The Royal Wells Hotel

The Royal Wells Hotel descritpion

Overlooking Tunbridge Wells Common, The Royal Wells Hotel is a traditional, family-run hotel within walking distance of the center of town. It offers 2 restaurants, 3 bars and free parking.
The Royal Wells owes its name to Queen Victoria who frequently stayed at the hotel as a young princess in the early 19th-century.
Each room is individually designed and furnished with antiques. Features include tea and coffee making facilities and private bathrooms. Guests can also use Wi-Fi free of charge in the entire building.
The Conservatory Restaurant, with its intimate lounge bar, uses fresh, local produce. Guests may also want to try out the newly refurbished Chalybeate Restaurant.
Together with The Ephraim Bar, The Beau Nash pub and The Wells Bar also offer an extensive list of drinks and dishes. The Royal Wells has weekly live music on Saturday nights.

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Facilities of The Royal Wells Hotel

Outdoors ：Grounds

Pets ：Free!Pets are allowed on request. No extra charges.

Activities ：Golf Course (within 2 miles)

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Breakfast in the Room

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Free!Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

General ：Newspapers | Facilities for Disabled Guests | Elevator | Heating | All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

Languages Spoken ：Spanish | English

Reviews for The Royal Wells Hotel

Review 1：Difficult to find parking around if the hotel car park is full. Service at breakfast was poor, had to ask to place an order after waiting half an hour although there seemed plenty of staff.

Review 2：Lovely old hotel perfectly placed to walk into the town. Great view from our window. Bed was comfortable.

Review 3：Loud noise from kitchen extractor woke me early when in Room 3. Was given room 15 which was excellent for single traveller.

Review 4：Staff were excellent. Enjoyed variety of breakfast menu. Was with wedding family party and everything we asked for was available

Review 5：The radiator in our room wasn't working and it was a very cold night. The manager sent up a mobile radiator which warmed the room up after we left it on whilst we went out. The fan in the bathroom was very noisy but we found the off switch for that , which solved the problem.

Review 6：The breakfast was excellent, the location was excellent, bed very comfortable. Very nice comfortable hotel.

Review 7：Getting dinner served on Saturday evening was difficult. My husband had to wait nearly 50 minutes for his guinea fowl.

Review 8：A quiet location, from where we could walk to visit our family for the Christmas celebrations.

Review 9：Noise in room 3 but this was overcome by changing my room to a much nicer one. Chefs didn't seem to understand the term vegan and weren't very well prepared even though a lot of notice given. It was eventually overcome adequately.

Review 10：Great front of house staff. Well run hotel.

Review 11：No parking on arrival or overnight and no one cared. 2 hour only on the roadside alternative parking available locally. Not ideal when you arrive in the dark, already late and it's raining! Horrendously loud kitchen extractor fan (industrial) venting out onto our bedroom window late into the night and starting again very early morning pre 6.30am, we were told on arrival it would go off soon - it didn't, it really ruined our stay and made spending time in the room unbearable! Avoid room 3 at all costs! As we departed 9am ish our room was almost barricaded in by cleaning products and laundry sacks new and old possibly from the function room and the party the night before. It felt as though we were in the "servants" quarters! There was rarely anyone in reception and the restaurant at breakfast was sparcely staffed too. Although a stunning hotel, we have had better customer service and been made to feel more welcome at every hotel we've ever been to.

Review 12：Some staff where friendly even though hard to find at reception or in the restaurant. The decor and furnishings were stunning!

Review 13：I was here a couple of years before, liked it then, but the hotel has been seriously refurbished and I like it even more now! The restaurant wasn't bad either. Lovely place.

Review 14：our room 22 was at the back of the hotel and at 6 am we could hear the air conditioning coming on, it woke us up

Review 15：very clean Rooms rooms elegant decor good room9 especially spacious a good size television breakfast was excellent

Review 16：The only thing I can think of to improve this hotel is to check radiators that they are working properly .

