The Old Fire Station in Tonbridge and Malling

Absolutely love this place I think it’s so important to support local business rather than the larger chains we see in our town. I love the coffee and embrace the amazing feel and atmosphere of this awesome place. Well done for getting so much right and really helping the community. A real gem.

Friendly service, but why would you serve a flat white in a small mug? It baffles me why people will do this and it is so disappointing. This place use to be great.

Great service and friendly staff What a good idea to use an old fire station and turn into a coffee house, billion loved. It will go again definitely worth a trip

Visited for a takeaway recently and was disappointed to be served by a guy with no mask. My husband had same experience the previous week. I know service takes place at the door but food/drink are being handled and precautions should be taken.

Heard good things but unfortunately on the day we visited we ordered 3 hot drinks with a burger and panini. The drinks came out promptly but was left waiting about 30mins for the food to come out by which time we had long finished our drinks and hungrier than ever, putting me in a bit of a mood. I cannot see what was taking so long so don’t think I’ll jump at the chance of a revisit!?! Sorry

This is a lively buzzy place and the food is good,as are the drinks. However perhaps visit elsewhere if there is a vegetarian / vegan in your group since there are only tokenistic offerings for them here .

I live in Tonbridge and I often enjoy local cafes for lunch/snack/drink. This was only my second time at TOFS since 65mm left and Ben Sulston was brought in instead. The first time I went was some time after they 're-branded'. First impression? I did not feel welcome at all. A few months have passed and I visited again just a few days ago. No change. So what is the problem? Having worked in hospitality, I do appreciate how much harder the job is than it seems, honestly. But I also know that it is really not that difficult to smile, greet and make your patron feel welcome. Staff A at TOFS look like they have better things to do, but are forced to be at work. This is the same at a) point of entry; b) at ordering; c) at food service. I am not sure when I decide to visit again. There are a few other places in town, where I feel a lot more comfortable. Having said that, I like the food and I think that Ben is a talented and creative chef. When I visited last I had a Moroccan soup which blew my mind.

Sam and Ben and the team produce fantastic locally sourced food in an amazing environment.Engages with all members of our Town.Support the local community in real charity events.If you come too our beautiful town even for 20 minutes this a place you really need to experience.

I think it’s fantastic that Ben has stepped in to cook at this venue - the setting is different and the food never disappoints. He has a true flair for matching up foods and creating great flavours. Coffee is super too and the staff very friendly.

Love this place ! Met my friend for a catch up , 8 :30 just for coffee but ended up having mushrooms on toast , gorgeous . Reasonably priced . And lovely lattes . Thank you

We choose this place for a late breakfast and were we glad we did. It is somewhat hidden off the main high street but make the effort to find it and you will not regret it. It's exterior has been left as it originally was as the fire station which definitely appeals. Once instead the layout and ambience of the place is really good. As much as they can they have left the original interior of the fire station in place with lots of pictures and items relating back to the history of the building. Because of the high ceiling it has a great feeling of openness and first impressions are very good. We visited on a Sunday morning and the places was buzzing with a great mixture of people and groups enjoying the food and drink. The breakfast menu is very good and food excellent too, service was good and considering they were busy the food arrived very promptly. We were also very impressed with the array of activities they run from this site. On an enormous blackboard on the wall there are listed as well as menu specials up and coming events of very differing styles and content. Unfortunately we were visiting whilst on holiday, otherwise I'm sure we would be regular visitors.

An amazing space, but sadly not a good service and very small portions. No lunch menu even at meeting at 1pm, the brunch was small and somewhat undercooked. I ordered a drink which didn’t arrive, when I asked for it I was send a confrontational manager who brought me my friends receipts as her proof I was attempting to steal a coffee..... which was really uncomfortable. She did later come out with my drink and apologise. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend unless you are just stopping alone for a coffee. The coffee is great.

