The Poet at Matfield

4.8

3020 Reviews

£26 to £40

British

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 13 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Charming
Neighborhood gem

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, 268<br />Hawkhurst, 6 Tunbridge Wells <br />
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 with Weiss Chocolate 2.0
£75.00 per person
Nov 28, 2024 only
We are back with Weiss Chocolate for another tasting menu! If you came last year you will know exactly what to expect! A chocolate lovers paradise.   From savoury to sweet, each and every course contains a different preparation of chocolate. From Scallops & 30% White to Pork Loin & 70% Dark, this menu is packed full of flavour and highlights the true characteristics of chocolate - not just the sweetness! As usual for tasting menus, we will not be catering for allergies or the vegan diet.
Christmas Day at The Poet!
£65.00 - £110.00 per person
Prepaid
Dec 25, 2024 only
Join us on Christmas Day for a fantastic 4-course menu using delicious local ingredients as well as some more luxurious ones! Lovingly prepared by our team of Chefs who have worked in Michelin-starred establishments all over the world, this isn’t your usual Christmas fare, but with prestige ingredients such as Orkney scallops, local trout, turkey thighs, figs, caviar, artichokes and decadent WEISS chocolate paired with rum and salted caramel, it’s a Christmas event that’s not to be missed. Due to the ethos of The Poet, we will not be catering for the following allergies: Alcohol, Onion, Garlic, Salt or pepper. We will not be catering for the vegan diet. Please DO NOT book if you are allergic to any of the above.

What 3,020 people are saying

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
4.4Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

Kent
Best Service
Kent
Best Ambiance
Kent
Great for fine wines
Kent
Good for special occasions
Kent
British
Tunbridge Wells
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Poet at Matfield offers a consistently exceptional dining experience with "exceptional food and service." Guests rave about the "beautifully presented" dishes and the warm, attentive staff. The charming atmosphere and extensive wine list make it a perfect spot for special occasions. Regulars appreciate the innovative menu and the restaurant's ability to "never disappoint."

3,020 Reviews

A
Andrew
London
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Lovely food. Cute old pub but could do with sprucing up a wee bit.
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P
Philip
Kent
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 15, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Extremely welcoming; excellent food and service; expensive but you get what you pay for I don’t like background music most restaurants that I’ve been in have it - indeed once InCornwall we were the only diners at lunch and asked for the music to be turned off. The staff said they were unable to do this, but they could turn it down a bit, I suspect that a poll of diners would overwhelmingly ask for a quiet restaurant. I have not seen such a poll.
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G
Gillian
Kent
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 14, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great staff and excellent food - every course was of a very high standard
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E
Emma
Kent
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 10, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lovely Sunday lunch. Beautiful selection, something for everyone. Desserts exceptional. Polite, friendly and efficient team. Restaurant was packed. Highly recommend.
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L
Liza
London
22 reviews
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on November 10, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing food as always - Staters and Roast dinner is faultless- It’s hard to squeeze in a desert but you just have to! Great cocktails and wine- Fabulous friendly staff-
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t
tania
Kent
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 9, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delightful experience thank you delicious food, friendly and knowledgeable staff. Relaxed and very welcoming. Will be back
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C
Clare
Kent
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 8, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fab night with friends at this beautifully styled cosy Kent pub which serves amazing food, wine & cocktails. We felt more like we were in some swanky London resto with the food offering, but the environment is relaxed & casual. Tom really knew his stuff, shared his knowledge on food & wine....& was so interesting without being a wine snob. Just genuine, passionate & polished. Great service, fab food, amazing ambience. Go here!
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S
Sue
Toronto
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 4, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wide range of delicious food with service just right. Fairly quiet on a Monday evening but still very pleasant ambience.
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G
Gary
Kent
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 4, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It was my wife’s birthday today and she had a great time and we had the best food and fantastic service.
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a
alistair
London
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Super Sunday lunch. Not our first lunch at our fantastic local, the outstanding Poet. The cooking has always been of the highest quality, as are the staff, particularly Tom, one of the co-owners, who is always extremely welcoming and engaging.
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FAQs

The Poet at Matfield is rated 4.8 stars by 3020 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 13 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

Additional information

Experiences

Tuesday Night Steak Night

Tasting Menu with Weiss Chocolate 2.0

Christmas Day at The Poet!

Menu

What 3,020 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