Review 17：Staff so friendly and made you very welcome nothing was to much trouble,

Review 18：Hard pillows. Also booked a deluxe room, but got an accessible first floor family room with no view, even though we did not need bunk beds and disabled facilities, but hotel was full so could not move despite asking.

Review 19：Stylish hotel in great location. Fantastic brekkie.

Review 20：Our room was very cold but I have to say that the manager on duty on Saturday 21 November was excellent and did everything he could to make us warm! He gave us extra duvets and shortbread biscuits to go with our tea which obviously helped!

Review 21：Perfect location. Friendly staff and nice big room.

Review 22：There were quite a lot of steps to get to the room which as there was an elderly member of our party were a little awkward, however I would know in future to ask for a more easily accessible room. Not the fault of the hotel just the way it is with an old building.

Review 23：The hotel has been recently redecorated to a very high standard. Staff were very friendly and helpful.

Review 24：Being addressed as "Guys" or "Folks" in the restaurant. Having a bottle of "J2o" brought to the dining table and left there for my wife to pour herself. Ordered coffee with the waitress to be served in the lounge but it never arrived as it had not been ordered by her.

Review 25：The hotel was very comfortable and provided all the facilities we wished for. The staff on the reception desk were extremely pleasant and helpful and except for the issues in the dining room we were very happy and would stay again.

Review 26：Just fantastic! Lovely room and bathroom. Wonderful dinner, excellent choice and wine, buzzing bar. Nice staff, nothing too much trouble. Delicious breakfast, good quality produce cooked well. We will definitely be back. Well done Royal Wells we stay somewhere most weeks and this so far is the very best from start to finish. Thank you.

Review 27：Bit disappointed with the wifi in the room. Had to register with personal details and quality of connection was poor with low speeds experienced

Review 28：Breakfast was served by very pleasant staff and was very tasty. Good breakfast menu

Review 29：Car parking was limited

Review 30：Great location, good restaurant and bar. Room was small but comfortable with outstanding views across Tunbridge Wells. The hotel had a make over in March, looks good.

Review 31：The Monday morning trash/recycling truck pulled up at 6.30 and was idling right outside our window for about five minutes. It's not anyone's fault really, as our window was overlooking the service road to the restaurant/pub behind the hotel, but it might be something to look into and reassess with the council.

Review 32：Excellent and very affordable room, great bed and bathroom. Soaked in tub after a gray and rainy day and was refreshed for the evening. Nice and quiet as well. If we hadn't had plans we would definitely have tried the bar/restaurant as well. Next time!

Review 33：Hotel décor and cleanliness are excellent While I didn't use the restaurant for dinner breakfast was first class All staff I have dealing with were most helpful I would definitely stay again

Review 34：On arrival there was a wedding on so we were unable to park. Would have been nice to have been given warning of this event

Review 35：Stylish, comfortable, warm and modern. Wonderful food and wine list

Review 36：My short stay ??ooh I did feel a little annoyed when I came out in morning and all laundry bags were in my way guests shouldn't have to pass by all this it should be hidden from view did feel like I had got the cheap room in the hotel when I seen this.room however was beautiful and comfy and staff were nice and friendly would love to stay again

Review 37：Hotel was lovely and compliments to the Chef outstanding breakfast amazing in fact and plenty of it as I got the room available at a good price this was all brilliant would really stay again if I got it at same price or a deal for more then one ngt as it was comfy clean fab bed

Review 38：Shortage in staff as breakfast plates were left on tables and when leaving the bedroom had to climb over bedding etc that had been left in the hallway when other rooms were beinf cleaned. The staff that were on were working hard just need more of them

Review 39：Beautiful hotel friendly staff

Review 40：We arrived late on a Thursday evening, about 9:45 and the receptionist was not as welcoming as she could have been. A little training in customer relations needed I think. Avoid room 3, it has the kitchen extractor fan outside the window and it sounds like a jet engine at 5:30 in the morning.

Review 41：Breakfast was amazing, most of the staff were great and very friendly

Review 42：Only downside was no mirror for my girlfriend when she blow dried her hair but this was mentioned and could be an oversize as room was fresh

Review 43：As a former hotelier I have stayed in many hotels and this one was fresh, staff were fantastic, room lay out was terrific and spacious.

