At The Trading Post Bar & Lounge, delicious food is coupled with a top selection of wines, beers and spirits. We find out what’s available this summer, and how its relaxed and friendly setting could provide the perfect backdrop for an al fresco celebration or private function with friends and family.
Tell us the background of The Trading Post
We set up The Trading Post five years ago after the building was closed from being The Downs We have a couple of wine shops already established in the town, such as TN2 Wines on Frant Road, and it was a great opportunity to open our own bar and share our passion for quality food and drinks.
Why set up in Tunbridge Wells?
Tunbridge Wells is such a diverse and vibrant town these days, with a wonderful variety of bars and restaurants, so we thought we could fit in nicely, with our bar offering something a bit different for local people.
In what ways have you achieved that?
At The Trading Post, we offer a unique, modern bar environment, with a wide selection of handpicked beers, wines and spirits. The emphasis is on core traditional values, where we try to provide a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for our customers to relax with friends and family.
Talk us through some of the menu’s bestsellers
Popular dishes on our extensive menu range from eggs Benedict, to our club sandwich on our lunch menu, to tapas dishes like Balinese chicken satay, grilled chorizo, vegetable paella and salt and chilli squid. We also offer sharing boards with cheese and meat selections.
And which tipples are people enjoying at the moment?
Popular drinks at the moment vary from our wine selection, such as glasses of Sauvignon Blanc (£3.75), Pinot Blush (£3.75) or an Argentinian Malbec (£4), to our beers and lagers like Long Man Best (£3.50) or Moretti (£4). We also have a good juice selection, as well as a lot of interest in our bottled selections of ciders and craft beers for the adventurous ones.
Do you work with local breweries, vineyards and suppliers?
We use Tonbridge Brewery from time to time as a guest ale, and the same with the Long Man Brewery and Harvey’s. We also use Chapel Down Vineyard, along with Biddenden Vineyard, to give our customers a varied choice of tipples. Plus, we use Fuller’s of Hawkenbury for our meats and Oliver Veg, also from Tunbridge Wells, which provides us with fresh ingredients for our chef to use.
Can you tell us about your private function services?
We cater for any functions within the bar, and also outside functions of any kind. We provide a bespoke service for our guests, catering for all their needs at a venue of their choice, whether it be a wedding, birthday or anniversary. Within the bar, we can offer an area for up to 60 guests for drinks and canapé parties, and again can provide whatever the needs are, such as arrival drinks and cocktails.
What can customers expect from a visit this summer?
We’ll be organising a few events, such as live music and food evenings, plus some fantastic offerings on our lunch menu, tapas menu and wines – which are available to take home too. We try to keep it seasonal here, so a more varied option on chilled wines and even some cocktails and fresh fruit drinks.
Will there be many al fresco opportunities?
Our terraced garden is a real suntrap and the perfect setting to relax and while away the summer evenings. It’s a great place for meeting friends and sharing some food and a chilled bottle of something. We also provide shade, should the British summer get to be a scorcher!
Where would you like to take The Trading Post going forward?
The aim for the future is to continue to offer a high level of service, and develop new and exciting food and drink menus for our customers.
THE TRADING POST BAR & LOUNGE
5 Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9SA
01892 459 867
www.thetradingpostbar.co.uk
