Spring isn’t just for blossoms – it’s also for bubbles! From Crémant, Champagne and Cava to two top local sparkling wines, Drinks Editor James Viner selects seven standout bottles for longer, warmer days… Spring has arrived which means it’s time for some uplifting, finely tuned fizz! Cool climates like ours, where grapes (high in acidity and not…
With spring finally here our Drinks Editor James Viner selects eight beautiful bottles under £15 that capture the season’s fresh, vibrant mood, for the tables of Tunbridge Wells… On 20 March, the vernal equinox marks the start of astronomical spring. ‘Budbreak’ or ‘budburst’ in the vineyard is subtle but decisive, signifying the grapevine’s awakening from winter dormancy…
Think red wine in winter has to be heavy and oaky? Think again, says Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine’s Drinks Editor James Viner who picks out eight easy drinking bottles to try… This season, lighten your red wine repertoire. I’ve selected eight vibrant, fruit-forward, mid-weight bottles – mostly unoaked or lightly barrel-aged – that sparkle with a…
Who says white wine is only for summer? Think again, says Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine’s Drinks Editor James Viner. Winter calls for a change of pace. Swap light summer whites for rich, full-bodied, barrel-matured bottles that bring warmth, texture and comfort to long winter evenings. A world away from July’s crisp, unoaked Sauvignons and Muscadets, these…
From crackling log fires and comforting classics, to impressive specials and slick service, The Little Brown Jug shows exactly why this much-loved country pub continues to set the benchmark for glorious gastro dining says Eileen Leahy When it comes to charming local gastro country pubs The Little Brown Jug in Chiddingstone Causeway practically wrote the…
From English fizz to velvety fortified wines, our drinks editor James Viner has something to suit every palate. Read on to discover his specially curated list of ten exquisite bottles to elevate every festive toast… If ever there were an excuse to open something special, it’s at Christmas. After a busy autumn of press tastings, I’ve…
Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine’s Drinks Editor James Viner explains why southern Rhône reds are the smart buy this autumn and selects seven standout bottles worth your attention Autumn calls for wines that warm both glass and soul. Côtes du Rhône reds are perfectly just that – generous, steeped in history, comforting, and surprisingly affordable. In…
Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine Drinks Editor, James Viner, uncorks his favourite magnum picks you’ll want on your radar. They’re practical, show-stopping, and will age gracefully – and definitely impress guests at your next dinner party… A sommelier’s dry wit sums up the majesty of a magnum (150cl) perfectly: “A bottle gets the chat started; a magnum…
Richard Maher is Operations Manager at the Sankey’s group, which runs two hospitality sites in Tunbridge Wells, The Old Fish Market and Sankey’s Seafood Kitchen & Bar. It has also recently acquired The George & Dragon pub in Speldhurst, has two popular fish shops and is currently celebrating its 45th year in business. Here Richard,…
For nearly a quarter of a century, Richard Phillips and his team have kept Thackeray’s at the top of its gastro game. Eileen Leahy discovers the key ingredients that have contributed to the restaurant’s enduring appeal… Stepping over the centuries-old threshold at Thackeray’s and into this iconic establishment always feels very special. The restaurant, which…
