We had such a wonderful time learning all about the wine. Our wine guide was a delightful chap…read morecalled Will. Will is incredibly knowledgeable about the wines he introduced us to, taking us through the history of the grape / vineyard through to the flavours we should expect. We got to try six delectable wines, paired with the perfect cheese for the tasting. Oh yes! Now, don't think you're going to get enough nibbles to constitute a full meal... Also, I would suggest a late lunch if possible as you will end up fairly jolly as they have generous pours... We were trashed by the end of it bantering with Will and cracking jokes left right and centre (or at least we were in our minds). Will was happy to join in, and we hoped we left more of a good impression rather than a "thank god they're gone!" sigh of relief. The venue itself is a great size with small tables scattered around the centre table (where we were sat as a larger group of six). The decor is light, modern and filled with the chatter of happy drinkers. I also took home a bottle of my fave wine of the night. Offering 10% off purchases that evening sealed the deal for me (and the fact I needed to pack the bottle in my suitcase as I dreaded my hangover the next day before my 12 hour flight back to Hong Kong!).

Brilliant selection of wines, it's so nice to go beyond the basic supermarket offerings…read more I did a tasting here and it was wonderful. The host was so knowledgeable, welcoming and not at all pretentious or intimidating if you're a beginner wine fan! I ended up buying a couple of bottles to take home :) Have come here several times and would definitely recommend for a pleasant and relaxed evening.

The breakfast was great the ambience was amazing and calming and the service was the best I had…read moreever seen!

Seabass Nicoise Salad was great! Really enjoyed the meal, lovely people, quaint and special decor,…read morehappy to have a nice lunch there. I'd go back if I was in the area.

What a wonderful find. Hidden on the common is a great little gastropub with indoor and outdoor…read moreseating, welcoming service and excellent fayre. The seafood platter was perfect for 2 with local cider. And the alcoholic ice cream.... if you're nearby make sure you stop in. Wonderful work guys

Such a lovely pub, really nice atmosphere, good drinks and food! Lovely outdoors in the summer and…read morereally cosy inside in the winter.

If you are looking for a pub that's just that little bit more special, and consequently a touch…read morepricey, 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…read moremonocle. 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."

To my mind Gravetye Manor is still trading on former glories, and if it wasn't for the food it…read morewould have been revamped years ago. The last time I went there was in the summer of '09 and it was a shadow of it's former self. Though the food and wine excellent, the service was less than desirable and the state of the place leaving something to be desired. I dearly love the place, and we have been going there since the early 80s but really, it is such a shame to see it so badly run and kept during service. I have also stayed there for several days previously and the rooms, although decent, are dated and not up to the standards of the boutique hotels you might find elsewhere, despite flying under the Relais flag. These days I think, if I am going to drive an hour or two out of London, I might be better served by heading west to the Cotswolds and the Lords of the Manor or even the Fat Duck! Who knows, worth the trip for the food and to see the beautiful Elizabethan pile, but beyond that I just wish they would pull their socks up.

Gorgeous Elizabethan manor house set in the beautiful Sussex countryside, conveniently near…read moreGatwick. The restaurant has oak-panelled rooms offering intimate comfort and opulence. The food is delicious and inspired, made from local ingredients and using produce from the manor's spectacular kitchen garden. Excellent wine list and helpful, enthusiastic sommelier. The atmosphere is a little old-fashioned and the age group generally over 60, but this, and the rather steep prices, are the only reservations I would have. Well worth a visit.

The flagship of Richard Phillips's growing floatilla of fine dining venues in Kent. Undoubtably…read morethe outstanding gourmet menus which has been serving it's well-heeled clientele for almost a decade, collecting almost every accoldae there is to be had along the way. Predominently French-based dishes, as you would expect from a patron-chef who trained under the brothers Roux and Marco-Pierre White, with with unique contemprary touches. The service is exemplorary in the historic former home of the C19th novelists, WM Thackeray after whom the restaurant is named.

If there was a 6 or 7 rating this place would get it. I'd try to describe what we had, but instead…read morejust go, order anything and enjoy. Magnificent flavors, perfect service (from a service critic) and great atmosphere. Well done; we'll be back.

Wonderful British pub with lots of character. It is clear that they have many locals. The loss of…read moreone star was for the service which did not appear welcoming and was slow. We saw one couple consume three courses before we had one. Also after my first drink and sitting with an empty glass for some time I had to go to the bar for a refresher despite the "table service". However the food was first class and bangers and mash I had and the soup and pear salad my wife had were freshly cooked and were very tasty. One dreams of being a regular at a pub such as this, but it is not quite so much fun when you are not a local.

The Hatch Inn is not just a great local pub, but also an awesome restaurant, for which people come…read morefrom far and wide to dine. The food served up from the kitchen is amazing and the menu changes regularly to account for the changing seasons and the available local produce. The amazing inn on a secluded green on the edge of the Ashdown Forest provides the perfect backdrop for a date, or just a good old catch up with friends. It's old world charm of medieval beams and a well used hearth are enchanting, and only add to the pleasure of the experience. At the bar you find the customary local ales and bitters, as well as guest ale options from further afield, all adding to the charm of the pub. IMHO definitely worth the trip to go and hang out, and enjoy the drinks, the food and the atmosphere at this great country inn.

This spacious gastro-pub, located in the backstreets of the Seven Dials area, is not somewhere…read moreyou'd find by accident, though it's actually very close to one of the main roads into Brighton. Formerly the Marquess of Exeter, it was transformed about two and half years ago to one of Brighton's first non-smoking gastro pubs, aiming firmly for the fine dining and family market. The smoking ban has since caught up, of course, but the food and philosophy are still there. Occupying a corner site, the interior has stripped-wood floors, non-matching wooden furniture, but it's not scruffy: the walls and high ceilings are immaculately painted in maroon and cream, and the overall feel is one of light (huge windows on two sides) and spaciousness. The triangular bar has seating on two sides, with the right-hand side offering views into the kitchen. They serve real-ale (Harveys Sussex Bitter) and have an extensive wine list, but the food takes centre stage, as the open kitchen testifies. It's a gastro-pub menu that would shame many in London, with a commitment to organic and local produce where possible. Despite some impressive reviews, we've not eaten here yet: partly because we already have some favourite eateries, and partly because the gastro food comes with gastro prices: only the veggies get away with mains much below £10, and a three course meal with wine is going to cost upwards of £30 a head. We still can't bring ourselves to pay this much in a pub (especially when you can eat for substantially less in some fabulous Thai and Indian restaurants nearby), although others clearly do, and seem to enjoy it. But that said, even if you are not eating, it's still an agreeable place for a beer of an evening, with calm and relaxing music, a relatively unpretentious crowd, nice surroundings and pleasant staff.

I searched Yelp for a dinner spot on our first night in Brighton and stumbled onto The Chimney…read moreHouse. Once we made the long UPHILL walk through rural Brighton, we found this gem of a pub/restaurant resting on a quiet block. You will have to work for this meal as it is a bit off the beaten path. We went in and were immediately greeted by the friendly staff. This is just an easy no nonsense pub/restaurant with good simple ingredients that make delicious meals. With our pre-dinner drinks, we ordered the largest olives I have ever seen in my life (mixed in with some regular sized ones!!!). They were amazing! I had the Tomato Soup to start with basil oil and ciabatta bread (see image). My man had the beef shin risotto which was also quite nice. For my main, I had the sirloin steak and he had the Harveys Beer Battered Halloumi Cheese dish. This wouldn't be a normal choice for him but after tasting the local Harvey's beer, he thought he'd give it a try...and he loved it. My steak was good overall, however, I found it to have a bit more fat than I'm used to. I couldn't eat about 20% of it which was a shame. I can forgive it though as the meat I did get to was lovely. We did not have dessert but rather a lovely cup of coffee. The server asked me how we heard about it and I gave credit to all of you fabulous reviewers at YELP!!!!!