I'd never heard of it until today, dunno why, but it looks like it might be somewhere to take the kids for a day out, what with the steam railway and all that caper.
yeah its quite good. pretty setting. the restaurant is a bit expensive though. during the summer months it can become very packed. lot of weddings and do's happen there.
had our wedding there a few years ago, guess it is the same italian owners, food very good, great during the summer, sitting outside, watching the trains ;-) didnt go up on the rocks though...
Nice spot plus good pub food and quality restaurant; at weekends you can arrive by train on a private line from the Old Staion site in Tunbridge Wells (near cloe to The Pantiles with parking at Sainsburys)
You'd be much better off going to The Beacon (an old converted country mansion) which is close by. Without doubt the biggest grounds of any pub I've ever been to.......and possibly the biggest in the country. Spectacular views from the massive fully decked terrace looking out across the truly magnificent Kentish Weald countryside...........hidden away there are 3 lovely staggered fishing lakes.....you can get a day ticket to fish or simply sit round the lakes and take in the tranquility and beautiful surroundings. Extensive woodland walks around the lakes as well as landscaped grounds........excellent bar and top-notch restaurant/food. I thoroughly recommend Sunday lunch. Super place to take kids and let them run wild and explore. Yes The Rocks is also nice and it does have the added attraction of the steam train and the rocks for climbing etc...........but for me The Beacon wins hands down every time. Landlord John is a really nice fella too..........which always helps.
Know High Rocks and The Beacon from not too long back (saying that its more than 10 yrs), quite a few bday parties used to be held at both venues when I was at school. Been incredibly messy in both places....
Beacon is definitely a decent shout
Didn't realise many people on CL were from round that area, anyone know Crowborough?
Know High Rocks and The Beacon from not too long back (saying that its more than 10 yrs), quite a few bday parties used to be held at both venues when I was at school. Been incredibly messy in both places....
Beacon is definitely a decent shout
Didn't realise many people on CL were from round that area, anyone know Crowborough?
A lot of improvements to the grounds and lakes have been done since you last visited Addicted.
I can endorse SoundAs's recommendation of The Beacon. 20 mins drive from us and my favourite gastro-pub in the area. I host an annual extended family dinner there every July and have done for the last dozen or so years - the big table at the far end of the restuarant in the alcove under the magnificent stained glass windows. The table has old Incorruptible's name on it; we no longer even have to ask for it when we phone to book! The food is superb, too (but don't go on a Sunday night; it's the chef's day off and the food is not freshly prepared but reheated and many dishes are off the menu, as we found once to our cost).
But The Beacon isn't really an alternative to High Rocks, because although the grounds are nice (and the view across the Weald is great), I think Off-it was looking for a day out for the kids to go climbing etc. Even better than High Rocks (and free, whereas HR has an entry fee) are Harrison's Rocks, part of the same sandstone ridge a couple of miles away at Eridge. Brilliant place for kids (although there are some incredibly steep drops if they're very young). There's no pub there, but it's a perfect picnic/barbecue spot.
Stop it people, you're making me pine for the beautiful environs of Tunbridge Wells...
I like living up north for the most part (and there is some awesome, majestic countryside all around), but sometimes I really do miss the stunning, verdant countryside of that particular part of the Kent/Sussex border.
Completely agree that both the High Rocks and the Beacon are great, too. The aforementioned sandstone ridge pops up in a few places in and around TW, and they are all worth a visit....I believe that this area is the most wooded part of the whole country and it makes it very beautiful.....add in the rolling Wealden hills and you have a truly beautiful place.
I'll have to make sure I am sitting on that terrace at the Beacon admiring the view on a sunny day in the not too distant future....
Im with you on that bigstemarra,Im in Scotland beautiful scenery all round but I miss the Kent Sussex border countryside in high Summer.I used to drive diesel trains on the Uckfield line and the beauty of the landscape when passing Eridge around 5:15 on a fine summers morning -just breathtaking!
Nice spot plus good pub food and quality restaurant; at weekends you can arrive by train on a private line from the Old Staion site in Tunbridge Wells (near cloe to The Pantiles with parking at Sainsburys)
From memory (it was a few years ago) the car park at Sainsburys or whatever it is next to the steam railway station at Tunbridge Wells is time restricted and 'customers only' and fairly robust at enforcing this.
