Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Kent
  4. Tunbridge Wells
  5. Tunbridge Wells
Beetroot and Sumac Labneh. - The Poet at Matfield, Matfield, Kent

The Poet at Matfield

4.8
4.8
3040 Reviews
£26 to £40
British

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 1 time today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
The Poet offers an informal yet refined dining experience in the heart of the Kent countryside. Set in a charismatic 16th century building, diners can expect food of the highest standards, made using the finest local and seasonal produce and lovingly prepared by a small team of chefs led by Head Chef & Director Lee Adams.

In addition to the food, we offer a selection of fine wines, quirky cocktails, and have a collection of over 25 craft gins available.

World War I poet Siegfried Sassoon lived in Matfield and is the inspiration behind our name. Sassoon was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry" and later won acclaim for his writing. We're pretty sure he would have loved our food too!

A warm welcome awaits diners from General Manager and Director Tom Haacke and his team. We look forward to seeing you!

Please be aware we do not cater for the vegan diet.

Late cancellations - £20 per person.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    British, English
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat 12:00 pm–2:00 pm Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat 6:00 pm–8:30 pm Sun 12:00 pm–5:30 pm
  • Phone number
    01892 722416
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Lee Adams
  • Area
    Tunbridge Wells
  • Parking details
    Please note: we have limited parking and would appreciate our guests respecting our neighbours when parking.There is additional free parking located at Matfield village green, 5 minutes walk from us.Many thanks!
  • Public transit
    Bus stop The Standings Cross: 267 Hawkhurst, 268Hawkhurst, 6 Tunbridge Wells
  • Additional
    Dog Friendly, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Experiences

  • Winter Themed Afternoon Tea!

    £65.00 per person

    29 Dec 2024 only
    Christmas week is made for eating and drinking, a fact we all know well. However, when the end of the week arrives most of us are bored of turkey sandwiches, leftovers and anything roast related! So we have decided to host a Winter Afternoon Tea on Sunday the 29th of December. Join us for a winter flavour themed Afternoon Tea before the New Year celebrations begin! 

 Includes a glass of English Sparkling! As always, this is the only menu we will be serving and we will not be catering for allergies or the vegan diet.
  • Tuesday Night Steak Night

    Multiple dates available
    At The Poet we use an array of techniques in order to give the best possible flavour and texture to different cuts of beef sourced from all over Britain. Our in-house dry-ageing chamber holds varying cuts of different ages, giving us flexibility with our menus and pricing, to curate an experience well worthy of a visit. Seasonal offerings such as aged wild boar loin or venison haunch, could be sharing a menu with aged Scotch beef sirloin, or smoked hanger steak, all cooked in our 300-degree charcoal oven. The steaks on offer are served alongside seasonal vegetables, local potato preparations and sauces tailor-made to complement the flavours of the steaks available on that day. Prices range from £34.95 - £94.95
  • Christmas Day at The Poet!

    £65.00 - £110.00 per person

    Prepaid

    25 Dec 2024 only
    Join us on Christmas Day for a fantastic 4-course menu using delicious local ingredients as well as some more luxurious ones! Lovingly prepared by our team of Chefs who have worked in Michelin-starred establishments all over the world, this isn’t your usual Christmas fare, but with prestige ingredients such as Orkney scallops, local trout, turkey thighs, figs, caviar, artichokes and decadent WEISS chocolate paired with rum and salted caramel, it’s a Christmas event that’s not to be missed. Due to the ethos of The Poet, we will not be catering for the following allergies: Alcohol, Onion, Garlic, Salt or pepper. We will not be catering for the vegan diet. Please DO NOT book if you are allergic to any of the above.

What 3,040 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseEnergetic

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Kent

    Best Food

  • Kent

    Best Service

  • Kent

    Best Ambience

  • Kent

    Great for fine wines

  • Kent

    Good for special occasions

  • Kent

    British

  • Tunbridge Wells

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Poet at Matfield offers an exceptional dining experience with "excellent food" and "friendly, attentive staff." Guests rave about the "beautifully presented" dishes, imaginative flavors, and an impressive wine list. The cozy atmosphere and personalized service make it perfect for special occasions, despite being "expensive, but wonderful."

3,040 Reviews
  1. Ian

    London

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Christmas Day lunch. Fantastic experience. Terrific food, great service and attention to detail.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Stefania

    VIP

    Kent

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Many thanks to’ accomodate us on the Christmas Eve. Everything was just perfect.

    Is this helpful?

  3. John

    Kent

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Second visit this year and didn't disappoint Fantastic Staff and Food Going for a drink on Christmas Day

    Is this helpful?

  4. Ian

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great birthday lunch, great service and a real desire to give an enjoyable memorable experience! Would recommend and will no doubt return at some point!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Raphael

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We booked a meal for 4 at 3pm 22/12/2024. The food was excellent as always and the service was 1st class. My favourite pub and will definitely be returning.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Heather

    Kent

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our first visit as a party of six and everyone thought it was fantastic. Will be back!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Liz

    Kent

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The service and food didn’t disappoint . The staff helped make our experience memorable. Having not visited for at least 3 years we do not intend to leave it as long before our next visit.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Paul

    Kent

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Yet another first class dining experience at the Poet. Fantastic food, friendly, professional service and relaxed atmosphere. Firmly in the top 2 of our favourite dining venues. Never fails to impress.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Mark

    Berkshire

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 16 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Tom creates the most welcoming and enjoyable environment for indulging in outstanding food from the kitchen, and delicious wine from the cellar. Toms love for food, wine, coffee and all things to make your experience really personal is a gift that infuses through the team who'll be looking after you as they deliver the magic from the kitchen Its a must visit!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Penny

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 13 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Expensive but worth paying for the delicious, creative food. As a vegetarian I found the choice somewhat limited but the option offered was a superb blend of flavours.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Poet at Matfield is rated 4.8 stars by 3040 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 1 time today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Poet at Matfield

Maidstone Road, Matfield, Kent TN12 7JH

Additional information

  • Area
    Tunbridge Wells
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat 12:00 pm–2:00 pm Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat 6:00 pm–8:30 pm Sun 12:00 pm–5:30 pm
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    British, English
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Please note: we have limited parking and would appreciate our guests respecting our neighbours when parking.There is additional free parking located at Matfield village green, 5 minutes walk from us.Many thanks!
  • Public transit
    Bus stop The Standings Cross: 267 Hawkhurst, 268Hawkhurst, 6 Tunbridge Wells
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Lee Adams
  • Additional
    Dog Friendly, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable International Ltd. Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo