nice pub nice food let down by moody teenager

Food average - we all had Sunday roasts. All ok apart from the rock hard, overcooked roast potatoes. Two of our party had beef and had to ask for some horseradish sauce. The waitress came back with a minute dish which was only enough for 1 person. Service - I really hated being addressed by our waitress as “you guys” in every other sentence throughout the meal. If I ask to see the dessert menu, I don’t expect to be told “Yeah, not an issue”. There was no curtesy check throughout the entire meal service. Our desserts arrived without any cutlery and a glass of wine that was ordered never arrived. There were two billing errors and drinks that we had paid for in cash at the bar were duplicated on our restaurant bill. Really didn’t feel that the 12.5% service charge was warranted but we paid it to avoid spoiling our lovely catchup with old friends. Waiting staff need more training and there should be some management presence in the restaurant.

Big fan of this pub! Adorable and spacious inside, with a massive outdoor space. Family-friendly. Super nice staff and the food was also delicious. I had the fish and chips and burrata and tomatoes YUM. I’m keen to try the burger next time as it looked really tasty.

Visited last night with my mate, had a lovely potted shrimp starter but unfortunately the cheeseburger was a big disappointment. Very overdone and burnt around the edges, for £19 with bacon a rip off really. I didn't make a fuss as our waitress seemed like she was brand new and I wasn't going to put that on her. The service was very good though

Went there as a group of 15 on a Sunday very accommodating considering the size they did run out of a couple of things but had a lovely time waitresses were lovely

Absolutely incredible place, will definitely be back

Really lovely pub, delicious food, attentive staff and my kids absolutely loved the sandpit!

We had a lovely lunch here a few weekends ago, delicious food, and the garden is especially lovely to sit out in on a sunny afternoon, plus there is a great play area for children in the big garden too :)

A beautiful pub with an excellent menu. We went with children and they loved the huge sandpit. Everything was perfect. Absolutely recommend.

Sad to say for our first and probably last visit to Eight Bells,Hawkhurst. Staff were attentive and helpful and obviously busy, but it felt like we were left forgotten. Considerable wait for food. We were given 10%off and no service charge due to this but we had to ask for compensation. A free bottle of wine at next visit, not sure there will be one. Food was okay, but sadly not worth the wait. Very very disappointed as this pub was chosen as a special birthday meal for my Mums 88th birthday, tarnished!

Took my Granddaughters to nearby playground, thought would be a treat to have lunch at Eight Bells First was advised no children’s menu , just reduced size from main menu .. So children choose Burger & chips I ordered my meal and couple of soft drinks .. when I returned to my table I checked my bill , the children’s burger was £11.00 each .. I returned to bar to query my bill and was advised that’s the price of children’s meal !! The meal was very disappointing and very over priced!!!

Amazing food and service and dog and child friendly. I have visited a number of times since the new owners and every time the food has been beautifully presented, as well as flavorsome. The roast beef was full of flavor and tender and the roast potatoes were crisp, you would struggle to beat them! The steak and chips are also particularly good, with a high quality thick steak perfectly cooked. There is a children’s menu, which has a number of options as well as a sand pit and climbing frame to keep them entertained. Dogs are also welcome and they enjoy the beautiful garden as well. The staff are attentive and helpful. Would recommend to anyone and will definitely be back!

We loved our previous meals here, but the pub has recently changed ownership. Visited this week with the kids. The menu has been slimmed down. Quality of food wasn’t great - 2 of the 6 main meals ordered went uneaten. Burgers came out rare - we were given no option on how we’d like them cooked. It’s a shame but we won’t be going back there until we hear better reviews.

Great atmosphere, friendly staff and excellent food & drink!

