The Knowhere Guide

The Local Music Scene in Tunbridge Wells, Kent*

Tunbridge Wells, Kent Record Shops and Venues

* Important Note: all entries in the Knowhere Guide are the opinions of its users. see What is Knowhere for more info about the Guide.

Record Shops

  • second spin on camden road. its all second hand but u can get some really rare stuff there.
  • hmv?
  • second spin
  • the longplayer - not necessarily the cheapest but independent and sells what you want and the ordering in service is excellent
  • ohh Criminal Records, HMV and Longplayer are the specialist record shops and theyre awesome. Hmv is damn expensive but has a great selection and L.P. and C.R. are the best shops to go to if you want an obscure CD or record or something cheap :p
  • HMV or the cheaper option EBAY.
  • criminal records, longplayer
  • Criminal records and hmv
  • Criminal records
  • Longplayer are always good and they always have bargains and sponsor the forum hip hop nights,big up t.wells longplayer!
  • Has to be Criminal Records or LongPlayer!
  • longpolayer is now closed
  • Long Player and Criminal Records (both near that clock tower.
  • Some shops are cooler than others. Some shop's mothers are cooler than other shop's mothers. I've found some pretty cheap but amazing records at criminal records in the past.
  • I believe Longplayer, HMV and Criminal Records are the best places in Tunbridge Wells to buy music.
  • Longplayer (check out the guy who works there!) and Criminal Records. I've found some pretty rare stuff upstairs in Criminal Records before.
  • Criminal Records is easily the best CD shop in Tunbridge Wells, they'll order anything for you and don't even ask for deposit on the order (unlike Longplayer). A shop for those with musical taste not chart friendly teenage girls (try HMV). The only place I've ever found a Favored Nations CD in store (if that means nothing to you it's probably not worth you going in there, again try HMV). Great selection of vinyl upstairs too if that's your thing and they actually know something about music in there too.
  • thiers plenty!!! - HMV in the RVP, Longplayer (opposite McDonalds), Criminal Records (just round da corner frm Longplayer), and thiers planty more...
  • criminal records, longplayer
  • chameleon records on camden road below second sounds.the one stop shop for uk hiphop, to steal suspect packages phrase.
  • HMV is as good as any. Personally I use Tunes.co.uk
  • Criminal Records (Great for old Vinyl and friendly staff) behind the Victoria centre and the Longplayer for rare stuff.
  • CRIMINAL RECORDS is the man
  • Longlplayer - Ask for Mal, the pearl jam freek!!!
  • Criminal Records and Longplayer, there is a vinyl shop down camden road. plus if you need some cheap hot shit go to 0 to 60.
  • Criminal Records is the only one worth going to in town.
  • HMV
  • long play in t wels and criminal records um other than that hmv
  • Criminal Records is the place to shop. Great vinyl selection and friendly service.
  • longplayer's always good, just near the clock. or round the corner (by the back of victoria centre) there's criminal records- nice and cheap.
  • Longplayer and criminal-they are both independent Staff are friendly and helpfull on music matters
  • Second Sounds Camden Road. Criminal Records Goods Station Road, and yes, I hate to admit this but the HMV is good, I have found a number of LP's which i would normally have to order, on the shelves here - corporatism can work at times
  • HMV used to have a decent vinyl section but they got rid of it to house their sodding dvds. so now any true music lover has to go to longplayer. Watch out for the constant stream of nu-metal casualties with their trousers that might engulf and swallow you. Also look out for chvs trying to flyer for 'ice' in tunbridge (pikey hell! shudder!) whilst checking out the trance section. Argh
  • hmv our price erm cant think of any other but hmv is pretty big
  • hmv in the rvp,our price in rvp, bare shops they r evrey where
  • Longplayer is always good, friendly.
  • LANGPLAYER!!!rox nd lots of fi skinners boys grrrrr
  • Long Player Records are great and soooo nice they are the only record shop in town that will sit a listen to my bribble all day and not chuck me out...... And as for Criminal Records they are the most unhelpful bunch of old creepy men iv ever met and when ever i ring up to check tickets etc they give me nothing but gobb!!! manners boys..... why i dont shop there. I f you like to be treated like an wolly and made to feel about as big as a flea try to but a record in Criminal Records...... I hate that shop arghhhhhhhh.
  • The Longplayer just over the road from Maccy D's! I used to buy all my music here as a school kid.
  • Longplayer is so good its listed in Q and Mojo magazines. Its got a great range and is really cheap.