We was out for a ride on our motorbikes and decided to stop here for a late brunch. Ample parking in the council run car park around the corner. Lovely warm welcome from the guys. Plenty of tables, we opted to share a table with some other customers, such a nice atmosphere. Service was good and efficient, staff were very friendly. The food was excellent. The quality is superb. Very good locally sourced sausages, bacon and delicious black pudding. All of which was perfectly prepared and presented. We will definitely return.

Stamattina siamo andati a prendere un caffè in quanto il posto ci era stato consigliato da degli amici. Il personale veramente gentile ma comunque lo sconsiglio agli italiani e a chi ama l’espresso. Più che caffè sembrava acqua sporca con veleno! Il peggior caffè bevuto in Gran Bretagna.

We used to meet regularly at TOFS for coffee and cake or a bite to eat. It was a great venue, staff were very welcoming and the selection of cakes was great. We went just after it re-opened with staff- there was no food being served (as apparently there was an issue with their suppliers) and the few cakes/pastries on offer were stale or dry. We thought we would give it a second chance- everyone has teething problems- sadly today wasn't an improvement. Yes they were serving food but only a breakfast menu- I asked about their lunch menu but was informed that the breakfast menu was it...the service isn't friendly, there's a lack of charisma which always existed with the previous staff. Odd things too like serving milk in a shot glass- really impractical for pouring milk into a tea...unless this is some new quirky way of drinking tea? Sadly we won't be returning- we were a group of 7 who were always happy to soend money but now we will go elsewhere- plenty of other coffee/food places in Tonbridge. A shame as it really was a gem..

I use the old fire station once a week regularly before walking my dog on the racecouse sports ground.A few weeks ago it was closed for 2 weeks.When it reopened a fried food counter had been fitted and all the staff were different.Service was poor with tardy staff who couldn't ever bother to supply a saucer or inquire whether I required sugar or anything else.The coffee was cold and lacking flavour. New owners? However today I found the original staff in another cafe ! 65mm cafe in river walk.Excellent coffee ,friendly service SAUCERS and SUGAR available.HIghly recommended clean establishment. DON'T BOTHER WITH TOFS.

Tonbridge's answer to Central Perk, though without the big sofa. Great coffee, really nice food, relaxed but thoroughly modern vibe, diverse crowd from mums with babies and dog walkers to business lunchers and hipsters (not that Tonbridge has many, but they'd come if it did...). Bacon and eggs, avocado on sourdough toast, Vegan bagel (I ask for smoked salmon on mine) all superb. If you want someone to rush and fawn over you then it's maybe not the right place but if you want someone to make your coffee who actually cares you can do a lot worse at Starbucks down the road. Open in the evening for drinks and special events including pop-ups, haven't tried that yet but plan to.

It’s been a while since my first visit. I walked in to a packed out room, very warm!Went to the counter to order. No one greeted me for a while, started wondering if I should have sat down first. Ordered at the till with a young boy. Being Sunday, I guess a lot of weekend staff were in, which was great as the tables were being cleared quickly. That’s about the only up side to my visit.Ordered a latte- soya latte due to allergies. + 50p for soya milk.. £3.20 for a coffee.. okay, I’ve seen the coffees going out, looked good, don’t mind paying that. After around 10 minutes my latte was brought over to my table. Plain latte- very weak looking. Thick foam on top.. didn’t look anything like any other coffee being sent out.. now, I’m expecting a reply to say how hard it is to work with soya milk and milk alternatives. Yes it is a little different, but it’s not hard! I myself am a barista, looking for the best coffee shops is what I do. Would have liked to take a cake too, but nothing in the display counter was labelled or priced so I skipped that..

Lovely friendly place for lunch or tea and cake and a catch up with friends. They do excellent cheese toasties. Nice big ta les so you are not on top of everyone else.

This spacious, friendly cafe is a great place to share excellent coffee and cakes with family and friends. On our first visit recently, my daughter, her baby and I were met with a sunny welcome from the OFS’s helpful staff on what was otherwise a wet, overcast day. We are planning to go back and would definitely recommend this cafe to others.

We were lucky enough to bag tickets for Ben Sulston’s pop up event, and we can see why these TOFS events have become so popular! There was a fantastic, friendly atmosphere from the very start, and eating a top restaurant standard dessert under the fairy lights was the highlight of our evening.

