The best restaurants serving British food in Frant/Withyham Wealden South East

Popped in on a whim late on Friday lunchtime. Attracted fish and chips advert. A Harvey's house, so reasonably sure there'd be a good beer to wash down the f&C's. I had haddock and chips with mushy peas.(Garden peas also available) with a pint of Harvey's Sussex best bitter. I was not disappointed, the batter was crispy and cooked to perfection as was the fish within. The chips are worthy of separate mention, crisp outside soft interior, just how chips should be. Great mushy peas made the complete dish. The pint of Harvey's was beautifully kept and delicious. I sat in the garden which has plenty of seating but sadly too few people to provide an atmosphere, probably due to late arrival for lunchtime. Service was cheerful and efficient with staff eager to describe all the beers available, I was given a taste of one, Camden Pale but had my mind set on Harvey's Best. Well worth a visit if you are on the Kent/Sussex border near Tunbridge Wells.

I try to see the positive in everywhere we go unfortunately that can’t always happen. My husband and I were passing yesterday and thought we’d stop for a bite to eat. It was around 11:45am. On entering the music was on, as was the fire - unfortunately we waited by the bar for a good 5-7 minutes before a member of staff (male) approached the bar area (looking at his phone). When he finally acknowledged us, I asked if they were serving food his response was not till 12 o’clock. My husband and I looked at each other and decided it was best to go somewhere that does want our custom. So unfortunately I can’t comment on food but the service and ignorance of staff member really let it down. The building looks beautiful, such a shame we didn’t get time to experience it.

The cafe was going to be my new Sunday go-to but the onerous table number system for a single person has meant twice, in a busy period, someone has grabbed my table and the waitress hasn’t been able to locate me . Today I absentmindedly forgot a table number and whilst taking literally 3 seconds to find one nearby the lady serving let someone else jump in front of me mid way through my order. Hence when my order came I was missing a latte and when in a perfectly civil way I questioned this (maybe she had forgotten to add it?) and did I still need to pay for it, I felt her responses were quite defensive. Not very friendly service at all I’m afraid and I think I will go elsewhere in future.

DREADFUL SERVICE, INDIFFERENT EXPENSIVE FOOD, £150.00 FOR LUNCH FOR TWO (I had a Burger, my friend had the Lumb Shank) The barmaid/waitress was disagreeable, unwelcoming, and unfriendly. She charged us £15.20 for two glasses of rough house wine. The ambience was none existent; my friend and I were there from 12.10 until 2.40 only three other customers came in: a man for a swift half-pint & an elderly couple for a quick light bite.

A proper pub. The management have got this pub spot on. 10/10

A family trip on the Spa Valley railway was just going to be a trip up and down the Railway with a maybe a coffee at the return Station. However, the weather was changeable and raining at the end point, so we headed back into the sun and alighted at Groombridge for a coffee. We discovered the next train was not for 90 mins so we took a short walk from the station and soon stumbled across the Junction Inn Pub. It was now past 12:00 so we considered lunch. We stat down, perused an comprehensive menu and ordered lunch. Most of us had the Sunday roast, with Chicken and beef being the options. Our party divided equally into the two options. The food arrived within 20mins and the portions were huge. My generous beef portion was perfectly cooked to medium rare and had plenty of veg, gravy, potatoes and proper Yorkshire pudding. The chicken was basically an ½ a chicken again served with all the trimmings. Everything was very tasty and hot too. The atmosphere in the pub was relaxed and welcoming. There were plenty of reserved tables demonstrating this is a popular Sunday lunch venue, and justifiably so. So an unexpected pleasure and discovery.

I have cycled past here so very very often and never tried the cafe. I should have read the reviews on here first! I stopped for a latte and a cake and the guy working here I am sure does not drink coffee. He was so out of his depth with the coffee machine I ended up with just hot milk!! In the old adage “You only get one chance to make a good first impression” Sorry but this time you failed. Yelling at me when I left that I could not go down and look at the lake as I might upset the fishermen having earlier told me there were no fishermen was not worth debating either. In short if you fish here use the cafe, if you are passing…… Keep on passing.