Had a superb meal here. The pub is in a beautiful village and has a large sunny garden full of tables & some activities for kids (which was a bonus). The staff are very attentive! The food cooked with a great level of skill & attention. I was told all the produce is fresh and sourced as locally as possible. I recommend the prawn cocktail which had a modern twist on it. The lamb was superb too. Tried my friends coq a vin pie which was excellent too! Highly recommended

Booked lunch here on the way back from Rye and not disappointed. 5 of us plus our 7 month old grandson enjoyed a super Sunday roast and lovely service. Food was superb especially the flavour of the roast beef and the roast potatoes, some of the best we’ve ever had. If we’re travelling through Hawkhurst again we will return

We made a reservation on a beautiful evening. Had a drink outside in de nice pub garden. Seating in the sun or out is possible. No problem to have some starters served with our drinks. Delicious chicken liver pate! We ordered and had a great meal inside in the dining area of the pub. The inside is charming and the staff very friendly and helpful. We had the fish, sea bass and haddock, was really good. Prices are reasonable for what is offered. Parking in the back. Definitely will go back!

I can’t find much to fault about this pub. In the countryside just outside Hawkhurst, it is unpretentious, friendly and welcoming and full of character. Plenty of seating which spills out into the large garden. A sandpit outside and toys for the kiddies- great idea! The young team of staff are super efficient and the chef very talented. The comprehensive menu has many tasty dishes, and reasonably priced. The only thing to disappoint is that Chèvre Chaud is not in the starters lately. Baked goats cheese, rocket, black olives, walnuts and a drizzle of honey! It was worthy of a Michelin star!! We hope to see it again!

We had been here 6 months ago. The food was good but service poor. We heard the owner had changed and thought let’s give it a go. On arrival we waited a while to be seated staff just walked past us. No one was wearing a uniform we didn’t no who worked there and who didn’t. Once seated in a smaller room it took 35 minutes to get our drinks. Our food turned up before. When we asked the waitress she sed they lost the ticket?? The rose wine was warm just to top it off. Starters was mainly nice. The focaccia was very oily and dry inside didn’t taste fresh at all. However the prawn cocktail was lovely with lots of prawns. Again a long wait for more drinks. And replenished cutlery just chucked on the table. The roast looked like we was the endings. Nothing like the pictures of peoples on here. The Yorkshire puddings were covered in oil like they had been recooked in the fryer. The roast potato’s recooked. Carrots very nice. We went for pork belly with crackling. The cracking was soggy. However the seabass was very good. The service was poor and when we received the bill and £21.00 had been added for service charge we asked politely to remove. 2 adults and 3 children. The waitress looked stunned. We like to leave a tip based on the service we receive. And just found it very slap dash just because it was a 3:30 table on a Sunday if you don’t want to produce the same quality food why offer the later bookings. Just seem like they all wanted to go home. Such a shame as was expecting a change.

The Sunday lunch was worth the 30 minute wait. My confit lamb shoulder was delicious and melt in the mouth. Compliments to the chef. We will definitely return.

Great atmosphere and lovely food, I had the cheeseburger which was properly flame grilled and easily the best burger I’ve had for a while. The barmaids were very friendly especially poppy who gave me recommendations on the menu and drinks. Will definitely return.

Good effort. I think my scoring might be biased by my more than 40 year memory of the pub when it was a proper pub rather than it's 'faux' current self.

We took a short break here on our trip. The Plowmans was very good, tasty pickles and good coffee. The waiter was very, very nice and even joked with us a bit in German. A very likeable guy. We really enjoyed ourselves in this cozy pub.

Was the neared pub to where we were staying with good reviews. Although my companions had a pleasant evening meal and the food couldn’t be faulted, it was obvious that our young waitress had not been trained and had been thrown into the deep end - whićh is unfair to both her and the customers. She couldn’t tell me anything about the local beer ( which is actually brewed at the pub !!) and had to be reminded about my glass of red wine, which finally arrived after the main course had been finished - the excuse being “we’re very busy “. We were also referred to as “you guys “ Hawkhurst is not America !! The eight bells should either spend much more time training - or reduce the number of tables so its experienced staff can oversee the trainees.. I felt sorry for the young waitress who had a happy, sunny personality. I don’t trust establishments that add 12.5% to the bill without that being made clear on the menu - I much prefer to pay cash for good service but that option wasn’t given.