Review 44：There was nothing to dislike. It's a great hotel!

Review 45：The interior of the hotel was excellent! The rooms were decorated to a high standard and very comfortable. The restaurant where breakfast was a bright cheery room and the food was great!

Review 46：Both nights we was unable to sleep as in a room close to a function party room massive Noise from disco to midnight We had to complain we retire to bed at 10 pm Totally unsuitable hotel for a quite weekend away!

Review 47：The whole hotel ( but )

Review 48：The cooked breakfast was a bit disappointing given the food quality was meant to be excellent, and there didn't ever seem to be anyone on reception!

Review 49：Design of the rooms was beautiful

Review 50：Free parking on site, but limited and quite tight to manoever.

Review 51：Helpful and friendly staff; comfortable bed; good location; room small but tastefully decorated and modern. Very tasty breakfast with plenty of choice.

Review 52：Room 6 was probably one of the best rooms in the hotel. The'rooms' did not flow properly - there was a desk area whichdoubled as a dressing table but it had a very small hand mirror whichmeant trips back and forward to the bathroom mirror while styling hair.The rooms were very warm - especially the bathroom. We were alsodisappointed in the service in the Brassiere. Friendly and pleasantstaff but very sloppy service not what one would expect in a top hotel.Routine things were forgotten - milk for tea - toast had to be askedfor as not offered. Table tops were not very clean and when going tosit down on the second day we found crumbs and sugar on one chair andon the second it was sticky and wet as though orange juice or jam hadbeen spilt. A coffee order was incomplete and by the time the forgottenitem arrived it was a good 10mins before it was brought to the table .It was not as though it was busy in the restuarant- there was only oneother diner.

Review 53：Helpful friendly staff. We stayed in Room 6. Very roomy with astylish decor .

Review 54：We had a poor meal the first evening. The escalope was too tough to eat and my fried fish in batter was mushy inside the batter and wasn't properly cooked through although the batter was dark brown.

Review 55：The hotel has been refurbished, a very warm welcome (I arrived late) and was escorted to my room. I also had some drinks in the bar with family, it was getting quite late and it wasn't a problem to stay in the bar, gone 1am.

Review 56：Parking can be a bit tricky if there is a party or event going on, but we were able to squeeze our car into a small space at the edge of the carpark.

Review 57：The location is perfect for wandering around Tunbridge Wells and the hotel has been refurbished to a high standard

Review 58：There were no mushrooms on the vegetarian breakfast and the vegetarian sausages very oniony for a breakfast sausage. Bar was stacked full of dirty glasses early evening following an afternoon event and no sign of anyone attending to them.

Review 59：The room was beautiful and bed very comfortable, no road noise, staff friendly.

Review 60：Noisy fan outside room window. Piles of dirty laundry piled up on landing and corridors outside room

Review 61：Jim was excellent - always professional, charming and helpful. The rest of the staff were sweet and tried hard but needed more training. Bar and breakfast very good.

Review 62：Nothing I didn't like.

Review 63：The room was spacious and beautifully decorated with a fabulous bathroom. The hotel was ideally situated to walk into town and as National Trust members, a great place to stay for visiting houses and gardens. Staff were very pleasant and breakfast lovely.

Review 64：Not bad, the staff was not as familiar with transportation. Ideally, they should have had the ability to print out the public transit information.

Review 65：the cleanliness, the decor the overall comfort of the room.

Review 66：No one at reception when I arrived, rang the bell no one came to reception. I had to go through to the restaurant to find a member of staff. Bags of laundry just left on the landing and in hallway, health and safety issue.

Review 67：Location of hotel, very clean, comfortable bed, pleasant staff.

Review 68：Carpark always full. Breakfast starts at 7.30: this may not be an issue for leisure stays but for a work stay we had to leave before 7.30. One day we managed to have the breakfast at 7.30 but our meals did not arrive until 8am. The breakfast was very good and in a nice setting.

