ReviewA long, winding country lane leads from the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells to this pub, restaurant and wedding venue. The pub takes its name from the unusual rock formations that are found on the other side of the road, with tickets for the site available from behind the bar. Entering from the road you find yourself in a lobby area, presumably used to co-ordinate events in the five different function rooms available. To access the bar, you need to descend the staircase to the front left or alternatively enter via the beer garden. The bar is surprisingly small for such a large venue, forming a single U-shaped room with a central servery, lots of dark wood beams, exposed masonry and old carpet throughout. Standard tables and chairs fill out three sides of the room, although we found the place a bit gloomy, even on an unseasonably bright day, and elected to sit outdoors instead. The room has been decorated with a few interesting items, including a large old-fashioned camera, some weighing scales and various black and white photos whilst there is an attractive stained glass pane at the far end of the bar counter. A more modern concession came in the form of the large TV screen in one corner of the room, although this was switched off throughout our visit. A door to the rear leads down some steps into a rather glitzy looking function room, whilst the end wall has a door out to the marvellous patio and garden, with a large lawn, well tended flower beds, ample seating and a view down to the steam railway line which runs behind the building and has a stop nearby.
There wasn't too much by way of excitement on the bar, with just Harveys Best and Fullers London Pride to pick from. I tried the Harveys, which was passable, although I turned down the offer of a second pint, opting to head back into town for a wider choice. We also stopped here for food and our attempts to enjoy a light lunch by ordering sandwiches were scuppered by the absolute doorstep than landed on the table. Still, it was pretty good value I suppose and tasty enough. The staff seemed a bit of a mixed bunch, with surly waiting staff but a very friendly barman.
I think anyone visiting the High Rocks complex would do well to incorporate a brief visit to this unusual pub, especially on a warm day when the garden can be best appreciated. I guess this pub won't have many, if any, regulars, which doesn't make for the best atmosphere, but unlike many pub's near tourist attractions, I felt they were at least making an effort and was pleased we stopped in for a while.
