Punch & Judy - that's the way to do it!

Last Friday afternoon I called in at the Punch & Judy in Tonbridge. Keen readers might remember this was the pub I mentioned briefly whilst writing a post about the Nelson Arms. I’d bumped into an old friend in the pub, who was enthusing about the quality of the Harvey’s at the Punch. The reason for the top-notch beer is because the landlady of the PJ has taken the bold, but quite sensible decision to slim down the range of draught beer in her pub.

Actually, a cull would be the most appropriate word, because if you want a pint of draught at the Punch, you are limited to just two beers - one cask ale, plus one keg. There are no surprises for guessing that the cask is Harvey’s Sussex Best, but more controversially the keg is Foster’s lager. Ignoring the latter, because that’s the best thing to do with Aussie fizz, her strategy of just two draught beers, means they turn over in just a few days, rather than sitting for days in cask, keg or the beer lines.

A quick turnover not only means fresh beer, but also beer that is a pleasure to drink, and the strategy is obviously working as, according to my friend Eric, the Punch is selling one of the best pints of Harvey’s in town. Determined to check this out for myself, I nipped along to the Punch & Judy, and this is what I found. Friday’s reconnaissance trip was my first visit to the pub in several years, or possibly even longer, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. There was a small crowd of blokes hanging around the bar, plus a handful of drinkers sat in the middle section of the pub.

Ignoring the suspicious looks from one or two of the customers (the pub is opposite the rear of Tonbridge Police Station, I ordered myself a pint of Harvey’s Sussex, and after paying for it, took my glass along to the far end of the pub, where there is a raised section tucked out of the way. I’ve never been quite sure about the origins of this part of the Punch because it almost seems like a separate building. It is single storey, with a series of stained-glass windows that let in the light. I have a feeling that this area was possibly the club room, but whatever its origins, I have always regarded it as the nicest part of the pub.

Back to the Sussex Best, it was keenly priced at £4.70 a pint, which is cheaper than you would pay in most Harvey’s tied pubs. The beer in my glass, was excellent, well-kept, tasty and most appealing. I was debating whether to award a score of 5.0 on Untappd, but in the end settled for a 4.75. Continuing with the superlatives, the beer was full-bodied and multi-layered, with sufficient hops to balance out the malt. It was definitely one of the best pints of Harvey’s I’ve enjoyed in a long time. Eric was obviously right, and I shall tell him so, next time I see him. I only had time for the one pint, because Mrs PBTS was expecting me home for tea, but I shall definitely return.

Towards the end of my stay at the Punch, there was a subtle shift in the type of customer, and it altered from single, slightly leary builder types, to couples and others who seemed like professional people, who had just finished work, and had popped in for a relaxing pint on their way home. It’s worth recording that I've known the Punch & Judy on and off for many years, but when I first moved to Tonbridge it was called the Gardener’s Arms. 

In those days, it was a small and compact backstreet local, with two bars. Somewhere along the line the interior was opened up, a move which, to my mind, destroyed much of the pub’s character. To be fair, the place has mellowed a lot since then. The accompanying enlargement of the drinking areas, led to a change of name, although initially the pub had a different name prior to becoming the Punch & Judy. I’m struggling to recall what that interim name was, so if any Tonbridge readers are able to enlighten me, it would be much appreciated.

That’s it in a nutshell really, as apart from the Punch being a thriving community local, offering regular live music, as well as excellent beer, there isn’t much else to say. No food is available, probably because there isn’t much call, but dogs appear welcome, and the Punch has its own pooch to keep an eye on things. However, given its proximity to Tonbridge nick, there shouldn’t be much call for a fierce dog to see off any ne’er-do-wells.