Review 69：Big clean room. Excellent location.

Review 70：A bit noisy at night

Review 71：Lovely english tradition in a super modern and new outfit. Very fresh and clean, light room and very comfortable beds. And the towels are also very luxurious.

Review 72：In our bathroom there were plenty of bottles of various shampoos, conditioners and lotions but not a bar of soap in sight. The floor lamp by the table did not work. There was a very limited choice of sandwiches and the 'rare' beef that we did choose was so tough it was impossible to eat without a knife and fork. The only fresh fruit available at breakfast was a couple of slices of melon. The noise made by other guests when returning to their rooms.

Review 73：Being able to park our car outside the front door.

Review 74：We stayed in room 22, which in itself was good, unfortunately it overlooks a local pubs beer garden at the rear and on the night we stayed it was very noisey! Also making an awful noise was the kitchen extract fans which turned off at 10:30PM and back on again at 6:30AM The restaurant staff at breakfast seemed poorly trained. We ordered some toast to go with our breakfast from a gentleman who appeared to be the manager, the toast never arrived and short of physical grabing the waitress we were unable to get her attention as she walked along with her head down instead of scanning her customers! But to be fair, all in all it was a nice break, but when we return to Royal Tunbridge we will stay somewhere else.

Review 75：Nice hotel with Victorian exterior in a good location with good views. Nicely modernised internally. Most of the staff were very helpful and keen to help.

Review 76：On arrival late Sunday afternoon we could barely get to our room as there was laundry piled everywhere in the corridors and the following morning we could not have even wheeled our cases from the room as the laundry bags again were piled throughout the corridor + landing. The window in the room would not open and the noise starting at 6am as the Kitchen started up was not conducive to a restful stay. There was no soap in the bathroom only shower gel so it is not somewhere we would ever return to.

Review 77：Location for Town

Review 78：Room 3 right by the extractor for the kitchen so a bit noisy and louder when window open

Review 79：Beautiful hotel very clean and welcoming staff. Excellent location .

Review 80：Wifi - access via The Cloud. I kept on losing the connection - it was just frustrating to use.

Review 81：Excellent decor, the linen and towels were great quality. Good breakfast included in the price. Nice staff. Would stay again.

Review 82：I would have liked a safe and a fridge in our room.

Review 83：A very welcoming hotel with friendly and helpful staff plus attractive rooms. All of the meals we had were very good with a fair selection for vegetarians.

Review 84：We only stayed for one night but if we are ever in the Tunbridge area again we would stay at the Royal Wells again. Fantastic room, really comfortable bed and superb staff. Can't fault the hotel.

Review 85：It would help if you could reserve parking on site .

Review 86：Reception and checking in was excellent,staff very friendly and breakfast first class. Would definitely go back again.

Review 87：Recently refurbished with beautiful styling throughout. Great choice of breakfast in the morning including some amazing a la carte options. I can highly recommend the avocado on sourdough... The bed was large & very comfy and the air con was a lovely bonus. Generous sized bathroom with great shower facilities.

Review 88：Our room was above the kitchen extractor fan and proved to be noisy. Food was not of a high standard and the restaurant seemed more of a canteen than dining room with its plastic seats

Review 89：Staff very friendly

Review 90：The noise of the extractor fan for the kitchen came on below our window at 6am, followed by breakfast smells!

Review 91：The staff were very friendly and helpful and the hotel newly decorated, all very smart and fresh.

Review 92：We had asked for an early booking as we were going to a wedding. I also asked for a room on the ground floor as my husband is disabled. We arrived and rooms weren't ready had to get ready in another guest room and the stress was too much for my husband who had a hypo in the church. The room (on the third floor) still wasn't ready when we left for the church. That said the room w

Review 93：The staff were very friendly and tried to help. Room beautiful. Breakfast amazing and no trouble for our family to join us who had stayed elsewhere.

