The Brown Trout‎, Tunbridge Wells

Set on the high ground south of Lamberhurst, but just hidden from The Down, this is very much a dining pub (and thus not the sort of place to arrive hoping for Sunday lunch without booking ahead). As far as I could see, all the tables in the original building around the bar were reserved, and I would be confident that the same applied to the single-storey side extension housing an elongated dining room. There is also a beer garden at the back, but on a fine spring day, the wooden benches out on the open grassed area at the front were a great place to sup a pint. It was no surprise whatsoever to find Harvey's (£4.80, and in good shape) from one of the three handpumps, with a discounted Exmoor ale on another and reversed Greene King IPA clip on the final one.

There is no mistaking this pub with its large panelled sign over the doors and reinforced by the brown road sign off the main road, a pleasant location with a green in front, which has a few picnic tables, and a pair of oasthouses across the lane. As you enter the main room the bar is opposite, a low ceiling with black beams and a scuffed boarded floor. Hops run around the upper wall, there are fishing rods fixed to the beams and a couple of cases of impressively sized stuffed trout with details of the angler and location. Another case has different knots on show. Old Wills cigarette cards are also on view, fish related also. Beyond an open log burning fireplace there is another space which eventually leads on to a more formal restaurant with set tables and considerably more hops wound around the beams. A beer garden is beyond. In the second bar area there are shelves containing kettles and blow-lamps, An old map of Kent, a glass jar of stuffed birds, a procession of porcelain elephants and a framed photo of a terrier, perhaps a lost and lamented pub dog? I felt that the twinkly lights in this area were possibly out of place. A clutch of regular old boys were seated at stools along the bar, one had a friendly and inquisitive dog, some out of the way pubs like this can feel a bit awkward but not so here. Three handpumps, Harvey's Best, Landlord and Doom Bar. Food is at lunchtimes and evenings only, snacks include pickled eggs. Quite liked it actually, the Harvey's was in fine condition.