The Poet in Tunbridge Wells

The warmth of the welcome was matched by every aspect of our visit to The Poet for a meal to celebrate my wife’s birthday. Each member of staff was both friendly and professional. The quality of the food was excellent and every course was a delight. We both started with an amazing veloute with mini croque monsieur and then the beef fillet which was cooked to perfection. My wife was delighted with her complimentary lemon drizzle birthday cake. We particularly enjoyed the way the restaurant provides all the wines on its quite short but well chosen wine list; each wine is available by the glass or 500ml carafe rather than a limited selection by the glass and everything else only by the bottle - why don’t other places do that?

Superb! Having eaten at some top restaurants in Kent over the past six weeks - we have to say the service and food is superb- having been coming here since 2012 - the quality of food and service is outstanding- Rosie is an Assett and Charlie great attentive - my scallops were outstanding- we will be back

Absolutely not worth the money !!!! food very average ! price well to high for the mediocre food !!! Please avoid as it is not worth the experience !

Such a nice place , the staff are great and the food is good. However it just felt overpriced and not great value for money. 4 of us for Sunday launch was £270 with a bottle of wine for 2 courses. Admittedly we opted for starters and main courses that asked for a further supplement but still it seems a lot. We wanted an extra jug of Jus but this came at a supplement too. The food itself was good but didn’t feel like with 2 courses it was worth the money.

We had a fantastic evening. From the warm welcome as soon as we entered to the friendly goodbye as we left. The food was incredible, perfect portion sizes…. So much so we only managed to eat 2 courses!! The bread, amuse bouche and petit fours were a lovely addition. The staff were all knowledgeable and there was a great atmosphere.

Food was delicious but helpings were small.We commented on this to the waitress who said that as we went for the set menu helpings were smaller than the a La Carte.Never been told that before! We will not be returning unless the size issue is addressed.

Wow what has happened to the poet, never experienced this. The food was OK but half way through our bottle of wine and after we had finished eating our main course and told them we didn't want dessert they bought the bill over to us, like they wanted us gone. Never experienced being presented with the bill without asking for it, was bizarre as we normally like to finish the evening with a G&T and a couple of cocktails, fair to say we left very quickly, we are unlikely to return which is a shame as we have been going to this restaurant since it was known as Merrelos and always loved it.

Lovely ladies on the bar today. We enjoyed a cheeky drink in the garden which has several tables and some shade! Drinks were average prices and very interesting lemonade flavours

The best restaurant for miles around. Everything about the Poet just works. The staff are fantastic, the food is delicious and eclectic and the ambience is lovely. We will be back again very soon!

I enjoyed a great mid-week lunch with my wife. We both indulged in the reasonably priced 3 course set menu (£42 a head) - the two of us trying different things each course. The Poet's menu is very seasonal so there's little benefit in describing the specifics of what we chose. All 6 of our dishes were excellent - especially the sea bass main with beurre blanc sauce and pea, bacon and broccoli fricassée. The food provided was way beyond great pub grub, it was sophisticated and elegant fine-dining cookery. The restaurant building itself is a characterful ancient pub in a pretty village, with some interesting personal touches (the bookshelf wallpaper in the toilets being one!). Although by no means inexpensive, for the quality of food, the set menu price is excellent value for money. Service was friendly, attentive and effective, with a couple of minor blips that were very swiftly rectified when raised for attention. The only suggestions that I'd make to improve the diner's experience would be some more comfortable chairs - they weren't bad, but they just could be better. My other suggestion is more a personal preference... let the chef loose on a 6-course taster menu, maybe one day a week, so that diners can experience a broader range of his delightful dishes during a meal. Matfield is quite a distance from where we live, but the food at The Poet was so good it was definitely worth the 45 minute drive - we'll certainly be making the effort again and recommending it to friends as well.

We visited for our wedding anniversary The food was excellent and staff really attentive. We will definitely be back. Hope to try the tasting menu next

We visited as a group of four and had an absolutely amazing meal. The food was off the charts and Tom, front of house had an infectious passion for food and wine which he shared with us, providing 10/10 service throughout. We were also served by Mimi who had a huge smile and was incredibly welcoming. Hands down a brilliant evening out! Thank you to The Poet - we will be back!

We went for a anniversary supper. The staff were lovely, and super attentive! They went the extra mile and brought a Happy Anniversary plate with a cake at the end of the evening. I will definitely recommend to friends. I had cod which was delicious, and my parents duck and steak. My scallops starter was fantastic! If I were to say anything negative it would be nice to have linen napkins and sharper meat knives!

Headed back to the Poet to celebrate our wedding anniversary with our daughter Welcomed by Rosie who always makes you feel you have entered Cheers where “everyone knows your name” . If every pub had a Rosie the whole industry would be resuscitated My pork belly was the best I’ve ever had and trust me I’ve had plenty. It was steak night and if you are a steak lover you won’t find better Shout out for local Abarino wine Four Daughters

Everything was perfect, super flavourful and easily the best roast I’ve had. Beautiful pub, great staff. Food was just delicious, HIGHLY recommend.

We had a fantastic meal at The Poet. The 64 degree egg starter was incredible with my husband commenting that it was the best food he can remember eating. Beautiful flavours and attention to detail. Thoroughly recommend. The staff were lovely too.

Lovely meal at the Poet on Mother’s Day. The waiting staff are very attentive and make sure you have anything you need. Would recommend

Fabulous Mothers Day lunch. Couldn’t fault it. Delicious roast beef followed by an assortment of deserts - wonderful. As my 4 year old Granddaughter said ten out of ten

Bitterly disappointed. Visited for a family birthday after hearing good things. The starters were fine, mains were disappointing and dessert had to be sent back as it was completely inedible. Our waiter couldn’t care less and the manager agreed to remove the service charge - minimum they could do really. £100 down the drain. Definitely won’t be returning.

Live locally and I am always depressed by the lack of good restaurants in the area. At last someone has arrived at the Poet to fill that gap Great food, staff were young, really friendly, bright and fun whilst quietly efficient . Oak beams and low ceilings retain the old English pub ambience whilst the decor is fresh Despite being the last booking of the day (only table available) my pork belly was delicious, although I suffered food envy looking at the sea bream which apparently was equally delicious. The roast potatoes and carrots were to die for . Menu isn’t overworked but interesting. Maybe I didn’t love the curry twist with the scallops, but that’s me Loved the offering of different wine with each course . Wine list was spot on and very reasonable They definitely work hard to use local produce which I love

The food was excellent. Best risotto I had in a while (side of pork belly dish). It’s rather expensive and an old fashion pub rather than a traditional restaurant. Loved the amuse bouches. Good service. We will go back.

Went to The Poet for a birthday celebration with 4 members of my family.. What an excellent meal we had. Refined exquisite food with delicate balance of flavours and eye-pleasing presentation. Friendly efficient service, impeccable all around. Quiet table where we could hear each other in cosy privacy. We had fillet beef, cod, vegetarian tart, with an array of side dishes and condiments, absolutely superb experience for the eye and the palate. Yameh. Desserts to die for. And a considerate little birthday surprise at the end. Well worth the cost for a memorable experience, and able to compete with best London restaurants food and menus.. I will totally recommend especially for a celebrating occasion. We had a lovely lovely time. 🥰 Fabienne Delacroix

My wife and I had a gorgeous Sunday lunch at the Poet. It was a real treat and would definitely recommend. The food was top quality, lovely veg and roasties and importantly high quality meat. Great wine list with suggested pairings for each dish. Refreshingly lunch was served piping hot and on a very hot plate, which makes such a positive difference. Service was top draw - welcoming, personable, knowledgeable and efficient.