Review 94：Toilet flush on room 15 .floor 2 was faulty.(Does not flush as should do). Toilet sink overflow was filthy.(Observed when sitting on toilet). Limited parking facilities

Review 95：Soft water. Comfortable bed Breakfast choice Staff attitude. Complemenry coffee and biscuit. Soft furnishings

Review 96：Floors above our room creaked so any movement could be heard & car park was small for the number of guests.

Review 97：Very spacious room with good facilities. Friendly staff. Good restaurant & bar.

Review 98：Good Location. Short walk into town center. Friendly helpful staff. Free Car Parking. We had an amazing beautifully decorated spacious quiet suite. A touch of luxury. Although the hotel was very busy with a wedding party, we were looked after very well. The food in the restaurant was of a high standard and service was good. A thoroughly enjoyable stay.

Review 99：We absolutely loved our stay. The quality of the rooms was great and the staff went out of their way to be helpful and friendly. It's rare I leave reviews, but our stay was that impressive that I thought it was appropriate !

Review 100：We stated in room 2, early in the morning around 6.30 there was a huge vent outside our bathroom window which made quite a noise this cld been heard into the bedroom area with the bathroom door closed. Shame !! Also we were next to a house keepers closet/room which wasn't expected due to the price of the room £130 per night.

Review 101：The hotel was very welcoming cosmopolitan, clean and fresh. I was imptessed with the room and en suite. The breakfast was tasty lots of choice and the breakfast area was again fresh and cosmopolitan. We loved it.

Review 102：Nice ambience, very nice room with view, excellent breakfast, very nice refurbishment of hotel - stayed previously before refurbishment, very friendly staff

Review 103：Shouldn't the kitchens extractor fan be on the roof?? Not right outside the window of our room (3). Came on at 6am and very loud, when mentioned to management, they weren't interested. Only downside to our stay

Review 104：Comfortable and clean... Staff were kind

Review 105：I was initially given Room 3, which as other reviewers have found, islocated right by the very noisy kitchen fan. Even with the windows shutI was unable to make a phone call because of the noise. Reception kindlyupgraded me to Room 26, which although it was a floor higher was onlyslightly further along from the kitchen fan that goes off at 9.30 pm.However, with the double glazing in the room that was ok, although Iopened my windows when I went to bed and was woken at 6am by bins beingpushed across the cobbles outside my window, and also the kitchen fan.Thought there were 2 restaurants here, but was only shown the Brasserie,which was ok if rather expensive for what I had. I paid £15 for a lambdish that included 2 tiny lamb cutlets with root veg in a red wine sauce- the turnips weren't cooked properly and were hard and bitter,affecting the flavour of the dish. I had been expecting an a la cartemenu, and wish I'd chosen the burger and chips that the next tablehad which looked very tasty. There was loud piped music throughout mymeal. Breakfast was acceptable, nothing special.

Review 106：Very well decorated and furnished hotel, very clean, reception staffhelpful when I encountered a problem with my room. Was able to get aspace in the free car park outside of the front door. Bread and butterpudding was excellent. Very reliable free wifi via The Cloud.

Review 107：It would have been nice to have a proper double bed and not 2 large singles pushed together with a sheet over the top.

Review 108：Tasteful decor, large rooms, great views and friendly staff overlooking Tunbridge wells.

Review 109：Food in the restuarant was very good but had to wait quite a while between courses. The room was very warm due to the window not being fully opened due to a fixed bracket. Nearly being charged twice !!

Review 110：The hotel looks like it has been re decorated to a high standard. Lovely, friendly staff..

Review 111：Not enough staff at breakfast to cope with customer demand

Review 112：Room was lovely but too hot to sleep as no air conditioning and window only opened a fraction. When we finally got to sleep the fan from the kitchen woke us as very noisy

Review 113：Bedroom was stuffy and the windows could only be opened a few inches and slammed shut if nothing was wedged in them. The bed was not very comfortable and had a tendancy for the occupants to be encouraged to roll out of bed!

Review 114：Hotel looked quite impressive and as soon as we entered everything was done correctly, as it was during our entire stay. All members of staff were extremely polite and friendly, making our stay very enjoyable.

