Beetroot and Sumac Labneh. - The Poet at Matfield, Matfield, Kent

The Poet at Matfield

4.8 (3119)

£26 to £40

British

Maidstone Road, Matfield, Kent TN12 7JH

Make a reservation

2 people

May 29, 2025

May 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 7 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Charming
Great for fine wines

The Poet offers an informal yet refined dining experience in the heart of the Kent countryside. Set in a charismatic 16th century building, diners can expect food of the highest standards, made using the finest local and seasonal produce and lovingly prepared by a small team of chefs led by Head Chef & Director Lee Adams.

In addition to the food, we offer a selection of fine wines, quirky cocktails, and have a collection of over 25 craft gins available.

World War I poet Siegfried Sassoon lived in Matfield and is the inspiration behind our name. Sassoon was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry" and later won acclaim for his writing. We're pretty sure he would have loved our food too!

A warm welcome awaits diners from General Manager and Director Tom Haacke and his team. We look forward to seeing you!

Please be aware we do not cater for the vegan diet.

Late cancellations - £20 per person.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
£26 to £40
Cuisines
British, English
Hours of operation
Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat 12:00 pm–2:00 pm Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat 6:00 pm–8:30 pm Sun 12:00 pm–5:30 pm
Phone number
01892 722416
Website
http://www.thepoetatmatfield.co.uk/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Lee Adams

Location
Maidstone Road, Matfield, Kent TN12 7JH
Neighborhood
Tunbridge Wells
Parking details
Please note: we have limited parking and would appreciate our guests respecting our neighbours when parking.There is additional free parking located at Matfield village green, 5 minutes walk from us.Many thanks!
Public transit
Bus stop The Standings Cross: 267 Hawkhurst, 268Hawkhurst, 6 Tunbridge Wells
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wine

Experiences

Tuesday Night Steak Night
Multiple dates available
At The Poet we use an array of techniques in order to give the best possible flavour and texture to different cuts of beef sourced from all over Britain. Our in-house dry-ageing chamber holds varying cuts of different ages, giving us flexibility with our menus and pricing, to curate an experience well worthy of a visit. Seasonal offerings such as aged wild boar loin or venison haunch, could be sharing a menu with aged Scotch beef sirloin, or smoked hanger steak, all cooked in our 300-degree charcoal oven. The steaks on offer are served alongside seasonal vegetables, local potato preparations and sauces tailor-made to complement the flavours of the steaks available on that day. Prices range from £34.95 - £94.95
Tasting Menu #14 - The Poets Private Wine Cellar
£150.00 per person
Jun 13, 2025 only
We’ve flipped the tasting menu concept on its head. This ones different.  Forget the classic approach where wine plays second fiddle to food. Here, the wine takes centre stage, with exquisite food pairings crafted to elevate each pour. Expect nostalgia, excitement, and cherished memories—all woven into one unforgettable evening. My cellar isn’t just Bordeaux and Burgundy. This menu will introduce you to hidden gems, (hopefully) shatter preconceptions, and unlock new ways to savour remarkable wines, all at a refreshingly accessible price.

Roasted Squash Velouté, Kingcott Blue Beignets, Pepper Jam, Baby Onions (v)£16.00
Cured Sea Trout, Brown Crab Mousse, Spiced Bread Tuile, Mandarin Ponzu, Pickled Apples£18.00
Coffee & Miso-Marinated Quail Caesar, Butter Lettuce, Preserved Lemons, Brioche Crumb£17.00
Roast King Scallops, Parsnip, Pickled Shimeji Dressing, Crispy Parma Ham, Roe Tempura£24.00

Mains

14-Day Dry-Aged Sunnyside Farm Rib Eye Steak (500g - for two to share)£85.00
Triple Cooked Chips, Chimichurri, King Oyster Mushrooms, Tenderstem, Red Wine Jus
Chiddingstone Venison, Braised Chicory, Red Cabbage, Glazed Rhubarb, Venison Polenta£37.00
Norfolk Pork, Prosciutto 'Tartiflette', Baby Leeks, Sichuan-Glazed Belly, Pork Skin Crumb£36.00
Skrei Cod, Smoked Mussel & Tarragon Ragout, Fennel, Crispy Oyster, Fish Pie Croquettes£37.00
Artichoke & Chestnut Mushroom Pastilla, Baba Ganoush, Hay-Smoked Parsnips, Curry Oil (v)£33.00

Sides

Triple Cooked Chips£6.50
Seasonal Brassica, Crispy Onions£5.50
Herb-Buttered New Potatoes£6.00

What 3,119 people are saying

The Poet at Matfield reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.9Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

Kent
Great for fine wines
Kent
British
Tunbridge Wells
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Poet at Matfield is a cherished dining destination with "outstanding food" and "amazing service." Diners praise the "innovative menus" and "lovely, friendly staff." The ambiance is relaxed yet professional, making it perfect for special occasions or casual visits. It's a "really special restaurant" with a welcoming atmosphere and "delicious" dishes.

