The High Rocks, Tunbridge Wells

From the outside this place looks great. Ivy, thatch.
That's the positives covered.

The bar staff have between them, only the very thinnest notion of how to be polite, and complicated orders like 2 pints of beer and a coke, could easily bring out the worst in them.

It was warm sunny day when we dropped in, and perhaps we should have known better when there were plenty of seats available outside.

But if dangling on ropes and climbing on the famous High Rocks opposite doesn't get you adrenaline running, why not order some food here?

We ordered burgers that described themselves on the 'grubby' menu as well done, that we were neither well done, nor in fact fully cooked, was therefore a little disappointing.

Infact were they any closer to being uncooked, they could have probably made a dash for freedom themselves. We would have been tempted to join them, whad we not just paid through the nose.

A request to stem the bleeding by applying a little more heat, was met by another grunt and at a best guess 20 seconds in a microwave.

For whilst great efforts are made to make the place look nice, even to the extent of dressing the 'waiter' in a special waistcoat, what's the point if you can't deliver even the most basic of service.

It seems such a shame that given the location, the wonderful building and a captive audience that opportunity to make a great pub is so utterly wasted.

15 Jun 2009 13:13