We came here for a relaxed meal with colleagues. Great food and lovely outdoor space. Service great, although was a bit unclear if drinks had to be ordered inside or if it was table service. Doesn't matter the beer from the local brewery was fantastic 👌

We came here last weekend and had a wonderful lunch . We sat outside in the beautiful garden with a large sandpit which kept the kids entertained . The local wine was delicious- hamburger , fish and chips excellent. But make sure to leave room for mango sorbet !Will definitely be back soon . Thank you 8 bells for a glorious Saturday afternoon.

Me and my friend have just had there roast dinner, it was delicious and we will definitely be going back again soon

Drove through Hawkhurst on Sunday and came across this wonderful pub. Had roast beef,Mrs had the pork. Lovely meat topped of with wonderful crispy roast potatoes. The Silver Lake lager was really nice. Would recommend to anyone

Dreadful roast beef, stone cold plates, catering gravy, all round just not worth £19. Cauliflower cheese at £5 extra was reasonably tasty. No quality in the beef at all. Beers very good and well priced. Staff overwhelmed as newly opened and struggling with computer system, but did their best. Too much on menu for a Sunday, mainly fish and chips going out.

Really cosy and quaint pub. Friendly staff and great atmosphere. Lovely touch with candles on the tables.

Lovely roast dinners, good choice of starters, mains and desserts. Very reasonably priced

Old style village pub. Friendly service. Public and Saloon bars. Dinning areas. Beer garden. Quiet location, just outside Hawkhurst. I did not eat, but the food looked good and was popular. Will return.

Absolutely excellent meal, no faults. Staff were lovely! 10/10, will be returning very soon! The garden and the huge sandpit is great for kids! 5 stars!

Such a gem of a country pub with the best Sunday roast. We visited for the first time on the weekend as a family with 3 small children, the staff were really helpful and there is plenty of space between the tables. The beef was cooked to perfection and the gravy was delicious. Even the fussiest child ate most of his roast chicken and veg with the gravy doused on! We will be back! Lovely garden too although we didn’t sit out there.

Lovely Sunday roast - the pork was incredible- nice staff and cosy atmosphere

Delicious food and incredibly hardworking staff. Came here on a Sunday when it was busy and everyone was so friendly and attentive. The staff there are a credit!

Called in on the off chance today, warm welcome & a cosy pub. Food was lovely, local beer kept well & attentive staff. What more do you need, we'll definitely be back.

We LOVE our visits to this fantastic country pub! Always a warm welcome from the staff, whether just popping in for a drink or an absolutely fantastic sunday roast!

Normally this pub is exceptional and I still recommend it. Sadly, the Mothers Day lunch was a let down. Booked 1.15 lunch, we were seated with dogs and children stuck by a bookcase where the children wanted games. It took one hour before we got a starter, mine was scallops and fish, it came in a shell looked good, the fish was not fresh and I found one scallop, hardly touched this. If that wasn't bad we hard 3/4 of an hour to eat main course and sweet. Waitress said she rushed the chef to get our mains out as we had another engagement to attend at 3, it arrived the chicken tasted like it had been steamed rather than roasted, the veg had seen better days, red cabbage and I think it was cauliflower looked like it had been sitting in the dish for a long time , the roast pots, had been reheated, all round awful, the sweet came in a cup creme brulee, it was now 3 and we had to leave and we took our sweet with us to eat at home. This was a treat for me by my son. I did not have the heart to complain as he had saved to take there. However I did have a proper Sunday lunch laid on by my neighbour, I was starving. Never again and not a single apology.

We enjoyed lunch by the fire. Really delicious food, served promptly. Highly attentive and friendly staff. Will most definitely be returning.

