The Beacon

We had an excellent overnight stay at the Beacon. The room (Burdock) was comfortable and well furnished with plenty of nice extra touches, we especially liked the homemade cordial in the fridge. Breakfast in the morning was lovely on the terrace although service was slow (I think they forgot about our order!). Lost a star because the restaurant isn't very vegan friendly, I was told by one member of staff that meals could be adapted to be made vegan, but when I tried to order told no...

An Absolutely Stunning Stay! We had the most incredible experience at this hotel! The staff were absolutely lovely—friendly, attentive, and always ready to help with a smile. The entire place was spotlessly clean, making my stay even more comfortable. The location is breathtaking, perched on top of a hill with the most stunning views you can imagine. Waking up to such a spectacular landscape was truly unforgettable. This hotel is a perfect mix of comfort, beauty, and excellent service. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a peaceful and luxurious getaway!

What can I say! Perfect. I took my partner away for her 30th and they treated us like kings & queens, staff we're genuine, kind, polite and very approachable. Chole helped my partner and I got shown and explained the whole building and all locations, while carrying luggage what an absolute star! The room and everything was stunning, comfortable and homely. The following morning we got greeted by a strapping distinguished gentleman simon, who is a credit to the team, he went far beyond to give us a welcoming and enthusiastic start to our day. Overall superb service very very happy indeed, loved every second thank you and we shall be back.

Absolutely appalling experience. My partner and I visited in advance to arrange a gathering of 15–30 people, as he was running 50km for charity and we planned to celebrate with friends and supporters afterward. The staff assured us that, while they don’t take bookings for groups that size, we were welcome to show up on the day. We later received a call from a member of staff who said that if the weather was good, space might be limited, but they would do their best to accommodate us. What actually happened was incredibly disappointing. After my partner completed his charity run, we arrived with our group, only to be met by an aggressively rude man who treated us appallingly. There was space available indoors, and we were initially told we could sit there, only to be told moments later that we weren’t even allowed to have a single drink before being pushed out to the car park. After making the effort to communicate clearly and in good faith—twice—this treatment was nothing short of shocking. As locals who have visited many times, we were shocked and deeply disappointed to be treated with such hostility. We will be warning others to steer clear of this place. Reply to your response - Thank you for your response. However, we would like to clarify a few points. When we initially reached out, we inquired about booking a space and were informed that reservations were not accepted. At no time were we told that we would be unable to attend if we arrived on the day. In fact, during our first conversation, we were assured that we would be more than welcome to come along. On a subsequent call, we were advised that it might be challenging to find space if the outdoor area was busy, but again, we were reassured that we would still be welcomed and accommodated as best as possible. Had we been informed—or even given the impression—that we might not be able to attend, we would have made alternative arrangements, especially considering we contacted you two to three weeks in advance. We were willing to sit indoors, but were shortly after told we had to leave. There was clearly a serious miscommunication among your staff.

This is for the restaurant only. The food is seriously overrated and completely overpriced. What a sad experience! We decided to celebrate a birthday there due to positive online reviews, but at this price point, the meal was the most disappointing we've ever had. The burger comes as a pathetic little dry piece of meat stuck between a burnt bun. No chips or anything, for this you have to pay extra. Actually, you'll have to pay for extra sides to accompany your main. They are priced as a great quality restaurant, but what you get is mediocre food. We decided to cut it short and didn't even order dessert. They brought a slice of cake with a candle on it as a birthday freebie, which was nice but sadly uninteresting and forgettable. Never again - the whole experience was laughable. The views are wonderful though.

We couldn't believe how stunning the building and views were as we drove into the car park and then saw the beautiful lily pond as we walked upto the main entrance. I had booked a special birthday treat for my mum's 80th and as it was a tuesday we were in the garden bar restaurant. They had thought of every detail and our table looked out over the valley with uniterrupted views. We all really enjoyed our meal and cocktails. They made a delicious birthday cake of my mum's favourite flavours at my request and put some candles on, so everyone sang happy birthday as they bought it out. It is a very secluded place, so if you like somewhere that is quiet, beautifully decorated, delicious food with stunning views and gardens then I don't think you will be disappointed.

If you are able, you must treat yourself to a stay in the Summer House at the Beacon. The private suite overlooks a breathtaking vista, with complete privacy. The bathroom features a soaking tub and jacuzzi that's outside on a deck with a roof and a fireplace. The whole staff is amazing, ready with everything you might need, along with stories about the history of the building and how they found their wines. We'll remember our stay forever.

Amazing food, amazing service, wonderful building and sensational views. Loved it so much already went back the following week and will definitely be visiting again.

If you are looking for a pub that's just that little bit more special, and consequently a touch pricey, go to The Beacon. It has long been a favourite of mine for Birthday dinner and drinks. If said Birthday happens to fall in Summer then it's even more perfect as there is a beautiful terrace garden that has the vantage point of being perched on a hill that overlooks the whole of Tunbridge Wells. The perks of this view are not restricted to the Summer Sunset, spending a Bonfire Night at the Beacon is an amazing experience as you look out onto a night sky full of fireworks from the town below. The building is beautiful, the food splendid and the view grand. I have been with groups of friends and family and never experienced any child phobia. There is a large grassy area, albeit a bit of a slope, if youngsters want to run around, but no play area is provided. It also has its own car park so no worries there for the designated driver.

Should you ever find yourself in Turnbridge Wells, beware the man in the top hat and outmoded monocle. He IS not the Monopoly man, despite his good charm and offers of free parking. Don't be fooled by his casual grace. He is a crook and a deviant of the highest order. With his quick feet and a mean set of alligator arms, he's a force to be reckoned with. The shark sauntered in while my brother and I were devouring bacon rolls (which were delicious) and pints in the darkest corner of the pub. Having spent the past hour frantically calculating the exchange rate, we were exhausted by elemental math and decided to throw caution to the wind. No amount of savings was worth this aggravation. Money is money...right? Fat and drunk is how we expected the evening to end, bank accounts be damned. Without even so much as a greeting, the scoundrel sidled right into our booth. Several quick platitudes later (which we could barely decipher through his garbled accent...English? Not any English that I've ever heard) and he was ordering food & drink like a man possessed. As his tab grew exponentially, so did our excitement. Dressed well, affecting a posh accent, and pontificating on his various business ventures, we were all but certain that our tab was paid. His temperament was even relaxed enough to bear the brunt of several jokes about his mangled teeth. Dear Diary...Jackpot! Our attitudes grew lofty and so did our ordering habits. I'm fairly certain we sampled everything on the menu. I excused myself to use the water closet as the Monopoly man slipped away from our table, slammed the door, and scampered off into the fog-laden evening. I can't be certain, but I'm pretty sure we heard a faint, girlish giggle as the sound of dainty footsteps echoed down the alley. Inebriated, distended, and lethargic, I approached the bartender to inquire about our bill. He shrugged, I shrugged... "What was that?" I asked. He said, "That was £220." "What about the Monopoly guy? Surely he picked up the tab...what with his dapper attire, wanton ordering style, and his stories of fortune." The tender replied simply, "No such luck my kind Yankee. Cornwallis' Revenge strikes again."

What a lovely place. Really attractive. Went to see a small gig here on Monday in a side room but the bar/restaurant was comfortable, classy and friendly. Loads of antique radios are on display for some reason or another and they have a popular dining area too. I bet Sunday lunch here would be ace!!! Oh yes, the views. Possibly the best in Kent - they look south to the Weald & are wonderful. Five stars absolutely deserved.

Very good food, lovely staff, fireplace on, beautiful view and charmig decor. Overall great find. Will go back when in the area again. The experience was hassle free and felt like a proper, relaxibg weekend lunch.

A great place to stop for drinks or diner on the panoramic view terrace. Owners are very friendly. Also consider staying here for a night or 2 if you want to escape from London but don't want to travel 100s of miles. The rooms are very spacious and charming and you'll get that quiet and quaint feel of a great country inn. The grounds are also worth exploring.

Absolutely wonderful position, with lovely terraces where you can sit and enjoy the view. Beautiful pub, which has a restaurant and also does bar food. Plenty of space to sit and just have a drink. Also has rooms for functions, and provides a couple of rooms for accomodation. Very popular at weekends, and a favourite spot in the summer. They do all sort of other things..sunday breakfast I believe, folk nights ..certainly worth a visit if only to admire the view. Car park can be busy but you can park along tea garden lane. The grounds are the Old Victorian Tea Gardens which are being restored.

Lovely Views..Humm feel i need something else though, The Beacon seems to dine out on its past glory, the food i find over priced and average, but look at the views.yeah i feel you need something else to excite me. The Lager is poor choice for the lager drinker, maybe the owners prefer bitter? Attended a wedding downstairs a while back and the decor seems a bit deteriorated, and the strange sort of marquee/greenhouse thing lets it down as a classy venue. There was once a wee tree house that the kids played on but thats fallen apart and the only thing stopping kids climbing it is a bit of tape that does nothing to stop an adventurous child. Come on Beacon stop living in the past and get up to date.