Pub in the Park Tunbridge Wells 2023: What You Need to Know

Pub in the Park is going to be held in Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells, from the 7th to the 9th of July this year, celebrating all things pub, with excellent food, beer, and a fantastic music line-up. Fonthill Brewing Company is this year’s local brewery partner for the event. You’ll find us on the bar as well giving out free beer for those lucky enough to have access to the VIP tent.

Ready to learn more? Keep reading!

What is Pub in the Park? Here’s What to Expect

For the uninitiated, Pub in the Park is a travelling outdoor festival of food and music, held at various locations across the UK every summer. Michelin-star chefs, award-winning restaurants, and a line-up of local and well-known musicians come together to put on an entertaining weekend of alfresco dining, drinking, and partying for the whole family.

Pub in the Park Food

Pub in the Park is unabashedly a foodie’s dreamy, decadent paradise, with a range of award winning restaurants cooking up a storm of delicious options to choose from.

The restaurants taking part this year include Birchwoord, The Kentish Hare, Tapas Brindisa, The Hand & Flowers, Atul Kochhar Restaurants, and Tunbridge Wells’ local seafood restaurant and pub, Sankey’s.

From crispy chicken sliders to Sankey’s “Posh Scampi & Chips,” there’s something for everyone on this year’s Pub in the Park menus.

Celebrity Chef Demos

The event is presented by celebrity chef Tom Kerridge, who launched Pub in the Park in 2018, and you can expect to see him at the festival in Tunbridge Wells this year, along with fellow celeb chefs Andi Oliver (Great British Menu), Si King (Hairy Bikers), and others, dishing out cooking tips and tricks on the Chef Demo Stage.

If you’d prefer reading their recipes instead, you can head on over to “The Bookshop” where you can not only purchase a new cookbook, but also have the chance to get it personally signed by your favourite chef.

Live Music

This year’s Pub in the Park live music kicks off on Friday evening with performances by  Rudimental, EMF, and Mike Wilton. On Saturday, headliners including McFly and Badly Drawn Boy take centre stage. Sunday’s line-up promises to showcase a special performance by talented local composer and musician, Paul Dunton, alongside his unique cross-over orchestra – collectively known as The Paul Dunton Orchestra, followed by Grammy-nominated chart-toppers, Sister Sledge. 

Local Craft Beer by Fonthill Brewing Company

If good food and music are the soul and atmosphere of a pub, then beer is undoubtedly the heart. It brings people together and lifts spirits. That’s why we’re thrilled to be showcasing our exceptional Fonthill beer – handcrafted right here in the heart of Tunbridge Wells – at Pub in the Park this year.

What Else is there to do in Tunbridge Wells? The Fun Doesn’t Stop with Pub in the Park!

Whether you’re visiting Tunbridge Wells for the first time, or you’re looking for local events to enjoy this summer, there’s always something fun and exciting happening in town – even if you don’t end up going to Pub in the Park.

Some of the best pubs in Tunbridge Wells regularly host live music events, comedy nights, and DJ nights throughout the year, as well as serve a huge variety of craft beers, real ale, cocktails, and delicious food – so you can replicate your Pub in the Park fun every day of the week!

Let’s take a quick look at what’s on in Tunbridge Wells this summer.

Live Music in Tunbridge Wells This Summer

The Sussex Arms

Just a stone’s throw away from the Pantiles, The Sussex Arms is famous for its vibrant music scene and year-round events. It’s also one of the main venues for Tunbridge Wells’ Unfest music festival – and the infamous Sussex Arms quiz nights.

Whether you’re into old school metalcore or high-energy drum and bass, cool post-punk garage rock or alternative punk, The Sussex Arms basement (also known as the Forum Basement) is a lively venue, known for its unbeatable atmosphere.

The Forum Basement line-up for July includes live comedy by Dark Horse Live Comedy, and performances by Public Body, Sentience, and Dusty Grooves.

Check out the Sussex Arms live music page for dates, times, and tickets.

The Forum

The Forum is a legendary independent live music and arts venue in Tunbridge Wells. Past performers include the likes of Green Day, Oasis, and Adele. Today, the venue is known for its varied listings, and its championing of up-and-coming artists.

This July, you can catch performances by indie soul band Skinny Living, English rock legends The Blockheads, and a Back to the 80s DJ night featuring Ministry of Sound compiler DJ Alex Macnutt.

Swing by the Forum listing page to see all the amazing events they have lined up for this summer.

Jazz on the Pantiles

The Pantiles, the picturesque historic heart of Tunbridge Wells, is a delightful colonnaded Georgian walkway. Over 70 boutique independent shops, cafe’s, and restaurants offer visitors a unique shopping experience. From craft markets to food festivals, the Pantiles shines as one of the liveliest destinations in town.

During the summer, the Pantiles hosts Jazz musicians on the outdoor bandstand every Thursday evening from 7pm to 10pm. There’s a £5 admission fee applicable to event-only spectators and those dining at participating restaurants, but you won’t need to book in advance.

If you are planning on popping along for an evening of music, food, and jazz, make sure you head over to The Ragged Trousers for a selection of craft beers, real ales, wine, spirits, and more! You do not need to pay to go to The Ragged, but it does tend to get busy during Jazz on the Pantiles, and tables are strictly first come, first served – we recommend arriving early to secure yours.

Local & Live Music Festival

Local & Live is a free four day music festival that takes place in Calverley Grounds from the 25th to the 28th of August. This fun-filled event caters to all ages, showcasing the best live music, culture, and talent from Tunbridge Wells.

We’ll have a presence at this year’s Local & Live festival on the 25th, 26th & 27th of August. You’ll find our beer on sale in the beer tent, run jointly by the Forum, The Ragged, The Sussex & The George teams – don’t be shy, drop by and say hello!

The George Pub & Fonthill Brewery

We hope you get to try out our handcrafted beer at Pub in the Park, but if you don’t get the chance, we’d be thrilled to welcome you here at The George Pub on Mount Ephraim, our home base.

Here at The George, we take pride in creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for our guests. With three outdoor spaces to choose from, including our charming beer garden, you can soak in the sun while savouring tasty pub food. While here, you can explore our wide selection of craft beers, including our own Fonthill beer, brewed on site.

We’d also like to invite you to come over to the Fonthill Brewery taproom during the weekend for a chance to see where the magic happens.

Fancy a Sunday brunch? Swing by on Sunday between 10:30 and 2pm for a menu of delicious options including blueberry pancakes, eggs hollandaise, and more. 

Open House Events at The George

Our next open house event is on Saturday 5th August 2023. Open house events at The George range from live music and meet the maker events, featuring local distilleries, to a cocktail masterclass. We also open the doors to our small – but perfectly formed – brewery, so you can take a look around. 

Cocktails at The Gin Box

The Fonthill Brewery taproom is run by our partners over at The Gin Box. With their expertise in all things gin, and their unrivalled mastery of cocktail craftsmanship, they invite you to sample an exquisite line-up of delicious drinks.

The Gin Box is open every Friday evening from 5–11pm, and Saturdays between 12–11pm.

Wrapping Up

Pub in the Park is a celebration of fantastic pub food, live music, and beer. If you’re thinking of going, you can book your tickets through their website.

Heading to Tunbridge Wells for the first time? Don’t forget to pop over to town and check out all the amazing pubs, live music events, and restaurants this historic location has to offer. We can’t wait to meet you! 

Last but not least, if you’re trying out Fonthill Brew, we’d love for you to let us know what you think. Reach out, or leave a comment, on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Untapped.

See you soon!