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Your village pub guide
Time to get out into the countryside, relax and enjoy drinks and fine fare at one of the superb village pubs surrounding Tunbridge Wells. But which one? Here's a few we visited and all within a 15 minute drive
The George and Dragon
Village: Speldhurst, TN3 0NN
Landlord: Julian Leefe-Griffiths
Reason to visit: Fantastic top-quality food and drink, best enjoyed on the stylish outside decking area.
Summary: The George and Dragon is founded on the belief of 'food from a farm, not a factory' and it shows. In as many cases as possible the kitchen uses locally sourced produce to create excellent British food (think venison, rabbit, duck). Behind the bar, as well as the usual Kent and Sussex favourites (Harveys and Larkins) The George and Dragon also offers Belgium's Leffe and George's Marvellous Medicine from Westerham. The village of Speldhurst is the epitome of the Kentish idyll and having the perfect country pub is just another feather in its cap.
Contact: 01892 863 125
Web: www.speldhurst.com
The Red Lion
Village: Rusthall, TN4 8TW
Landlord: James Ireland
Reason to visit: Summer barbecues on Wednesday nights and Saturday afternoons with a chef who was part of a Michelin star - winning team.
Summary: Under the relatively new ownership of former Chapter One chef, James Ireland, The Red Lion is enjoying something of a return to form. The oldest licensed premises in Kent had slipped a little in recent years, but with plenty of local produce on the menu and Shepherd Neame Kentish ales on pump, plus a spacious garden, it's now a pleasant watering hole. Oh, and look around the bar and you'll find a dart board - not many places have one of those any more and it's nice to see that it's often in use.
Contact: 01892 520 513
Web: www.redlionrusthall.co.uk
Article continues in this month’s issue of So Tunbridge Wells magazine.