3,119 Reviews

I
Ian
London8 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had eaten a couple of times before at the Poet, as a couple. We took our parents for a family Sunday lunch, as always the for was excellent and the service was very friendly.
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T
Terry
N. Ireland1 review
1.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
The food was very poor. My son had a roast beef dinner which comprised of two pieces of meat that you could see through. My wife had so called belly of pork , which consisted of a lump of pork that she could not even cut. The bill for 6 people was £350 which I would have been better flushing down the toilet.
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T
Tom
Kent1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Exceptional Sunday roast as always. Incredible service too
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M
Matt
Kent1 review
3.0
Dined on May 19, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 5
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Great food, but had to wait almost an hour for our main. The waitress did warn us 10 minutes after ordering that there would be a delay, which was appreciated. Not ideal for a business lunch, though.
Is this helpful?
V
Val
Kent7 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 17, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
3rd time of visiting, as before friendly staff, excellent food and ambiance
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I
Iva
Kent1 review
5.0
Dined on May 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Exquisite! Probably one of my favourite menus so far (it changes every 2 months I believe). Everything was delicious and my friends loved their food. The service was also amazing as usual.
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M
Melanie
Kent6 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Visited for another delicious‘tasting’ menu. Staff were really accommodating regarding timing; we were well looked after. Food was outstanding and as always, the ambience & staff were wonderful. Keep up the good work xx
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N
Nick
Kent3 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
We've eaten at the Poet on a number of occasions. The food is consistently of a high standard and the staff are always very knowledgeable, friendly and courteous.
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S
Samantha
Kent8 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing food and service as usual this has been my favourite restaurant in Kent for twelve years , today didn’t disappoint. Everything was perfect including our service Rosie
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J
John
Kent1 review
5.0
Dined on May 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Welcoming, friendly, thoughtful enjoyed our experience at The Poet
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FAQs

The Poet at Matfield is rated 4.8 stars by 3119 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Booked 7 times today

Experiences are available.

Maidstone Road, Matfield, Kent TN12 7JH

Additional information

Neighborhood
Tunbridge Wells
Hours of operation
Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat 12:00 pm–2:00 pm Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat 6:00 pm–8:30 pm Sun 12:00 pm–5:30 pm
Price
£26 to £40
Cuisines
British, English
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Please note: we have limited parking and would appreciate our guests respecting our neighbours when parking.There is additional free parking located at Matfield village green, 5 minutes walk from us.Many thanks!
Public transit
Bus stop The Standings Cross: 267 Hawkhurst, 268Hawkhurst, 6 Tunbridge Wells
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Lee Adams
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wine

Website
http://www.thepoetatmatfield.co.uk/
Phone number
01892 722416

The Poet at Matfield

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Experiences

Tuesday Night Steak Night

Tasting Menu #14 - The Poets Private Wine Cellar

Menu

Uncategorised

Freshly-Baked Bread & Condiment£5.00

Gordal Olives£7.00

Starters

Roasted Squash Velouté, Kingcott Blue Beignets, Pepper Jam, Baby Onions (v)£16.00

Cured Sea Trout, Brown Crab Mousse, Spiced Bread Tuile, Mandarin Ponzu, Pickled Apples£18.00

Coffee & Miso-Marinated Quail Caesar, Butter Lettuce, Preserved Lemons, Brioche Crumb£17.00

Roast King Scallops, Parsnip, Pickled Shimeji Dressing, Crispy Parma Ham, Roe Tempura£24.00

Mains

14-Day Dry-Aged Sunnyside Farm Rib Eye Steak (500g - for two to share)£85.00

Triple Cooked Chips, Chimichurri, King Oyster Mushrooms, Tenderstem, Red Wine Jus

Chiddingstone Venison, Braised Chicory, Red Cabbage, Glazed Rhubarb, Venison Polenta£37.00

Norfolk Pork, Prosciutto 'Tartiflette', Baby Leeks, Sichuan-Glazed Belly, Pork Skin Crumb£36.00

Skrei Cod, Smoked Mussel & Tarragon Ragout, Fennel, Crispy Oyster, Fish Pie Croquettes£37.00

Artichoke & Chestnut Mushroom Pastilla, Baba Ganoush, Hay-Smoked Parsnips, Curry Oil (v)£33.00

Sides

Triple Cooked Chips£6.50

Seasonal Brassica, Crispy Onions£5.50

Herb-Buttered New Potatoes£6.00

What 3,119 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is The Poet at Matfield restaurant rated?

Is The Poet at Matfield currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat