Vineyards To Visit In And Around Tunbridge Wells

The brochure In and around Royal Tunbridge Wells has a map showing Biddenden Vineyard, Stapleshurst, Tenterden Vineyard, Sandhurst and Iden Croft Herb Garden. The vineyards are marked with a handy little bunch of grapes symbol.

www.visittunbridgewells.com
email touristinformationcentre@tunbridgewells.gove.uk
tel in UK 01892 515675
From outside UK +44 1892 515675

Tonbridge: yes a bridge, must weigh a ton

Tun bridge or Tonbridge - I must admit I've always been confused and I've only just worked it out. Tonbridge has an O and a bridge. (But Tunbridge Wells - more water with a well, to be different, in order to avoid confusion, has a U. Think UW - double 'U' the two word place Tunbridge Wells.)

So one word ton, Tonbridge, was very visitor friendly to us. We stopped for a break for elevenses at Starbucks in the centre, with parking free outside on a Sunday morning. (Although I like Costa, the Costa was further on and parking was not so easy.)

A very pleasant stop on a Sunday, when we were able to park opposite a Starbucks, with opportunities to shop in W H Smiths opposite or good value in a large cheap goods for only a pound shop.

Tunbridge Wells for wine and weddings: at Hotel du Vin and Bistro and elsewhere

Drive your car into the small semi-circular 'sweep' drive and stop by the historic plaque. The starts Royal Tunbridge Wells. Why royal? I suppose because, as the plaque records, HM (Her majesty) Queen Victoria (1819-1901) stayed here frequently between 1826 and 1835, which by my calculation means whilst she was a child and a teenager, from the age of 7 to the age of 16, before her accession to the throne in 1837.

The hotel was originally a private residence, too big and grand to be called merely a house, so it is now a Grade II listed mansion and contains 34 bedrooms and suites.

The bar serves a good selection of wines, many by the glass, including names which may be a novelty, such as one from Uruguay.

Weddings and civil ceremonies.
Three private reception rooms for weddings:
Ruinart mirrored room, shown in their brochure has views of the garden;

Lunch Gastronomique, £24.95 for four courses on Sundays, including hot soup, charcuterie, pates, rilles, a table of seafood and crustacea and roasts, fresh breads and 'delectable delights to finish'. Available every Sunday from 12 noon.

Hotel du Vin and Bistro,
Crescent Road
Tunbridge Wells
TN1 2LY
www.HOTELDUVIN.com
email: bistro.tunbridgewells@hotelduvin.com
Tel: 0844 748 9266

Clock display times at all the Hotel du Vin locations including Brighton, York and Harrogate.

The Bistro 

Bistro manager welcomes you with a smile and a joke

Wines and pictures of wines

Wine displays

More pictures of wine in the hall. A picture of card players too.

In the Ladies wash your hands in faintly perfumed gel - not too strong because you want to be able to sniff the aroma of your wine.

Also see
The Secret Cellar (wine shop and wine tasting events).