Tyber's, Tunbridge Wells

The battleship grey paint job does little to make this substantial building near the Pantiles look inviting. However, once you climb the stairs to the main 'U'-shaped bar / restaurant for find a fairly smart space with semi-modern furniture and restrained decor. Also has a smaller bar at street level (not open when I visited) and a split-level patio terrace at the rear. The choice of beers from the keg taps on the counter wasn't very inspiring, so I went for a bottle of Guinness Golden Ale (£4.00) from the fridge before finally noticing that Harvey's would have been available from one of four handpumps hidden away on the bar-back.

Upstairs at Thorins is a restaurant with a bar and a downstairs bar area that was closed during my recent Monday afternoon visit. The bar supports two hand pumps and there is a limited standard draught selection alongside the Czech lager Kozel. Food is obviously available and the mains start at around £10.50 which is a lot more than the pubs of the area. There is a plasma Screen on top of a piano in the corner of the restaurant, but there is no Sky Sports so maybe it was set up for the rugby on ITV. My trip to Thorins turned into a bit of a fiasco as the barmaid tried to pour me a pint. Harveys Best and Doom Bar were available from the two hand pumps so I plumped for the Doom Bar which she said needed to be pulled through. After a couple of minutes I was handed a murky pint which I declined to take and changed my drink choice to a trusty Guinness. A pint of this was then drawn through before my pint was poured, but it was still undrinkable. Maybe there was a problem in the cellar as she was very friendly and it seemed as though she kind of knew what she was doing. Anyway, my experience left me somewhat disappointed and I do not plan on returning any time soon.