Staff are so friendly. The smashed avocado on sourdough is huge and delicious. The vegan bagel isn't great though. The coffee is excellent. Cakes are good. Dog friendly. Good outdoor seating area. Love this place.

Such a lovely building with many original features. The waiter and chef were so helpful when I asked for the vegan options. I chose the vegan bagel with beetroot humus and trimmings. What a delight! We've been back since, and will definitely go again.

Came across this by chance after walking through the park. As some people have suggested the menu is limited but we just stopped for coffee and cake, so it was perfect. The coffee is really good. Only disappointing thing when we visited was there wasn't anywhere to sit downstairs, as it was so busy, so we had to sit upstairs which didn't quite have the same atmosphere. Lots of memorabilia around, old photos etc retained quite a lot of character. Would definitely go back. Makes a welcome change from the soulless coffee chains.

Great place, fresh food and coffee friendly staff and dog friendly! Lovely atmosphere too, just a short walk from the park.

I have been here a few times with my other half and son. The coffee is always fantastic! You order a flat white... you get a perfect flat white (none of this latte stuff). They do a bacon and Brie baguette for breakfast which is just the best! It’s very good portion size and tastes delicious! The decor is very current but full of history and character. Ideal location to quickly pop to the shops too.

Great venue for pop up events, really good atmosphere, everyone friendly and welcoming, hopefully they will put on more events

We popped in on a Sunday morning, good to see young families enjoying themselves in this gentrified “retro” fire station. There is a choice of coffee bean for espresso lovers with roasting info and origin clearly displayed on the blackboard. Unfortunately, my Colombian tasted acidic which clouded the coffee flavour.

Such a great place to spend some time for us as our Son is In the fire service and the place looks so original with lots of memorabilia they do great scrambled egg & Bacon gorgeous croissants filled or plain and so fresh but the coffee was very small which was disappointing for the cost bigger cups please !Have been a couple of times and will certainly be back

What more can I say. Horrible-average food, inflated prices. Really didn’t like it. Menu is very limited. Atmosphere is nice I guess

Firstly I will say this is very good for family's with buggys etc. After hearing very good things I was a bit disappointed to be service wasn't particularly fast and with a limited menu I'd expect everything to be spot on, Thursday had sold out of croissants so I had a ham and emmenthal brioche which was ok. Similarly priced to other cafes in tonbridge but not as good value in my opinion.

I have been here several times with and without small grandchildren and it has always been a great success. The staff are terrific with the children, encouraging them to try on the various firemen's helmets, and the owner is very informative on the history of the building. The large, plain tables create a relaxed atmosphere in which to enjoy excellent coffee and cakes and on warm days the large doors are opened allowing the sunshine to stream in. Outside, the old horse trough has been planted with a variety of herbs which is a great opportunity for children to learn the difference between, say, sage, rosemary and thyme.

Thought we would give this place a try.How long should it take to prepare and serve two cappuccino's?Having ordered them,one was delivered to our table some ten minutes later and five minutes after that, the second one arrived!!! The quality was nothing special.The place was hardly busy and we could not work out why there was such a delay.Certainly more expensive than similar and (in our opinion) better places in Tonbridge and we will not return in a hurry.

Great place to meet, good for coffee & brunch. Tasty food, laid back atmosphere, good service. Worth a trip.

Since opening just over a year ago the Old Fire Station has had numerous events of all types and my wife and I have attended many. From gourmet evenings with prominent chefs, to cider festivals and pottery with soup evenings. A great feature is that it goes from a serious coffee shop every morning, changing to the evening event around 4-5pm.There is a good community spirit promoted inside and a picture gallery of firemen and engines of the past.We have had curries, street food, and (almost) fine dining here at different times - I'm surprised not to find it on TA already as it well worth a visit and a look round even if you don't intend having much more than a drink.I realise this review comes across as almost an advert, but I genuinely believe the Fire Station's current themes and functions to be an asset to the Tonbridge scene.