The Beacon

Will be back! A birthday dinner/lunch that didn’t happen. We had planned a special birthday dinner at The Beacon and were looking forward to an evening celebration. Due to water issues affecting the city, the team kindly contacted us in advance and suggested we come earlier, so we shifted our reservation to a late lunch. On arrival, any hint of inconvenience melted away. The sweeping views, even in winter’s fog, were breathtaking, soft, muted, and utterly beautiful. The gardens below felt serene, and the welcome into the Garden Restaurant was warm and genuine. We were seated at a lovely table overlooking the landscape, and the menu alone was enough to make us excited for the meal ahead.Then (Mr) Zac approached us with sincere apologies to explain that the water supply had been cut off earlier, and they would be unable to serve lunch after all. It was disappointing, of course, especially on a birthday, but the way the team handled it made all the difference. We were still offered a taste of their delicious Brut and generous olives before heading off to continue our celebration elsewhere. Despite the circumstances, we left with nothing but appreciation for the kindness, professionalism, and thoughtful service shown throughout. We will absolutely be back, the setting, the welcome, and the care from the staff were faultless.

Perfect, couldn’t have been any better. Beautiful location. Made mine and my partner’s anniversary even more special. Warmly greeted, upgraded our room to the beautiful spindleberry room. Provided a lovely note with complementary brownies and glasses of champagne. Lovely service in the morning for breakfast and great food. All the amenities we needed and felt like a luxurious stay with amazing service. Would 100% recommend to a friend and will be back.

We stayed here again at the start of January, and can, yet again, thoroughly recommend it. There are numerous positives and a few of them are - it's a charming old house, it has two wonderful (very different restaurants), our bedroom was very comfortable and attractive (excellent quality furnishings, very good shower, delicious frangipane tarts left out and fresh milk in the fridge). However the two most important positives about the Beacon are the truly fabulous views and the exceptional, charming, helpful staff.

Really nice place. Feels cosy during autumn time. The views is amazing! The food is really tasty and coffee is good. Went for breakfast on Sunday and wasnt too busy before 10am. Dogs are allowed but be aware the sapce is a bit small so if others dogs are around, you might close to other tables and dogs. There are seats inside and outside. In winter it must feel nice with the fire on.

Absolutely dismal restaurant experience. We were served what looked like leftovers after a busy day in the kitchen. Food was so poor and tiny, we had to keep ordering just to have enough to eat. This was our family Christmas treat and it was embarrassing. We are loyal guests and deserve better. On a positive note, staff is charming as always.

I had the most wonderful afternoon tea at The Beacon in Tunbridge Wells to celebrate a friend’s birthday today. Everything was just spot on – the food was absolutely fabulous, beautifully presented with so much attention to detail, and every bite was delicious. The staff were so friendly and attentive, and a special mention to Simon, who looked after our table – nothing was too much trouble, and he really made the whole experience feel extra special. The setting is simply stunning – such a gorgeous place to sit back, relax and enjoy the afternoon. It honestly felt like such a treat from start to finish. Definitely 5-star service all the way, and I can’t wait to go back!

I dined with you last Friday, and have to say I was disappointed with the food. I must admit I had to have food without salt due to medical reasons, which is why I had the Bavette steak, I couldn't have the Cafe de Paris butter, but was told the butter made up an integral part of the dish so was offered a peppercorn sauce. When the dish arrived I literally had a small piece of steak, maybe 150-200g and a small pot of the sauce. No veg, no chips nothing for £28 when it isn't even an expensive steak cut. I had the chocolate mousse to follow, but it wasn't a mousse, it was hard, solid lump of a ganache type thing. The service was good and I was made a special non alcoholic cocktail that was lovely. There were mistakes on the bill which were rectified once pointed out.

Took my parents here for their 55th wedding anniversary and it was perfect. Views fabulous, setting gorgeous (noted all the little table arrangement bits they did to make it seem more luxury) and the food was tasty. The bill was reasonable and staff were lovely. Thank you.

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.

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.

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.

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.