The back room in the Orson Welles pub just round the corner from Tunbridge Wells High Street reminds me of the wonderful leather, old wood rickety chair pubs of Edinburgh's Old Town - spacious, welcoming and comfy. It's a room that says "you're here for drink and conversation" and both flow easily. It feels like its been untouched by the ravages of the brewery chains, and the friendly, effusive staff add to the feeling that you're home from home.

The menu is fairly standard pub fare, but the ploughman's lunches are handsome, fresh, mountainous and recommended and my scampi and chips (I was in a retro Butlin's basket mood) were genuine battered wholetail scampi with real proper potatoes and a filling dressed salad garnish. More importantly it was hot!

There are also a few tables out the back if you have children. One of the best pubs in Tunbridge Wells. M