Came back for the first time in a little while. It has changed hands so it’s a a little changed - we had a great meal but it’s not quite what it was. It used to be pub that served really well-executed gastropub food, now it’s a serious restaurant located in a pub. Prices and food style reflect that. Staff were really lovely and knowledgeable and the food tasted excellent. Well chosen wine list. still a lovely feel inside the building

Nice food - strange pricing - nice staff have some constructive criticism which was received very well 🙃

This was our first trip to the Poet in a while, and it didn’t disappoint! We came for Sunday lunch and were really impressed. The staff were lovely and very helpful, and we got our drinks ordered almost immediately. The Gin cocktail was lovely! Our...

Our first time at the Poet and our first time eating out on Christmas Day and we loved it. From the minute we walked through the door the team were so welcoming, friendly and professional, it felt so cosy and Christmassy and the food was...

Had a nice night but not sure I'd recommend it to anyone which is a shame. Seeing previous reviews suggests there has been a change in the kitchen. On the plus side, the manager was very helpful and the service was good. My wife has...

We went with friends and had a nice Sunday lunch. Everything was as you would expect and we are happy to pay the premium because it’s good quality. However we were presented with a tiny jug of Jus (gravy) for four people. We asked for...

Wow, what a fantastic lunch we had for my husbands birthday. Every part of lunch was exceptional !!! A very warm welcome , service and food we're off the charts. Well done The Poet.

We celebrated my daughters birthday here last night. Delicious food, great staff. More expensive than your average pub, but it is Michelin star so you it’s what you expect. Good wine list. Friendly efficient service. Would go again. Thank you.

We have eaten here a few times, but this being the first time since change of owner. Whilst the service was 100% spot on the food was slightly lacking. My scallop starter had way too much salt, which was overpowering. My partner had the slow...

Normally absolutely love the flavours and presentation at the Poet and was really looking forward to friends' lunch However everything seemed to have changed and none for the better

Having heard varying reports of the Poet we decided to try for ourselves on a Saturday evening. From start to finish our visit was wonderful and though more expensive than the usual country pub, it is not your usual country pub. Tom the manager was...

Disappointing… no way near as good as previous We always go for Sunday lunch, very disappointed with the new menu, 3 items you had to pay supplement …. Take it off the menu and add previous choices, and portions have shrunk! Used to be 2...

The Poet used to be our "go to" for a reliably great dinner and experience. Saldy after our dinner we won't be going again. We used to get such a warm welcome and from start to finish we felt we were being looked after by...

The Poet continues to deserve its reputation as one of the top pub restaurants in Kent. The new Manager, Tom gave us a warm welcome and we were pleased to find that the rustic décor and style of food has not changed and is still...

My wife and I came here a couple of weeks ago during steak night although I called up to make sure the normal menu was still still available as my wife is a vegetarian. I had scollops, which was ok. Nothing special, for £20 something...

Amazing service just the filet of beef I had for a main course should have come with a magnifying glass.the pudding was equally as disappointing.

This was a ridiculously overpriced night out. Very pretentious menu, far too much for a village pub. the waiter also didn’t make us aware that they only stock local gins, he waited til we’d ordered rather than advising in the first instance. Local gins very...

Been before a few years back so booked again to meet friends. Very disappointed with the overly fussy menu which was over priced and small portions. Service was slow and inattentive. Trying too hard with the menu with way too many flavours on the plate which don’t always work together.

We hosted a dinner at The Poet with a group of friends. The evening was an amazing success, the food was fantastic, the wine pairing excellent and the service faultless. Tom, Lee, Fin, Cameron and everyone really went the extra mile to make a special evening exceptional. We have been regular visitors to The Poet for many years, actually 30 years if we include its previous guises of Morello's and The Standing Cross. During this time we have seen a few changes, some good, some less so. We really enjoyed the restaurant when Andy and Petrus owned it so were very upset when told they were selling up and moving on. We needn't have worried, Tom and Lee have moved the standards even higher with a varied menu and more extensive wine list. Tom is front of house, has great attitude a good taste in music and a scarily good knowledge of wine and Whisky. Lee is chef and just creates the most amazing food. Back soon

We found it wasn't quite up to the same standard as the original 'Poet at Matfield'. The menu was interesting and has a similar style of food but some of the finesse was missing both in the food and service. Staff need better training on menu ingredients and drinks. Staff took a long time to welcome and seat us - we were left standing unacknowledged at the bar for a long time. Our waitress kept forgetting our order and came back after each interaction to double check and one of my party was asked if they wanted a half-pint or pint of Scotch and coke! The sommelier was fantastic. We will probably return at some point but it's no longer our default.

