Poult Wood Clubhouse, Tonbridge

Visited 22/07/26 Cask here was two pumps dispensing Harvey’s Sussex Best, Doom Bar plus a non-dispensing pump. Keg offering of Aspall and the blush version, Guinness and the AF version, Doom Bar, Madri, Carling, Sharp’s Atlantic Pale Ale, Madri, Coors and Alpacalypse. Clubhouse bar on the first floor with a paved wraparound balcony with typical patio style furniture. Inside it is bare boarded with the bar counter on the left-hand side just inside the door at the top of the flight of steps. Area in front of the bar counter has an array of bucket style armchairs serving regular tables. Below the club champion boards was a single TV showing typical teatime programming. The area in front of the bar to its right-hand side had lots of tables laid for diners, and like the left-hand side and beyond , but those areas were carpeted. A dartboard languished on the wall between the carpeted and the bare boarded area, but I can't imagine from its positioning that it gets much use. Other TVs were switched off. Crowd was largely golfers just off the 18th below and gasping for a quaff on a quite warm early evening.

This may be a municipal golf course, but the clubhouse bar / restaurant upstairs in the main building is open to the general public. I've not been here for decades, but the place seems to be thriving, with a full house booked in for the Sunday carvery. The general seating area opposite the counter was also full, apart from the one small table I took, and most of the barstools were taken too. A terrace overlooking the 18th green is also available in the better weather. I knew it still did real ale, but I was very pleased to find Harvey's Old Ale (£4.40) in addition to their ubiquitous Sussex, with Doom Bar also featured on another of the four handpumps.

Official site of Poult Wood Clubhouse - www.tmactive.co.uk

Official site of Poult Wood Clubhouse - www.tmactive.co.uk