The Pantiles — Local services in Tunbridge Wells

I visited this cafe fort the first time a couple of weekends back as I always walk past it but never get the opportunity to sit in and eat.

When I walked through the door I was greeted with warm smiles by the lovely staff and was seated immediately. The menu consisted of mainly breakfast/brunch items and from dishes served to other customers they looked and smelt delightful.

I opted for something a bit different from the usual brunch items and went for flat bread topped with baba ghanoush [a spread/dip of finely chopped/mashed roasted aubergines, olive oil, lemon juice, various seasonings, and tahini] with roasted veg and cheese, the portion size was generous and the dish was a delight to eat.

I wanted to also sample something else so set the flat bread aside and ordered a boerewors sausage sourdough sandwich - this is a type of sausage which originated in South Africa, the name is derived from the Afrikaans words boer ("farmer") and wors ("sausage")... The sausage itself was very meaty and just what one expects from a good sausage sarnie.

All in all it was a very pleasurable experience with lovely attentive staff and a...

I'm born and bred in TW and I have watched the Pantiles slip down and down over the years. The Chalybeate springs have now been paved over and some cheap fountain system has been installed to give a false water fall effect of the springs. Awful tacky vending machines have been installed to sell "authentic" Tunbridge Wells spring water and the original railings have been cut away and discarded. Even the lovely original signs and information about Dudley Lord North have been covered over by cheap plastic replicas. Such a shame this was allowed to happen. No longer are there the bands that played every Sunday afternoon on the bandstand. There are some lovely aspects to The Pantiles. Look out for the oldest post box in Tunbridge Wells. Also, can you find the oldest building first built there? Another huge plus is The Ragged Trousers bar and bistro. EXCELLENT food and drink and always a friendly welcome. If you are a visitor to Tunbridge Wells, you will probably love it. If you are born and bred, you will remember it in...

The bit of Tunbridge Wells that sets it apart from the bit at the top of the hill which could be in any town with its chain outlets and chav infested shopping mall. The Pantiles is full of restaurants, tea shops, high end interior shops and a very nice pub. That said, it's not what it was. A lot of businesses have closed recently and what replaces them doesn't seem to stay long. Even Rosemary Schrager's lovely tea shop is gone. On the plus side there is a very nice food fair/craft market there twice a month, if you can afford it. The demolition of the car park at the bottom of the hill means you no longer have to walk through The Pantiles to get to the rest of the lower town but I'd recommend you take the diversion anyway. A quick pint or a cake in this corner which is still the essence of Tunbridge Wells is guaranteed to put you in...