It may well have changed, but make sure you read the small print on the signs if you do park there!
Nice spot plus good pub food and quality restaurant; at weekends you can arrive by train on a private line from the Old Staion site in Tunbridge Wells (near cloe to The Pantiles with parking at Sainsburys)
From memory (it was a few years ago) the car park at Sainsburys or whatever it is next to the steam railway station at Tunbridge Wells is time restricted and 'customers only' and fairly robust at enforcing this.
It may well have changed, but make sure you read the small print on the signs if you do park there!
I used to park there all day everyday for work, never had a problem. Weekends may be different
Finally went there today - loved it. Kids loved it. Job done.
Had a pint in the pub garden watching the trains then we drove to the Beacon (great views) but didn't fancy the food in there as it all seemed a bit OTT for the kids. Ended up going to the Bullfinch the other side of Sevenoaks in the end - which was spot on.
Would recommend High Rocks. £3 for adults and £1 for kids to get in - what's not to like!
We took our twins to Eagle Heights near Eynsford today. Got a groupon deal so me and the Mrs paid a fiver each and as the kids are under four they were free. They do a show with the eagles and falcons and so on flying around along with a talk. Few other animals to see as well.
Got there relatively late one evening and found we were the last ones in there and it was starting to get dark. Then it got scary. No lighting, no way out signage, no stewards, plenty of dodgy paths and deep cravasses to slip into. The pub selling the tickets had put zero effort into basic safety. Complaints were made. Would be interested to know if anything has changed.
Comments
during the summer months it can become very packed. lot of weddings and do's happen there.
didnt go up on the rocks though...
Without doubt the biggest grounds of any pub I've ever been to.......and possibly the biggest in the country.
Spectacular views from the massive fully decked terrace looking out across the truly magnificent Kentish Weald countryside...........hidden away there are 3 lovely staggered fishing lakes.....you can get a day ticket to fish or simply sit round the lakes and take in the tranquility and beautiful surroundings.
Extensive woodland walks around the lakes as well as landscaped grounds........excellent bar and top-notch restaurant/food.
I thoroughly recommend Sunday lunch.
Super place to take kids and let them run wild and explore.
Yes The Rocks is also nice and it does have the added attraction of the steam train and the rocks for climbing etc...........but for me The Beacon wins hands down every time.
Landlord John is a really nice fella too..........which always helps.
Beacon is definitely a decent shout
Didn't realise many people on CL were from round that area, anyone know Crowborough?
But The Beacon isn't really an alternative to High Rocks, because although the grounds are nice (and the view across the Weald is great), I think Off-it was looking for a day out for the kids to go climbing etc. Even better than High Rocks (and free, whereas HR has an entry fee) are Harrison's Rocks, part of the same sandstone ridge a couple of miles away at Eridge. Brilliant place for kids (although there are some incredibly steep drops if they're very young). There's no pub there, but it's a perfect picnic/barbecue spot.
(Still can't quite fathom how I've never heard of it before!)
I like living up north for the most part (and there is some awesome, majestic countryside all around), but sometimes I really do miss the stunning, verdant countryside of that particular part of the Kent/Sussex border.
Completely agree that both the High Rocks and the Beacon are great, too. The aforementioned sandstone ridge pops up in a few places in and around TW, and they are all worth a visit....I believe that this area is the most wooded part of the whole country and it makes it very beautiful.....add in the rolling Wealden hills and you have a truly beautiful place.
I'll have to make sure I am sitting on that terrace at the Beacon admiring the view on a sunny day in the not too distant future....
It may well have changed, but make sure you read the small print on the signs if you do park there!
Had a pint in the pub garden watching the trains then we drove to the Beacon (great views) but didn't fancy the food in there as it all seemed a bit OTT for the kids. Ended up going to the Bullfinch the other side of Sevenoaks in the end - which was spot on.
Would recommend High Rocks. £3 for adults and £1 for kids to get in - what's not to like!
Means 3 lifers there in a week?
We loved it - the room we liked had only one Saturday in summer next year so we've provisionally booked it and have a week to confirm.
You'll have to let me know how your brother's wedding goes.
Good luck with the speech, was nervous as anything when I did mine for a mate, got an early laugh luckily so I relaxed!!