Review 115：The quality and style of the new refurbishment have put this hotel just below Hotel du Vin in terms of quality in my opinion. The restaurant food was genuinely top 5 in T.Wells and the staff were all helpful, well trained and happy !

Review 116：Being from New Sealand we couldn't enter a post de to allow access to the cloud wifi. Having a duvet on the bed when's it's quite hot a top sheet would be preferred

Review 117：Considering the cost of the room the breakfast was poor. There was some fruit which was not properly prepared, A poor choice of cereal (Variety packs). I also had to point out to the waiter that the cup I was provided with was dirty. The cooked breakfast did however look alright although I did not have one.

Review 118：The room was clean and tidy and the bed comfy. Staff were also quite helpful, although the receptionist did advise she could not give me an invoice and it was not until I prompted her that she tried to produce an invoice and found that she could.

Review 119：We stayed here for my mothers 80th and you could tell it had recently been updated. Very nice decor, good food and good staff. Would definitely recommend it if you are looking to stay in the area.

Review 120：The hotel has had a very smart and tasteful refurbishment since we last visited. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Light snack dishes were very good and tasty. Breakfast was chaotic but the food good. Would certainly stay again.

Review 121：1. Poor Wifi - my Ipad worked ok, but my iphone couldn't download mail. 2. They didn't manage to turn on the radiator in my room, even though I called them back several times. In the end, at my suggestion, they brought me an area heater. This all took two days. 3. Breakfast - they ran out of croissants quite quickly, and then couldn't produce any more. At dinner, the staff were forgetful and didn't seem to know what they were doing.

Review 122：Staff were very helpful. The room was lovely, the location excellent, right near the shopping centre.

Review 123：room close to lift, so some noise disturbance late & early. some door slamming due to strong door closing mechanisms. small car park so not guaranteed place when hotel hosting conferences.

Review 124：very clean. staff very friendly & helpful. handy for town centre.

Review 125：Good first impression, was spoiled when we realised the room window would not open more than three inches AND there was no air-conditioning. It was a warm weekend and our room on the third floor was hot and stuffy. Sunday morning breakfast was chaotic with lots of guests, including us, complaining of a slow service, probably in part because of a large number of guests who stayed over from a function the night before. Any Hotel should be able to cater for the number guests booked in. Some of the food was disappointing, just little things like the home made soup (very good) served with stale bread (not good),and tepid coffee is unacceptable. The food in the restaurant and its presentation, needs attention to detail.

Review 126：The Hotel had a modern feel,was comfortable and well presented. Staff were friendly and efficient.

Review 127：Nothing to dislike!!!

Review 128：The hotel was clean and modern, the staff were very welcoming, we arrived early, and they said the room was not ready, we went to the bar, and within about 5 minutes they came back and said she had managed to get a room ready for us, Great customer service, especially the young man who served us at breakfast(did not get his name) noting was too much trouble, and the room itself was lovely!! Will definetely be back!!!

Review 129：Room was so small we had to keep things on the floor - including toothbrush as the bathroom has nowhere to put things. Also car park was full so had to park about 200 yards away. Noisy party didn't finish until long after 12am.

Review 130：Good location

Review 131：There was some noise from the pub next door but we were out until 11.30/12 and it didn't go on much longer than that. It was a Saturday night after all.

Review 132：Really comfortable stay. Staff all very helpful and professional.

Review 133：Too close to function room, noise kept me awake until very late at night. Have stayed in other hotels many times in Tunbridge Wells e.g. Spa and HDV and they have mini bar/fridge (even if only for putting own water etc in) and ironing facilities in room whereas Royal Wells did not.

Review 134：Staff mainly...but for my purposes location also a good point. I eat lunch here often as in the area.

Review 135：We would have liked a mirror close to the hairdryer,; there was only a mirror in th ebathroom not the bedroom.

Review 136：The staff were extremely friendly and helpful making us feel very welcome. The hotel was immaculate and had a lovely atmosphere.