Was looking for somewhere to meet that would be halfway for our friends from bexhill and chose Eight Bells and we were not disappointed this is an excellent place to visit lovely little country pub with welcoming fire and lovely decor charlie who served us and took our orders is a really lovely young man he was so funny and remembered all our orders without writing down really lovely guy. The food was excellent as was the service. We will certainly be back it was well worth the 1hr drive would higly recommend.

Such a lovely traditional English country pub with really friendly service & quality menu, supported by excellent wine choices & real ales. We enjoyed a super Sunday lunch & our two gorgeous black Labrador girls behaved well in the front dog friendly part of the pub. One of our favourite haunts in the area!

First visit to this pub. Excellent menu choices, great food, great staff and atmosphere. Will definitely visit again in the future.

A great pub, food is bang on, good beer, can be quiet, can be lively. Great summer venue with an awesome beer garden too 😁

Brilliant local pub. I haven’t been here for years, although I live in the area, my loss. Best Sunday lunch I have had in a long time. A spur of the moment booking on Sunday morning, having been hearing good reports for a while now, so no table until late afternoon. Not a problem, in fact perhaps an advantage. Time for a couple of pints in the bar😉 Lively “ pub” atmosphere. Lovely, friendly and polite, young staff. Service was first class.

Fav place in the world for a roast ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Fantastic Sunday lunch, lots of effort put into the cooking and it really pays off. Roast beef better than the pork but honestly both great

Love this restaurant. The atmosphere is great, the staff are so characterful and friendly and the food is sooooo tasty. Definitely worth a visit.

A very pleasant pub to visit. Recommended.

My fifth visit it gets better each time.

We visited here for the first time, from the moment you walk in you feel at home, it’s a really cosy local pub that is steeped in history. We had a great meal today and really enjoyed being there with family. We were made to feel very comfortable and nothing was too much trouble. The staff were the absolute best, Charlie who served us is an outstanding individual who is an absolute asset to the place. His customer service skills are spot on. It felt informal and welcoming and just perfect. Thank you for a great meal and we look forward to our next visit.

Great friendly pub and the food was amazing

We had a great Xmas work dinner here. Atmosphere was fun, staff really friendly and food perfect. It was important to celebrate the year in a place that made us feel happy, welcome and spoilt and this did. They could do with some improved wall lights though! Never go anywhere without observing!

An all round excellent evening. The staff looked after us well, the food was great (Gamekeeper pie and Fish & Chips) and the venue was welcoming. Would thoroughly recommend.

Honestly blown away by today’s experience! We booked late as we decided to change the place we were going for on recommendation for our wedding anniversary lunch and seeing as it was New Year’s Eve we got a table and was able to bring our new puppy who was massively welcomed and loved by staff and locals alike! The food was absolutely beautiful, literally can’t fault anything which is something I can’t normally say, the roast dinner was just perfect, hubby had the game pie which was awesome and our daughter had the burger and ate it all. Staff were really lovely, especially Charlie who is a very welcoming and friendly face of the pub! James the chef/owner - just keep doing what you’re doing! Amazing thank you for such an enjoyable afternoon! Jem, Johnny, Matilda & Barnaby the puppy

Honestly blown away by today’s experience! We booked late as we decided to change the place we were going for on recommendation for our wedding anniversary lunch and seeing as it was New Year’s Eve we got a table and was able to bring our new puppy who was massively welcomed and loved by staff and locals alike! The food was absolutely beautiful, literally can’t fault anything which is something I can’t normally say, the roast dinner was just perfect, hubby had the game pie which was awesome and our daughter had the burger and ate it all. Staff were really lovely, especially Charlie who is a very welcoming and friendly face of the pub! James the chef/owner - just keep doing what you’re doing! Amazing thank you for such an enjoyable afternoon! Jem, Johnny, Matilda & Barnaby the puppy

Always great, the only place I go back to regularly because I know it will always deliver.

fantastic food and great staff Charlie your a star 1st time here today if ever you are in the area a must visit

Hats off to all the staff. We had a 3 course Christmas lunch and it was all delicious. All beautifully y cooked and lovely friendly staff.

