The Three Tuns — Restaurant in Borough of Swale

The Three Tons in Lower Halstead pulled out all the stops for its annual beer festival, and it was easily one of the most enjoyable local events I’ve attended in quite some time. The pub itself has always had a warm, traditional character – low beams, a crackling fireplace, and a steady flow of regulars who make you feel welcome even if it’s your first visit. But during the festival, it felt like the entire village and half the neighboring towns had descended upon it, giving the place a lively, almost carnival-like atmosphere.

The beer selection was exceptional. Over the course of the weekend, there were more than twenty ales and craft brews on tap, with a good balance of local favorites and adventurous guest options. The range went from classic bitters and golden ales to rich stouts and porters, and even a few experimental brews with unusual infusions. What I particularly appreciated was the effort the staff had made to provide tasting notes for each beer. It turned the experience into something more than just drinking – it felt like a guided journey through different brewing styles and regional traditions.

Beyond the beer, the Three Tons made sure the festival felt like a proper community event. There was live music in the evenings, ranging from acoustic folk to lively covers that had people up dancing in the courtyard. Local food vendors set up stalls, offering everything from hog roasts and homemade pies to lighter snacks for those pacing themselves through the tasting. The combination of hearty food, good beer, and cheerful company created a relaxed but celebratory vibe that lingered well into the night.

The staff deserve special mention. Even at the busiest times, they managed to keep service friendly and efficient, and their enthusiasm for the festival was contagious. You could tell they were proud of the event and eager to help visitors discover new brews.

All in all, the Three Tons Beer Festival was a brilliant showcase of what makes traditional pubs so special: community spirit, great beer, and a sense of belonging. I’ll definitely be...

Having taken my mum there recently for a birthday meal, we were impressed by the specials and variety and thoroughly enjoyed our meal, though service was a little slow. We returned recently and had a similar experience, we took the family out and found again that the service was a little lacking, not terrible, but just not to the standard we would expect for a place that has a reputation for really good food. We had to ask someone to take our orders twice for mains and deserts, and the check back came before anyone could really eat anything off their plate. When we asked about someone taking our desert order, we was informed the guy is taking orders on another table and will be with us shortly. Having worked in the service industry for a number of years I found this a little disconcerting given that the person could have taken the order for us on their colleagues' behalf instead of making us wait even longer than we already had. I will leave a tip based on service, and unfortunately, on this occasion, I did not. I did however leave something for the young lady on the bar who we witnessed deal with an extremely rude lady when we arrived, and she was impeccable.

Food is great, just maybe try to visit in a quieter period, cider selection is also amazing but be sure to check the chalk board at the back the bar as it wasn't so obvious to my old eyes, parking can also be a bit premium as we discovered someone had blocked some other patrons in when...

I loved my visit to The Three Tuns. I stopped off whilst on a bike ride through the beautiful countryside surrounding the village and had a lovely meal and a pint in the garden. Everything went very well and I really enjoyed the food and the surroundings.

I opted for a Cajun chicken burger which was very tasty and well worth the money.

The staff were very nice and professional and all the timings were spot on (service, waiting for food, asking if everything was okay, would I like another drink ,etc). I also enjoyed the music that was being played and I look forward to visiting again sometime soon.

Revisited the pub and I am pleased to report that it is just as good if not better than my first visit. I was on a bit of an epic bike ride so I only opted for the Cheesy Chips🍟 this time but other people where having main meals and they looked and smelled delicious 😋 .

There is a reclaimed nature reserve known as The Old Brickworks opposite The Three Tuns. It is well worth a look whilst you are visiting as there are some lovely views of the boats out on the water (or maybe in the mud if the tide is out!) and of the local church just a matter of metres from the front of the pub and many people walk their dogs there before stopping off in the pub for a pint.

As I mentioned before, this is a great pub, highly recommended and I will be back again and...