please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The session started well with a decent pint of Tonbridge Coppernob but then they turned on the canned music. The bar staff clearly liked it because the volume went up and up. It reached such a volume that I abandoned the idea of trying to tell them that our second pint, the Long Man blond was vinegary and not fit to serve. So we left and will not be back.
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Living in London, I'm only an occasional visitor to this small local in a terraced back-street just a few minutes' walk from the station. There is always a convivial atmosphere around the counter; a step leads up to an area with a high-beamed ceiling, an American jukebox, and old signs on brick walls. Part of the back yard is covered, heated, and comfortably furnished. Gracious staff serve three or four ales: the Harvey's Best was in top nick. A strong contender for the best pub in town.
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Arranged to meet a pal here after football on a Saturday evening, just before 7pm when I got here and the pub was pretty busy with several people enjoying the football on the television.
Harvey's Best was in good form here and the 3 pints I had all went down very well.
A thoroughly decent back street pub that was filling up as I left just before 9pm.
Interesting outside inside mens toilets near the front door.
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Seems every time I come here, which isn't that often as I'm not local, there's been a change of manager. No worries, the new folks are brilliant, very friendly and already getting in the swing on their first day I think, with a really good quiz night. Oh yes, the beer was damn good too - Harveys, Copperknob, and 2 Thwaites beers. Hope they're still here when I come again!!!
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Popped in for a quick pint. The staff are friendly though as a previous reviewer mentioned their mates seem to congregate around the bar a little too much. A lively pub, the Harvey's Sussex wasn't one of the best I've ever had which was disappointing as it's one of my favourite ales. Tonbridge Copperknob and Woodforde Wherry were the others available. A lively place but also cosy one.
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Went there Monday lunchtime. The beer included Tonbridge Brewry's Copperknob, Doombar and one I can't remember. Beer quality was good and the service excellent. Does no food on Mondays - chef's day off. I'm not a local but according to the guy I was with (who is) it's probably now the best pub in Tonbridge.
Very much into music in the evenings.
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Good pub. Three main drinking areas on different levels, makes it seem large, but still cosy. Good mix of people from all ages. Three ales on, all were decent enough.
Agree with posting below about people sitting at the bar & making it difficult to get served.
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Shame that there's never any space at the bar. Gormless looking locals hog the bottom end. Sweary lager swilling builder types hog the middle and at the top end, the barstaff's ever present possie of hangers-on friends and family. Other than that, pretty decent pub.
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Met the new owners last week, they held a really nice 'meet the locals night' on theire first day - they're not planning any changes which is great news so Stacey is staying, and they're going to keep Harveys Best and one of the Tonbridge Brewery brews on permanently and rotate the third cask pump. Sounds good to me
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Word of mouth prompted me to visit this place. Popped by on a Thursday night (tonight) after work- in the mindset that nowhere in Tonbridge woud be worth visiting, let alone a pub there. Was pleasantly surprised to find the pub in a quiet backstreet two minutes from the station. On arrival found three ales available - Tonbridge Coppernob, Adnams Explorer and Harveys Best. Tried all three and all were good, if a little too cold when served.
Seemed like quite a locals' pub but definitely would return if in the area, something different from the usual Shepherd Neame pubs that litter this part of Kent
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What a cracking little pub, I've visited just about every pub in town and this is far and away the best with beers in excellent condition and a lively crowd, last week we enjoyed a comedy night and a quiz night and there's live music on Tuesdays and Sundays, all great fun and Stacey is top drawer.
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I only found this pub recently, it's tucked away down a side street. A useful place to visit whilst waiting for your train as it's only a few minutes walk from the station, (and it's far better than the pub next to the station!).
A friendly lively place with a good range of ales. The Harveys Sussex was very good.
Lots of comfortable chairs, wood panelling and bare floorboards. Looking forward to my next visit.
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A very good pub, Stacey and the rest of the staff are very friendly. Pleasant environment and bar billiards too! Only downside is the live music starts a shade too early at 6pm on a Sunday when most are still in their post-prandial malaise. Top marks though.
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best pub in tonbridge
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Apart from the biggest cobweb I have ever seen I can't fault the best pub in Tonbridge (although the bogs inserted in a cavern was amusing!
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My current favourite Tonbridge pub, the P&J is is an excellent traditional public house with a good range of beers. Live acoustic music Tuesdays 9-11 and Sundays 6-8 provides an excellent opportunity to see a wide range of local talent. But it's a great place to go at any time.
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A great pub. Good ales. The live misic is fantasic with comedy nights too. An oasis in Tonbridge. Chav free.
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The P&J is a great little find.
Nice decor, pleasant atmosphere and a fab barmaid/landlady, I'm not a terribly good judge of ages these days.
Also Tonbridge Ale has to be the best bitter I have ever tasted. Really.
Can not recommend high enough.
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Great little pub. Doom bar is a must. Food good but a bit expensive. Very good bar staff. on the ball and friendly. Chav free pub willbe going back.
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love it!!!!!!! its a great pub
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A fairly nice pub, but at �12.50 for two vodka red bulls (shared can) I won't be going back. Prices like that might keep out the riff raff, but with Spoons down the road, who needs to?
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This is a nice pub full of decent people and have experienced bar staff. The music isn't really to my liking but that's just my opinion. Nice pint, and I like the spirits in 35ml as opposed to the usual 25. Good for a quiet pint in the evening or popping in after work
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Totally agree with you, kristofferson. I've been in there on several occasions after having been out on railtours various. A pub that is very close to a railway station that is not an absolute toilet - very much a rarity these days! The Harveys is always in good condition. 7/10
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Went in for a few pints after work - good atmosphere and a great pint of Harveys. They had run out of salt & vinegar crisps but they can be forgiven that. In short, a nice little boozer.
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First time I�ve been in since it changed hands. Couldn�t quite work out exactly what has been painted other than the ceiling. At least it now seems to have had the fake Irish tat removed from its walls.
Certainly had a better atmosphere than previously, with more of a crowd in. Juke box was rather too loud for my liking, although the tunes themselves weren�t too bad.
Beer (Pride) was still a bit suspect and not fantastically cheap, for what is in the end, a local boozer.
I�m surprised that with the work? done, the unnecessarily tall and badly positioned bar wasn�t moved or altered.
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What a difference a new landlord makes! Pub is now clean, warm, freshly painted and no longer smells of toilets!Was there on a tuesday night with live music playing .Great atmosphere and good beer. Highly recommended at last!
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It looks like 'coffin man' (the former landlord who staged a publicity stunt against the pub owners, Enterprise) has finally gone. The place has been partially refurbished, and the whole atmosphere has improved. Nice pint of Harveys too.
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Looks like a typical back street locals pub, but having called in there a couple of weeks back we were pleasantly surprised at the atmosphere and general friendliness of the place. It's also a lot bigger than it looks from the front. The beer is good and reasonably priced and there is a good selection of lagers and spirits also.
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The good: The beer (especially the Harvey's) has always been great whenever I've popped in. The staff have always been pretty good too.
The OK: There has been some progress on the decor with much of the faux Irish tat removed.
The bad: The gents toilets are in need of some attention - I can't help being reminded of 1970s football ground facilities...
Overall: Much better than the average in Tonbridge.
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Went in here for last orders on Friday.Staff were OK as it was fairly peaceful. Had a great pint of Harveys. Pub is in need of decorating.
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Has a very "young-looking" clientele :-)
anonymous - 26 May 2007 16:15 |
I really like this pub. Staff are friendly as is the owner/landlord. They always go the extra mile to make you feel welcome! Only slight criticism is that they often run out of things espacially on Mondays!!!
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staff are complete piss heads and if your very lucky you will get your 4th choice drink
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every time I have been here the barstaff are more drunk than the customers. I have literally had to spell out orders to have them understood here - disgraceful!
That said, it actually is quite a nice place. Very Irish with lots of nooks and crannies so you can usually have a good chat with your mates. Beer is OK but they often seem to run out of things especially early in the week.
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Nice small pub, with that cozy dark wood effect. Nice tucked away tables and an attractive bar with an old country style.
It used to have great Thai food (now at the Ivy House), but no longer, which is a shame.
The beers are the usual Kent affair, Spitfire, then the usuals.
It seems to be a locals pub primarily, but with the odd group of surley looking 30-somethings. Everyone's really friendly though.
Its got a big screen and a quiz machine. Theres a garden, but you DONT go out there.
Oh and most of the time, there's this massive Irish Wolfhound... so if you dont like stepping over dogs on your way to the toilet, then your trouble.
The toilet's are pretty bad though. Not dirty, but cold and molding.
Still, great place!
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