The Duke of York, Tunbridge Wells

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#98 of 245 Restaurants in Royal Tunbridge WellsBritish, Vegetarian friendly, $$ - $$$

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The Duke of York, Tunbridge Wells

Review

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Website

+44 1892 517619Improve this listing

About

Beautifully located on the Pantiles of Tunbridge Wells, The Duke of York offers an elegant welcome to the Royal Borough

Features

CUISINES

British

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner, Drinks

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Dog Friendly

Free Wifi

Full Bar

Highchairs Available

Outdoor Seating

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Street Parking

Wine and Beer

Location

17 The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TD England

Street Parking

Is this a British restaurant?

Yes

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Hours

Suggest an edit

Closed now

• Opens at 11:00 AM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Monday

11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

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3.7

193 reviews

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Average

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Terrible

royjw

United Kingdom58 contributions

Lunch

Jul 2021 • none

We sat outside for lunch and had a very pleasant experience. We both chose the chicken Caesar salad and we both commented on how good it was. It was fresh and tasty and served with anchovies, bacon, croutons and a softly boiled egg. The service was friendly as well.

Written July 7, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul R

Royal Tunbridge Wells127 contributions

Disappointed

Jun 2023 • family

Came here to eat as we had a birthday voucher. The food was disappointing, l went for the signature dish of pork ribs, which looked like they had be microwaved and it certainly did not live up to its description. The burgers which others had again we dry, and not juicy when cooked fresh. The service at the bar was great. We were found a table outside. Good selection of drinks. Would visit again for a drink.

Written June 26, 2023

DeltaLima54

Fawley124 contributions

An evening in T Wells

Oct 2020 • none

A friend and I decided to meet and eat here this evening. The range of beers looked good, I was driving so did not indulge. We decided to eat and both chose the chicken and ham pie with chips. I want to be positive as it tasted nice but it was served on cold plates, the pie and chips were warm, the Savoy cabbage was warm to cold. They weren’t busy and I am said that a meal (two meals) could not be served on hot plates and the food be arm to hot.

Written October 7, 2020

Laura

3 contributions

Don’t serve food if they already have 3 tables of people eating

Apr 2024 • friends

Don’t go if you expect to eat, not even a snack. We got our drinks then were told they couldn’t do food as they already had three tables eating. We were a group of 7 and only wanted 3 portions of nachos to share with a lunchtime drink. They advertise good food out side the pub and we’re happy to take our money for drinks( which were expensive) . We wouldn’t have minded if they had said we can’t do food before taking our drinks order and money as we would have just moved on to somewhere else. Not at all impressed.

Written April 16, 2024

robyncollins

Kent10 contributions

GBP18.50 I’LL NEVER GET BACK.

Sep 2023 • friends

A pub should serve its staple fare such as fish and chips, hamburgers, pies, bangers and mash etc very, very well. We ordered hamburgers and chips at The Duke of York. The chips were excellent. The hamburgers were awful. They were served lukewarm at best, overpowered with bacon jam so that the predominant flavour was acid and sugar, and cheese nowhere to be seen there was that little of it. But the worst was the meat patty. So hard, it could be used as a curling stone. My friend described it as “indescribably tight”. I had no words so let my actions speak instead and left three-quarters of it on the plate. Demolished the chips though. We debated whether or not to mention anything when we struggled through our first mouthfuls of the hamburger but decided against it. As mentioned above, if you’re a pub owner/pub chef/pub manager, you KNOW what you’re serving to your customers so why make me the bad guy and point out how bad your burger is? GBP18.50 for this sub-standard meal, btw.

Written September 27, 2023

Julie M

12 contributions

Totally awful. Beyond words.

Aug 2021 • none

We had very carefully booked an upstairs table for 6. We were told that though they weren't really opening upstairs they would be able to on this occasion. On this basis we confirmed the booking. Well, of course we arrived to find that we were downstairs. We'd asked for upstairs as we knew downstairs would be noisy for our guests. Then the food. No one gave us menus or even engaged with us at all. We found menus and went to order. 1st starter ordered wasn't available. No worries we chose another. Then the main course. We ordered steak and were told there was no steak. None of the staff had bothered to alert us to any of this. Again we simply ordered something else. When it came the food was very, very poor, except the nachos. All the chips were cold, burger buns stale ( they could have toasted it to cover that) and the other food luke warm. The veggie burgers were very overcooked too. We ploughed on and then came to pudding!!! We went up to the bar at 9.01pm to be told the chef had gone home. No warning, nothing. The only saving grace was the young lady on duty who was professional, courteous and obviously very embarrassed. She gave us a small discount which we appreciated but in fact we should have complained and insisted on talking to the manager. The evening was still very expensive for awful food, largely poor service ( except the young lady) and nothing as agreed. They were not understaffed. At one point we count 5 people behind the bar doing nothing. We had chosen the Duke of York as a place with good simple food and a nice ambiance. It turned out to be a complete embarrassment that we'd taken our guests there and subjected them to such an overwhelmingly awful experience. Finally all drinks were served in single use plastic tumblers. There was no need for this and other establishments use proper glasses. To be served a nice wine in a plastic tumbler was not what we'd hoped for. Fullers you should be ashamed to be running a pub of such low standards. Your use of plastic glasses cannot be ecologically sound. Why are you doing this?

