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Pub Of The Month - April 2026 with Bucking Fastard
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Cardinals Error, Tonbridge
Tonbridge
TN9 2EP
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about Cardinals Error
Visited 30/09/24
Cask was just Tribute with two non-dispensing hand pumps. Keg fairly mundane choice of Guinness, Fosters, Strongbow (original and dark fruits), Heineken, Stella.
As prior (relatively recent) reviewer notes below this does seem out of place as a building in what looks like a quite down at heel suburb of Tonbridge. Approached from the car park down what feels like the proverbial garden path past some round traditional pub garden seating in overgrown lawn. Immediately get a sense of age and history of venue with doors with heavy metalwork latches and the blurb to the left of the entrance door confirming the history and haunted mess of the establishment. Right-hand latched door the takes you to main bar area, busy with locals sitting on tall stools around the bar counter in the left-hand rear corner. Beamed and wooden boarded flooring with a big fire gate with logs piled but not lit this time of year. A few TV's dotted around the tops of the walls showing Sky News on my visit. A glitzy juke box sat illuminated but unused to the right of the bar counter. A small extension to the right opposite the bar counter housed a pool table and an extensive trophy cabinet, with a door leading out to a covered area a la cheap car port type design. Open plan room to left of bar reveals another use of the shared chimney and a dart board. Seating throughout via heavy wooden tables and chairs. Should have enjoyed a lot more but let down by its mediocre beer offering.
On 16th February 2026
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1590 recommendations about 1565 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Cardinals Error
Attractive old building which must once have been out in the countryside but which now looks rather out of place in a housing estate on the outskirts of Tonbridge. Massive chimney with impressive fireplaces either side, demonstrating its origins as two semi-detached cottages, and only converted to a pub in 1946. Two main rooms - with a curiously small bar counter shared between them - plus a more modern extension (although built in a sympathetic style) housing the pool table. Reasonable-sized beer garden with a small children's play area. On the real ale front, just Tribute (£4.90) available from one of three handpumps on this first visit for eight years. Interesting picture of Thomas Wolsey on the pub sign, and famously haunted by Nellie and 'The Old Gentleman'.
On 11th September 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9119 recommendations about 9119 pubs]