OUTSTANDING! 9.8/10 The best food I've had all year. A wonderful setting in a cosy pub, lovely wallpaper, decor, ambience. Service was absolutely amazing, our waitress had great knowledge of the menu and was so helpful and informative. The food and drinks came out at the perfect time everytime. Lovely complimentary amuse-bouche and petit fours. Had the scallop risotto to start which was such a lovely starter. For mains... lamb dish and the Fillet Mignon dish. Both were sublime. Amazing variety of flavours that complement each other on the plate some of which blew my taste buds away! Delicious selection of wines too. Best restaurant I've been to all year - no wonder it's recommended on the Michelin guide. Expect high prices as the quality of food, drink and service is outstanding. £195 for 1 starter 2 mains 1 dessert including tip and the complimentary bits, carafe of rosé and large glass of red, 1 cocktail and 1 amaretto.

Three of us had booked a Sunday lunch and sadly I had to return my starter to the kitchen. We waited for ages for somebody in authority to come and deal with my complaint and suddenly the main course arrived, yet nobody mentioned my disappointing first course The main course also had poor contents as the broccoli was almost raw and the Yorkshire puddings were so hard, we could not cut into them. Two slices of roast beef smacked of portion control. For the price they were asking and the promises on their website of them being passionate about their food and that they offered a refined dining experience we suffered lack lustre service at its worst and a very disappointing dining experience.

Fabulous food, excellent service and visited probably over 50 times and never had disappointing experience. Highly recommend and keep up the great food.

The set-price lunch is very good value - high quality food, beautifully presented. One of the starters did not quite work and those who ordered it were not charged. The server told us that they would prefer honest feedback so that they know when something...

Can I just say what a fantastic place. From the moment you walk through the door to the point when you pay the bill you are treated to amazing food service and atmosphere! Absolutely spot on! Thank you

Amazing staff who were attentive from beginning to end. Absolutely faultless service. The food was beautiful and so tasty. The asparagus was so fresh. The pork belly main was again perfect. Finished with the cheese board. The crackers that went with the cheese were so...

We booked a table for our fourth wedding anniversary and was not disappointed! Amazing food and wonderful friendly service. Thank you for our anniversary well wishes too, what a lovely touch 😊 we will be back!

Das Poet ist hervorragend. Das Serviceteam von Tom macht einen hervorragenden Job und treffen immer den richtigen Ton. Sie sind...

Popped in at opening time to be warmly greeted by two friendly, efficient servers. We were directed to a nice garden and enjoyed refreshing drinks in the shade. Easy parking pretty venue, central Matfield. Give this place a whirl.

The Poet is a gastro pub with aspirations but it manages to stay friendly and down to earth ie there are locals having after work pints, which is as it should be. Also they offer various steak nights, fish nights etc. All of this is...

I was staying in the area, on a pottery course. All the local attendees told me to go to The Poet for stunning food in a relaxed setting. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. The food was absolutely mouth-wateringly delicious, creatively presented and perfectly cooked....

We should have looked at the reviews on OPENTABLE when we booked. Our experience is mirrored by many customers on that website whereas here on trip advisor they are mainly positive, unlike our experience. Certainly would not return or recommend

Made to feel like we weren’t any trouble. Food was sublime. Tom and the team were lovely, knowledge was impeccable. Would recommend to anyone that reads this. Worth every penny.

Tom von Haacke and Lee Adams are two names to keep an eye on if you are a restaurant fan. Since they took over The Poet at Matfield in early 2023, the food and service is on top form. Then again, I suppose that is...

I have been to the Poet many times before and while the food has always been good, the sight of a senior member of staff dressing down a new one in clear sight of the diners, on more than one occasion always rankled, clearly there...

The whole experience was second to none. The food, the wine and the atmosphere - all were excellent. The people serving were attentive and were so helpful. I would thoroughly recommend The Poet.

What an incredible restaurant. Fab greeting from the barman on entry and superb staff. The service was exceptional. The Mother’s Day set menu was very good and 2 of us chose a starter of pork cheek and the other a spicy fish cake. We had...

We have been to The Poet many times and have always been impressed. However this time, although the service was excellent and the atmosphere very enjoyable, we thought that the increased pricing recently is over done for what it is. The pork belly was very...

We are worldwide dinners and frequent Michelin star restaurants , We feel we are so lucky that The poet is local to us and we can dine there often , We are amazed that the whole team from the kitchen to the Table have mastered...

My wife and I went to the Poet for Sunday lunch, we were a table of 5. We received a lovely warm welcome and we’re shown to our table by Megan and Poppy served us our food. I had pork cheek for starter and beef...

Always has been wonderful, but actually think the standard has gone up. Their set menu is amazing, only Tues to Thurs but awesome value. All the dishes have been impeccably put together, beautiful and delicious. Do not miss out on this restaurant, there isnt better...

Birthday lunch looking for something special and this was just the ticket. From the moment we walked in the door the atmosphere was warm and friendly. The meal was beautifully presented and delivered with knowledge and friendliness. This was quality dining and worth the extra...

A wonderful meal this evening for my husband's birthday. Just exceptional food, the quality of the presentation and cooking is a joy to see and eat. A wonderful team with front of house complimenting the food. Thank you, we will be back again.

The food was delicious. The menu is not extensive and contains unusual ingredients so be prepared for suprises. All dishes are beautifully cooked and presented. We visited to celebrate a family members birthday who was presented with an extra birthday dessert by the staff at...

We have visited the Poet several times and it never disappoints. Last night we enjoyed a fantastic meal as usual.Wine food and staff were excellent.

We couldn’t fault the service or food it was exceptional, but we found it really odd when we tried to pay with cash and they wouldn’t accept it until we said that is all we have on us. We have been to restaurants all over...

I really don't mind paying good money for good food but I get very cross when I am charged a lot of my hard earned money for poorly cooked food and sadly was the case here. The starter

We were really looking forward to our visit here as the reviews are excellent. We were disappointed. The pub itself is cosy, traditional in the main, with the obligatory checked soft furnishings as a nod to modernity. Staff were welcoming and friendly and it looked...

It was our Wedding Anniversary and we wanted to go somewhere special. The whole meal was melt in the mouth amazing. The staff treated us like Royalty. My duck was delicious and my husband’s lamb, just the right amount of pink. I was particularly impressed...

Its not often that every aspect of a restaurant is exceptional and comes together seamlessly to deliver a truly memorable experience. Our dinner started with a warm welcome from the charming manager. His knowledge of spirits, and gins in particular (60 off) was encyclopaedic. We...

We chose to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary at The Poet and we are so glad we did! It was our first visit and we had no idea what to expect but hoped it would be something a bit special and special it certainly was....

We came to The Poet a few weeks ago for a Saturday lunchtime meal. We had our dog with us and we had a very nice table at the front of the restaurant. Staff looked after us (and pup!) amazingly. Food and wine was lovely...

So if in these days of austerity £100 a head frightens you (it does me, rather!), stop reading now. There are other nice places nearby, more affordable. If you can afford it, however, this place is remarkable. The cooking style is original and distinctive; you...

We were a group of 4 and all got terrible food poisoning from the grilled mackerel starter. This could have been very dangerous for my baby, very disappointing after being so careful to only eat foods safe for pregnant women to get food poisoning from...