We were 17 family and friends celebrating a 50th birthday party. We had a great evening with a wide variety of delicious food and excellent service. A special mention of Charlie who looked after our rather boisterous party wonderfully well. I have no hesitation in recommending The Eight Bells Country Pub and Kitchen with its rustic charm for celebrating a special occasion.

Nice pub with good ambience, games to play, Vegetarian food options could be better.

This was the best pub roast I’ve had in a long time! I booked this place based on portion sizes (nothing worse than paying £20 for a roast and feeling hungry afterwards) I was not disappointed - portions were huge and quality was amazing. Beef was cooked to perfection and the biggest roasties I’ve ever seen 😂 100% will be back

The food is great as is the service.

One of the best roast dinners we have ever had eating out and we will definitely be returning! They did make a mistake with our starters and my husband had to eat his separate to us. It was also not altered on the bill, however was quickly rectified and apologies given. Staff were very friendly.

Our first visit. Good food and lovely friendly staff.

Had a really excellent roast beef for Sunday lunch. Perfectly cooked and lots of delicious fresh vegetables. Also extremely friendly service - Charlie is very welcoming!

This is my absolute favourite Sunday roast around for miles. Really delicious, loads of meat, huge Yorkie and roast potatoes are just perfect!. Staff are delightful, very chatty and friendly. We will be returning for lunch in the week

Great local pub with a nice selection of meals and drinks. Staff are always kind and helpful

Thank you for a wonderful Sunday lunch. The staff were attentive and the food was fabulous. Booking up now for our Christmas do's. thank you

High end pub, great varied menu and every meal cooked to perfection. Lovely atmosphere and the sheepskins on the seats outside to keep you cosy were a nice touch

Second time coming for Sunday lunch at this lovely pub. Last time was just under 2 years ago and it was just as good this time around as the first time. If not better as the baby is now a toddler and I could eat my lunch using both hands! Very family friendly atmosphere and helpful staff. You can tell the meat is good quality as it’s full of flavour and the vegetables and roast potatoes are also bang on. We won’t leave it so long before returning again! Thanks for a lovely lunch!

Asked for a starter and was served a main course at £9 extra. The one course meal three of us had did not justify a 12.5% service charge

Most probably the best food I ever had in England. We had rabbit and Steak...very delicious!!!!

Good food, good service and all round nice night out. Make sure you check the specials out. We had steak strops in peppercorn sauce which was likely using up spare stock from the steak night, the day before. But it was great and deserves a more permanent place on the menu.

Taken by local friends - Amazing pub. Friendly, cosy atmosphere, gorgeous food and friendly staff. Special shout out to Charlie our server who was a lot of fun.

Food amazing and very tasty. Didn't like 12% tip added on the whole bill including drinks for just 2 people. Ok for parties but one should be allowed to tip what they believe and not told.

Me and my partner and 5yr old booked for Sunday lunch, which we was looking forward too for weeks as we have been here before for drinks and the food to top draw. However it was a massive let down, it took over 20 mins for them to take our order even though did ask 2 just to take our 5yr old order 1st, then finally they did take the order, we did ask for the little one food to come asap, which it did arrive ok ( squid was over cooked and peas wasn’t even cooked ) yes my 5yr old likes squid, so we waited for our food and waited and waited until 90 mins later from ordering we asked where our food was and we got told “oh sorry there was a party of 14 that arrived after we ordered which the kitchen are serving 1st, and we would be after. So we said don’t bother and we left never to return as in my humble opinion that is not the way to treat people, just because we was the smaller group.

