GRUB & LIQUOR

“The new owners took over in February during lockdown, so a real baptism of fire as a time to open a new business! I got here in June as General Manager, and we pretty much started from scratch with a new staff team, so we’ve all grown together with the business, which is lovely. We’re a strong unit now.

We’re trying to provide a really fun, party atmosphere, which I think is lacking in Tunbridge Wells - you’ve got lots of nice fine dining restaurants and coffee shops for during the day, but we’re trying to provide a carefree place where people can just come and have some drinks, enjoy themselves and let their hair down! We’ve started doing regular DJ sets on a Friday and Saturday, which are really taking off.

We’re looking to do more of that in the New Year, themed party nights on Thursdays and across the weekend, themed brunches on a Sunday, cocktail deals and offers on the drinks people love - just trying to make it the place that people come for occasions such as hen dos and birthday parties.

We’ll be refurbishing our function room downstairs, which is really popular at the moment. It has a 95 person capacity, so it’s a big space. It has its own separate bar and facilities, so it’s completely exclusive for your party - you don’t have to come upstairs or be part of the bar crowd, so it’s a really great party space, that you can decorate yourself.

We also want to work more with the community, so I’ve opened up the function room free of charge for community groups, charities, anyone who needs a space but can’t afford to hire one. It’s our way of giving something back, and getting to know the people around us, and being part of the town, being more involved locally. I think there’s a lot of excitement about Christmas this year, obviously it felt like last year was a little bit cancelled so people are just so eager to get out. I love Christmas anyway and fingers crossed, everyone is healthy and safe and nothing will come in the way of the celebrations this year.

We’ve had quite an early surge in both private parties and Christmas party bookings so I’m hopeful - and people are booking for next year as well! We’re busy planning for New Year’s Eve, with two floors - a disco upstairs and a disco downstairs with different genres of music. But also holding a second New Year’s Eve party for those who have to work on the actual night, so the following week we’ll have a second one for emergency services staff and those who were on call.

Although we’re next to the Pantiles, we’re a little bit tucked away, so not everyone realises we are here. We’re really trying to focus on raising that profile, and attracting new customers. During the summer we took part in the Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival, and we had so many events here, and lots of people who wouldn’t necessarily have come here before, now come here and spread the word. I think we are slowly getting into the community but there’s still more we can do. It’s a nice place to be a part of, there’s lot of lovely things going on.

We want to support local acts, offering them a space that they can perform in free of charge, giving them exposure but also bringing in customers who weren’t aware of us previously.” ■

“People are already booking their parties for next Christmas!”