Took a friend to celebrate his 70th. Wonderful experience from the moment we entered to the moment we left. Happy they had the fillet steak as previous visit it was not available. Staff very pleasant and efficient. My favourite food in the area

Wonderful lunch for wifey and I. Venue, staff and food all exceeded our expectations. The food in particular was a gastronomic delight.

I've never liked steak or understood what the fuss was about but my dining experience at the Poet in Matfield has changed my mind completely. The food was sensational, the atmosphere cosy and the waiting staff excellent. A wonderful night!

I tried to book a table 3 weeks in advance by ringing during their opening times but there was no answer. I left a message on the answer machine for them to call me back as instructed and heard nothing. Poor.

Superb food atmosphere and service - we went for our anniversary and we were treated fabulously the entire time. The device from when we went in to when we left was exemplary. From the moment we were greeted we knew we had made a good...

My husband and I booked The Poet for our 10 year wedding anniversary last night and we had the best time. This was our second visit and we didn't think it could surpass the first, but it did. On arrival we we gifted a glass...

From being greeted at the door with a smile, this beautiful building, food and staff did not disappoint. Top class ingredients, wonderful, tasty food and highly professional staff made our visit absolutely delightful. The food is beautifully presented, with little 'nibbles' in between courses which...

Had heard great things about the poet. Fantastic quality food, fantastic wine selection. Think maybe some dishes are overly complicated with a lot of flavors. Cracked serving dishes which was changed immediately. I would say, over all, just a couple of details - that might...

We were expecting an exceptional dining experience, having been recommended to this place. Having booked 4 months in advance, it would have been reasonable to expect a good table in one of the dining areas, not a tiny table for 2 right next to the...

The starters were fantastic. The roast lamb was disappointing. It has been cooked and stripped off the bone and pressed in to a what looked like a puck of meat. It looked bit like cat food. The vegetables were great the roast potatoes were okay,...

Tried to book a table was put off by the rude unhelpful staff. Decided to book elsewhere. Won't be booking again.

Amazing experience with sublime food and I really enjoy the atmosphere in the pub. We came in for a birthday and overall was great

Another wonderful Sunday lunch. Fantastic tomato and whipped truffle feta starter followed by yummy pork with great cauliflower cheese, yorkie and roast potatoes. All wines can be by the glass. Too full for dessert!

This is our favourite restaurant, given its high quality food, great service and convenience for where we live. We love the attentive staff and high quality food, with an extensive wine selection. No doubt the food is good enough for a Michelin star, it is...

We had a special birthday event at the Poet and it was wonderful. The food was so innovative with the most amazing flavour combinations. With every bite there was a new subtle surprise in the mouth. The slow cooked pork cheek starter just melted in...

We had a delicious lunch here with elderly relatives, who gamely ate the salmon and kimchi starter which was a little spicier than they expected! We stuck to the set lunch menu, which didn't offer a great deal of choice, but between us we tried...

Having read the reviews we had high hopes for an enjoyable meal. The first thing I noticed was the music I thought it had been left on prior to service beginning but a very odd mix of 80s and 90s pop played throughout the meal....

This has been the best Sunday roast lunch we have eaten. The starters were light and delightful with smashing flavours: salmon tartare with salad and an egg with mushrooms veloute. We both had roast beef with roast pots, cauliflower cheese, carrots and mixed green veg...

10/10. Incredible food and service. We enjoyed every minute! The gin selection was amazing. I will definitely be back!

First and last time at this restaurant. The menu was very limited but with a main course costing £32 I had high hopes. The starter was nice and although small was what you’d expect. As a main I ordered the lamb and got one small...

Superb food in a very attractive pub with comfortable seating. The Salmon Tataki starter was delicious, as were the fishcakes and fish and chips. With beer, wine and coffee the bill came to £114.44, including a 10% service charge.

Quite simply superb. Very creative cooking, excellent service and a lovely atmosphere. Our table of four had a great time and we will definitely return

We are not locals but had been wanting to try this restaurant out for a long time and boy was it worth it! From the moment you entered the door the service was excellent. We were greeted by both members of staff Andy and Jessica...