Disclaimer: We received a complimentary lunch for two in return for a review of Thackeray’s restaurant.
Thackeray’s in Tunbridge Wells is a formerly Michelin-starred restaurant, named after novelist William Makepeace Thackeray who resided in the building which is, at over 300 years old, the oldest building in Tunbridge Wells.
I have visited several times before – at least once with my husband and once with my friend Lizzie – but not since having children, and not since it lost its Michelin Star in 2017.
I told Lizzie to book the afternoon off work so that we could make the most of a nice lunch and see what Thackeray’s had to offer and whether it had changed.
Thackeray’s offer a lunchtime menu, a set Chef’s tasting menu, and an à la carte menu.
The lunch menu is very well priced, costing £20 for two courses and £24 for three courses. It offers a vegetarian, fish and meat option for each course, and you can get a recommended wine pairing for £10.
Although this menu changes frequently, this was the selection on offer when we visited:
The chef’s tasting menu is currently priced at £78 with a £50 supplement for the recommended wine pairing (or £95 for the premium wine pairing). This is the kind of menu I’d go for on a special birthday as I love to try out new things; although price-wise it’s expensive for a meal out, it’s on a par with other restaurants we’ve been to and loved.
However having trialled the two set menus at various times, we decided to pick off the à la carte menu – after all, they had scallops to start and they’re my absolute favourite.
While we chose our food, we had some mulled bellinis.
These seasonal aperitifs were suggested by the waiter, and were lovely. If you happen to have sparkling wine at home, I definitely recommend whipping up some of your own!
We were also brought a selection of breads with the most delicious whipped Marmite butter.
The gluten-free alternative included toasted bread (apparently, not as awful as some gluten free bread) and popcorn. Lizzie noted that it’s really nice when restaurants give alternatives where people have allergies and intolerances, rather than just removing that item from the dish, so this pleased her immensely.
Starters
The scallops were beautifully cooked and came with globe artichoke, mashed violet potato (that’s the purple bit!), toasted hazelnuts and praline sauce with vegetable crisps scattered on top. Not too ridiculously fussy, but definitely recognisable as high-end food.
Meanwhile, Lizzie chose the Brill which came in a smooth lobster and carrot cream sauce.
We took the waiter’s suggestion and each had a glass of wine which was perfectly paired with our chosen dishes.
If you visit Thackeray’s, I do suggest you do this and take the recommended wine pairing; the wine list is extensive and it can be very hard to choose! There is no way I would have picked out a wine from Slovenia or Israel to complement my meal, but they really were perfect.
Mains
I agonised briefly over whether it was acceptable to have fish for starter and main, before realising I didn’t care and going for it anyway.
I ordered monkfish which is another favourite and one I rarely get to eat – my husband doesn’t eat fish so I don’t tend to cook it at home.
It was, again, beautifully presented. The monkfish was cooked to perfection and was easily flaked off the bone with a fork. The sauce was tangy and flavourful, and the dish came with celeriac and baked beans, as well as pieces of bacon which complemented it beautifully.
Meanwhile, Lizzie went for Venison, which came perfectly pink in the middle, served with a whole stuffed miniature squash.
Dessert
Despite wanting to try as many different dishes as possible, we couldn’t decide who was going to try the blackbery crumble souffle – so we both had it.
Served with custard and apple sorbet, I can’t fault it. It was, hands down, the best souffle I’ve ever tasted!
The gluten free version came without any crumble, which was a shame.
After our meal, we had coffee and petit fours.
Our verdict on Thackeray’s, Tunbridge Wells
AA Gill I’m certainly not, but I can tell you that I really enjoyed my meal and will definitely be returning.
Clean plates and happy faces all round; the portions are surprisingly substantial, the meals are exquisitely presented, the tastes are bold and unusual but the dishes are so well thought out and perfectly prepared. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals.
Thackeray’s at lunchtime is extremely comfortable with a pleasant ambience.
With couples and people on business, most of the tables downstairs were full and it added to a pleasant, buzzy atmosphere. We chatted away happily not even realising how much time had passed.
We certainly didn’t feel out of place or unwelcome, which I have to say is something I’ve felt before on occasion dining in Michelin Star quality restaurants.
We then stayed at Thackeray’s, browsed the cocktail menu and caught up for the rest of the afternoon – even if you’re not looking for somewhere to eat, the cocktails are well worth checking out. The pricing is similar to other premium Tunbridge Wells locations, with most cocktails costing between £11.50 and £13.50.
I thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Thackeray’s.
The food was delicious and so thoughtfully presented. The staff were attentive and the atmosphere was welcoming and friendly.
It’s a high-end restaurant with an expensive price point so sadly I – and most people, really – wouldn’t be able to afford to go there regularly even with babysitters in place… but I do want to return to try out the lunch menu again and maybe try out the tasting menu for our next anniversary as a treat!
You can take a look at the current menus at Thackeray’s Tunbridge Wells here.