The Sussex Arms, Tunbridge Wells

A nice traditional backstreet boozer tucked away behind the Pantiles area, mixed seating throughout the pub was begining to get lively as Friday evening approached. Six handpumps with an offering of Long Man Best Bitter and Rising Giant, Fonthill Good Morning Captain and Creedence, beers I had seen at various other pubs during the day but still interesting for the non local, the Cider on offer was Illford Windfall. A reasonable finish to the days ten pub crawl.

Tucked away down a series of alleyways off the popular Pantiles area, this is a nice little boozer with a traditional feel to it. You enter via an unusual sunken front patio space with plenty of seating and a reasonable amount of cover, before reaching the entrance to the main bar area with the servery along the right hand wall. A small seating area hidden away in the front right corner has hard bench seating and offers a degree of privacy from the rest of the pub due to its isolated location. There are a few sofas in the front left corner but these soon give way to make space for the bar, which has a tongue and groove counter with rounded corners, a simple bar back and a nice canopy lined with various newspaper cuttings. Small round tables fill the limited space opposite, running past two locked cages full of spirit bottles on the left hand wall. To the rear left, button backed sofas provide comfier options around a lit brick fireplace with a huge mirror above, a shelving unit stacked with old LP’s to one side and a large clock to the other. The room extends through to the rear right into a lower level space with a mix of bench and chair seating, a nice stone fireplace, half panelled walls and lots of framed black and white photos on display. A further room is available through a doorway to the rear, offering additional seating in a somewhat isolated room that suffers from a lack of decor and echoing acoustics. A reasonable indie soundtrack played in the background through the course of my Friday evening visit. The pub has a reasonably strong reputation for good ale and the line up on this visit certainly looked promising, with the handpulls dispensing Taylor Landlord, Bedlam Phoenix, Whitstable Pearl of Kent, Adnams Ghost Ship and Long Man Blonde with a sixth clip turned. My pint of the Blonde was very nice and I was served by one of a team of friendly barmen. I’ve always found the Pantiles pubs a little too touristy and lacking in proper pub character, but you have to know where you’re going to find this place, making it a bit quieter and more enjoyable as a result. Probably the best bet for a good pint of real ale in this part of town.

A half decent pub in the back streets of Tunbridge. Fair selection of ales on the bar, however, our first had to go back as it was well past its sell by date. Nice seating area outside to soak up the afternoon rays.

Externally the pub frontage is rather spoiled by an uncomplimentary glazed gazebo affair which detracts considerably from the aged façade, once inside however there is a pleasant space with a boarded floor and a central side wall bar. Half height boarded walls, a nice log fire burning away on an end wall, cages containing spirit bottles, framed artwork with types of bowler hats and animal skulls. More disturbing were the framed prints of instruction showing Winchester rifle users how to aim at birds and rabbits. Stairs down to the facilities had a number of framed maps of the far east. The welcome was genuine, chatty and service good as I deliberated on the selection, Musket Flintlock, Adnam's Ghost Ship, Landlord, Long Man American Pale Ale plus two choices from Seacider. Jug or straight glass offered, all cask ales are at £3.00 after 5pm on Sundays. A good pub, slightly off the beaten track around The Pantiles but certainly worth seeking out.

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