Me and my partner and 5yr old booked for Sunday lunch, which we was looking forward too for weeks as we have been here before for drinks and the food to top draw. However it was a massive let down, it took over 20 mins for them to take our order even though did ask 2 just to take our 5yr old order 1st, then finally they did take the order, we did ask for the little one food to come asap, which it did arrive ok ( squid was over cooked and peas wasn’t even cooked ) yes my 5yr old likes squid, so we waited for our food and waited and waited until 90 mins later from ordering we asked where our food was and we got told “oh sorry there was a party of 14 that arrived after we ordered which the kitchen are serving 1st, and we would be after. So we said don’t bother and we left never to return as in my humble opinion that is not the way to treat people, just because we was the smaller group.

Best fish and chips I have ever had. All the food is amazing. The staff are very friendly and professional. Highly recommend.

Booked here for the first time & enjoyed how the menu looked. We booked for the pagoda but was moved into the restaurant due to weather. We weren’t seated in the restaurant but the games room amongst a huge amount of noise. We asked to move due to it. Our servers were really lovely but the food was not at all the standard I had expected from the awards given on the homepage. Burger was not seasoned at all. Really disappointing and left very quickly. Won’t be returning.

The food was very good and the staff friendly but we waited a long time for our food, too long.

Lovely pub with amazing food and service.

This is a warm, inviting local pub. We were welcomed in, and throughout our lunch, the service was excellent. The food was delicious and the menu catered for a variety of eating preferences. It was more gastro than simple pub grub and the portion sizes were good. Good value for money and I would definitely recommend to others.

Lilly and Harriet made my brother and I so welcome with their hospitality on our hike through Sussex. Great service, hospitality and food

Lovely old pub, with big garden, great for families with kids during the day. But also lots of places for people without kids. We had a nice drink in the garden and then diner in the restaurant . Great food! With a daily specials card. Compliment to the chef! The staff is very vriendly. We had a wonderful time!

Lovely place for a quiet drink and lovely atmosphere

3 of us went for Sunday dinner, we were undecided what to have until we saw the roast come out for another customer. We all had the sunday roast beef and it was amazing. Desserts were lovely and service was great

Character pub (low ceilings), with excellent food. We had two starters each, three of which were superb, with a total bill of £66 including wine [good value wine list, btw]. They also provide generous quantities of real French baguette bread. Two starters each were more...

Popped in on the off-chance and had the most fantastic meal (so good I stopped taking photos!). Lovely staff, fab food, nice vibe/mix and close to Bodiam Castle

First time here and the food and service was excellent. Roast dinner option was fabulous.

Fantastic Pub food 8.4/10 Outside doesn't look amazing but you go inside and you're welcomed by a lovely classic English pub. Low ceilings, small rooms, fireplaces, lovely artwork that you can buy etc. Service was a little slow but they were very busy. Roast was...

I went for lunch recently and had not been there before. The decor and atmosphere was good when we arrived and service was prompt and attentive. I had fish and chips but it was superb and my friend had a very delicious juicy burger. The...

Excellent food and wonderful service. Charlie was a superb host and made us feel very relaxed, helping us with all our questions and accommodating certain food allergies. He was so funny and made us feel as if we had always known him and the 8...

The food was very good and bar staff were very accommodating with gluten free request. The staff were kind and attentive. Unfortunately we were overcharged on our bill. This was a genuine mistake but not a small sum and meant a trip back to the pub the next day. Our waitress seemed inexperienced at taking orders. We were given the wrong wine, which also cost us more. They also tried to take a starter away when we were still clearly eating. We felt rushed. It was a shame as the pub is nice, and service was well intended and bar staff overseeing our table were very friendly and offered a free drink for my birthday.

Amazing staff and service, the food is out of this world.. A must be list

Wir hatten einen Tisch in Voraus bestellt. Die Reservierung klappte reibungslos. Die Gaststätte war sehr gut besucht. Der Service war...

Went yesterday for dinner with the family. We waited for the starter more than an hour, same waiting for the kids menu. The waitress showered my son with a large pint of beer, and instead than apologise she gave him a kitchen towel and suggest...