Smith & Western Tunbridge Wells

We left full and happy without feeling like we'd need a small loan to pay for it. The portions were generous, the prices reasonable, and the service from our waiter Dan was friendly and attentive from start to finish. It made the whole meal easy and enjoyable. The burger was solid, the prawns were tasty, the buffalo wings hit the spot, and the Oreo brownie sundae was the star for us, honestly unreal. Smith and Weston does hearty American-style comfort food well. We weren't expecting fine dining or anything fancy, and enjoyed it for exactly what it was: a relaxed meal with good food, good portions and great service.

The food came out quickly, in huge portions, and tasted really good. It was warm rather than piping hot, but still very nice. The atmosphere was great, and although our table wasn't ready when we arrived and we had to wait at the bar, service was excellent despite how busy it was. They didn't forget about us. I'd definitely return and recommend it.

The hotel has lovely character inside and out, with clean, cosy rooms, thoughtful decor and beautiful gardens. We stayed two nights and had a really pleasant time. It's good value, and I highly recommend it. Dinner was lovely too: my husband had steak and I had chicken fajitas, both well cooked, and mine was delicious. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful. We didn't catch his name, but he's been with the company for six years and is a real asset to Smith&Western. Breakfast was the one letdown. The full ranchers breakfast wasn't great: the mushrooms and bacon were overcooked and greasy, and the toast was overdone as well. The waitress serving us was grumpy and matter of fact, and didn't sound friendly at all, as if she didn't want to be there. The next morning we tried pancakes. They looked lovely, but were bland, too thick and much too big. We ordered five each and managed only one each. A picture on the menu would help show their size, and I wish the waiter had warned us. He was friendly and chatty that time, I think he was Greek. Even with the breakfasts and grumpy waitress, the rest of our stay was great, and we'll definitely be back.

The old Tunbridge Wells West station is solidly built, so there was no noise between rooms. The pub bar could be heard from our room in the afternoon, but that was to be expected with a Wild West themed pub. After it closed and the staff had cleaned up, it was completely quiet, and there was no noise overnight. The only thing I'd change is the bed size: the double felt a little tight lengthwise, although the mattress and pillows were very comfortable. We had a superb stay. Breakfast was generous and included in the price, the staff were excellent, and the facilities were great: coffee machine, free Wi-Fi, minibar, iron and board, hair dryer and free parking. The shower was one of the best I've had in ages, and the toiletries felt luxurious. Highly recommended, and I'd stay again in a heartbeat.