Written August 20, 2021

Timwoodhams1234

Crowborough53 contributions

Friendly staff with great food and surroundings

Jun 2023 • couples

The most friendly relaxed pub in Tunbridge Wells, food always excellent, the staff are always extremely helpful and friendly , always full of smiles and happy to help. Food is always excellent and they go above and beyond to make sure that you are happy . The manager is always happy to help and full of smiles also. Always a pleasure to eat here

Written June 18, 2023

Charlie

Royal Tunbridge Wells22 contributions

Beautiful Original Pub

Jun 2022 • friends

One of my favourite pubs in this town, beautiful selection of quality beers and many other options if you don’t fancy a beer, the outside area looks so nice especially when in the sun, could sit there all day. The staff there are so welcoming and are always up for a chat. The young lady with curly hair and tall chap were who served me were lovely and they all make it a really nice atmosphere to walk into. I have been a couple times and I’d definitely recommend to go on a Thursday throughout the summer as it’s such a nice atmosphere with the jazz going on at the Pantiles. Will definitely be back again soon for another tasty beer and most likely a nice chat with the bar staff.

Written June 16, 2022

SueG

5 contributions

Check card reader before paying

Jun 2021 • none

Was charged 59.36 for a £52.90 drinks and meal. My fault for not checking card reader. Also when checked bank statement this did not show as pending . We went on a Friday and the amount came out on Sunday, so no pre warning we had been overcharged. We also gave barman £5 tip. There were only two of us and so the optional 12.5% service charge did not apply. We were not asked if we would like to have it added. Will not be visiting again and now less trusting.

Written June 13, 2021

Lyn S

Battle22 contributions

Al fresco lunch

Aug 2021 • family

What a find. A gem. I was almost put off my some reviews but luckily I wasn’t. The Duke of York, Pantiles. Tunbridge Wells. Spot on. A glorious Sunday lunch of roast beef plus (extras gravy beautifully presented ) without being asked for.. Brad. Front of house was fantastic. He even found me some cushions as saw I was having difficulty. All staff very efficient and smiley. Great and varied menu. We were too full to attempt the puds tragically! We shall be back. Highly recommended.

Written August 2, 2021

StephenAP

Ipswich94 contributions

Sunday luncj

May 2022 • none

Party of 5, sunny day and went for sunday lunch, fish and chips, chicken burger. nut roast and local pie. Chicken burger was good but counted 6 chips, fish was well cooked but one plate had few chips. Pie was lovely and pleny of meat. Nut roast was rubbish, flat yorkshire pudding, one hard carrot and was clearly microwaved, roast potatoes were good and again frozen variety. Please get your roasts dinners right. Good service and well stocked beer and in a great location. Litte things needed

Written May 23, 2022

Becky

8 contributions

Rude staff and overpriced

Jul 2021 • friends

Visited late evening after a meal with friends. We ordered 3 gin and tonics and a vodka and coke, and the bill came to almost £45. When we questioned the price, the staff member rolled her eyes and said ‘ they are doubles and it’s pantiles prices’. 1) we did not order doubles 2) we could get cheaper in London/ a different place with more polite staff. I do not recommend this place unless you want rude staff and overpriced drinks. Unfortunately my friends and myself will not be visiting again, despite having visited many times before.

Written July 30, 2021

Carina C

Sao Paulo4 contributions

The best pub in town

Aug 2022 • family

The pub has a really nice enviroment inside and a good open area where you can seat, drink and relax during the entire day. There is a special menu of Summer Spritz that I enjoyed a lot. Best place to have a beer in Tumbridge Wells!

Written August 28, 2022

Indy Bengal

Folkestone399 contributions

Lunch in the Pantiles

Aug 2022 • business

Lets start with positives; the service was fine. The menu offers good choices. Had to wait along time for food as only one chef was working. Food quality was average and the prices matched this. Does what it says on the tin!

Written August 5, 2022

Dakles

Southampton1295 contributions

Good traditional pub

Oct 2020 • none

Located on the historic Pantiles this is a really nice traditional pub with a good range of Fullers cask ales on the bar. There are about 8 or 9 outdoor tabled on the street for the fine weather plus indoor seating over two floors. Staff are friendly and the place has a pleasant and cosy atmosphere. We didn't eat but the food we saw being served looked pretty good.

Written October 2, 2020