  • HMV in the Royal Vicky Place
  • Criminal records ant Longplayer
  • Longplayer has the cheapest Cds so u yeah go there!
  • Longplayer's fairly good, Criminal Records is ok but not that good value for a second hand shop. SECOND SOUNDS - on the Camden road. Largely ignored but quite good fun - check out the prog/psychedelic mural man! The kind of record shop where you can talk about the Electric Prunes with the old hippy for about 2 hours but will never actually buy anything in. Choice.
  • Criminal Records - the otha places BITE
  • Ourprise: cheap decent and easy to get to.
  • Longplayer is good - ask for Mal then laugh - he knows nothing!!!! Everyone else is knowledgable in there though. Good prices. Also Criminal Records is Good as well!!!
  • It has to be The Longplayer every time, for 2nd hand try Criminal Records.
  • Jail house rock used to be alright but now it's only woolworths!
  • Criminal records safe as fuck, cheap cds, loads of ranfe. Lock stock
  • longplayer and criminal....cheap,cheerful and where all the sexiest men by their music
  • Crimminal Records - High Fidelity type setup. Round the corner from McDonalds opposite the Post Office. Best record store in Kent. Can't see why people insist on paying £5 more in HMV?
  • Crim Records Also there is a REALLY odd one in camden road next to the Crystal Palace...stinks of weed...dodgy records.........have a look if ure curious!!
  • Criminal Records
  • Criminal records - top draw! Long Player great for Hip Hop. HMV overpriced with miserable staff!
  • Longplayer et Criminal
  • Longplayer just opposite McDonald's has a good selection of everything you could possibly be looking for on a wide selection of media, ranging from CD, Cassette, Vinyl, MD and DVD. Also if you can't find what your looking for then they will always order it for you - that's independant record stores for you. HMV (RVP lower mall) can also be OK although the price of a CD album averages at about £15, I think you'll agree it's a bit high but with Longplayer and Our Price (RVP upper mall) batteling it out for the same customers you can normally find any item cheaper somewhere else, the small vinyl section needs look at as its in a terrible state most of the time putting most people off look, HMV also fails to stock MD's at all. Also near the Post Office, opposite the Meadow Road car park is a second hand record shop (Criminal Records) who stock new as well as second hand CD and casettes with a specialist vinyl section upstairs - worth a look if your a DJ hunting down that deleated single! Also on this floor is the video section. Its a good place for new released albums as there always under £12. If your after Classics then theres the Classical shop next to Longplayer who stock a wide range of Classical music.
  • I work in OurPrice(hi everybody) so i must say that we have some great deals in store right now. I work on sundays so anyone who feels the need... And to that arsy man who asked me 'when are you going to compete with HMV properly' F**K U!
  • NEW HMV!! it's got decks and consoles to play on
  • hmv rips you off cos it sucks the ass of a dead man. longplayer is a quality place to collect on some top titles that titulate body and mind (you will soon also be able to pick up the classic new e.p. by malcolm says - very hard to get hold of)!
  • Who needs Our Price when you've got Long Player and Criminal Records. Smaller, friendlier and often cheaper.
  • Longplayer is definitely the best record shop in Tunbridge Wells. Great range, great prices (not your chainstore rip-off merchants!). Always manage to track down the cds I want from America and UK. Criminal records - staff very rude and pretty poor range. Recommended by MOJO mag. Sells DVD too!
  • Criminal Records, opposite the big Post Office has a really good range of stuff (not much commercial stuff either), sells new stuff cheap and wide range of secondhand material too. Now the second independent in town.
  • Mad Records (?) for all techno and D'n'B, Criminal reords Loads of Indie and second hand records run by complete tossers though, Longplayer loads of music of the beaten track - not afraid to buy niche records.
  • Criminal Records in Goods Station Road is by far the best music shop in Tunbridge Wells, Recently enlarged, and has every genre you could possibly hope for.
  • The Longplayer is the only independent store in town, and is most people's store of choice. Royal Victoria place is host to a large Our Price, which is exactly the same as every other Our Price, and a branch of Sam Goody's which gets its new releases a day later than everyone else and charges and extra pound for the privilege, (it's good for esoteric stuff though). Second hand vinyl can be obtained at Second Sounds, Camden Road, and Talisman Records, Crescent Road.

Clubs (Dance Music) and Music Bars

  • DAVS - OR DO WE CALL IT BELUGAS - I MEAN WHO THINKS THAT BY CHANGING THE NAME WE'LL GET POSH PEOPLE COMING DOWN TO CHECK IT OUT!! Really people are you all stupid enough to think it's any different to the "old" davs! Now lets look at from all angles shall we - Music - now we all like a bit of old Bon Jovi every now and again when we're drunk but seriously every weekend does kind of leave you wanting to strangle the poor dj just to put him out of his misery! I can see him now still playing the same old crap when he's 75 and we'll all be old and deaf and still jumping around like idiots! Now secondly who told the bouncers they were guarding the QUEEN!! I mean really some people need to stop looking in the mirror and slapping on the fake tan and telling themselves they're a big boy and everyone scared of them! And finally bless our souls that we go there ... I mean I will actually admit at times I called it my favourite night club - that was of course when I was young and easily led! but really making it bigger just made it so that more of the same faces could fit in there - tell me you don't go there to catch up with old flames or annoy past partners by snogging new ones in front of them -admit it!!! come on you know you do. x
  • It tells you everything you need to know about Davinci's that the one person singing its praises is in their employ. Not only that, they haven't even had the good sense to try and conceal that fact! It has not "all changed", it is EXACTLY THE SAME AS IT ALWAYS WAS, EXCEPT BIGGER. So yes, if you want the exactly the same songs, every week without fail, played by a dj whose record collection consists of "70s Anthems", "Best Air Guitar Anthems... Ever! Volume 2" etc (believe me, I've peeked over the dj booth, this really is what he's working from)then go ahead and waste your money and your time. If, on the other hand, you have any sense of taste whatsoever, and have at any point in your life have used more than brain cell simultaneously, then for god's sake avoid the place like the plague (which is hopefully what the people reponsible for its existence one day contract).
  • Try the grapevine, chapel place on a saturday night. From about 9PM there's some quality 70's funk & soul (proper stuff not disco) and occasionally there's an hour or so of some toppermost Northern Soul, 60's R&B and related grooves thrown in. Not for kids.
  • DAv's is crap the young dj up stairs is crap u thought he would have taste as he is younger and bring some young music to the place instead of stuff thats been playing since our mum's where going out! get him out change the dj and maybe everyone would have a better time!
  • every pub, bar and club in tunbridge wells sucks.
  • So how much were you paid to say that DAVs is the place to go? Face it, the place is a dive and it's high time they started realising and doing something about it. Good music isn't hard, sort it out and I may be back or never as I think the case will be. Tunbridge Wells isn't classy it's just chavy with a capital C. l8rs.
  • please please please...why are u all slating Dav's/BELUGA?? Its by far the best night out in town! so i know that for the past 15 years the djs had no idea what music to play or what got the crowd goin but its all changed! upstairs we now offer all sorts! from 70's to 90's to classic rock songs,all the way to peter kay and now the dj has discovered something called 'indie' and everyone is loving it as much as he is! Downstairs we have 3 different sessions of music if ur not to drunk to realise! it opens at 11 with some funky house,classic dance and some trance music(wich,dont' lie u loooove)then at 12.30/1.00 the R&B starts with all the new stuff and some hot hip hop sometimes...then he plays any requests and some drum&base! we also have lets not forgett the ever gorgeous Sambuca Gals and Corkies Gals offering some hardcore shots!! theres 5 bars in total and a very exclusive VIP area on the £rd floor! if u really have a bad night out in this club then ur an idiot and have no sense of fun! i guess u can always go to cocolounge or venture urself in the darkness of bugatis(formaly voted the 2nd worst club in the uk) get ur groove on and come to see us! also dont forgett if u love R&B and HIPHOP beluga has launched this night on tuesday nights, £2 a bottle all night and free entry with the flyer u can get of the sambuca ladies! lots of love Sambuca Gal XX
  • Well this is a good one, Beluga (whale or sturgeon I don't know) bar is an interesting place I suppose. All sorts of pond life go there but it does a certain charm if you like listening to Bon Jovi Living on a prayer and Bryan Adams Summer of 69. Don't get me wrong I don't hate these songs in fact living in Tunbridge Wells has made me appreciate these kind of songs (no others played). It's just the repetition, did I say repetition, I feel i've been stuck in a time warp and I can't escape. Someone else on here made the same kind of comments, I'd like something different just once please. My bet is the DJ upstairs is related to the guy at Que Pasa, they always play the same songs. The guy at Que needs to talk more over the music I do enjoy that, I know they let care and the community people out but didn't realise they let them on the decks. This may sound harsh but I could DJ better, in fact i'm going to take a cd or maybe an ipod on my next night out and give it to these loons. Anyway this rant is going on but i'm not going to stop. Wetherspoons needs a right good clean, get some cleaning products please. Your floor is stickier than a opal fruit melted in the midday sun. I'll be back soon, don't worry, westside.
  • Davs, Coco lounge. All a load of S***
  • Right, now this is a difficult one, for 7 years I have been a true advocate of Davinchis (Now the Beluga Bar) as it contained no idiots wanting a fight by the end of the night, like some other places I wouldn't care to mention. The people are generally nice, the place looks great now that it has had a makeover and is four times bigger than it used to be, marble floors (don't fall on your ass!!!) nice bars (four to be exact) and a really nice upstairs VIP bar, which everytime I have been up there it has been extremely empty!! You even get your own cushion!!! But, this is a big but... If you like to hear modern music you are in for a shocker... Seven years of Wham, S Club Seven, Gloria Gaynor, Loveshack and the like are taking their toll on me. I think that the DJ's are given a box of songs that they are told to play upstairs, cheese music, Ok when you are in the mood but not the same songs every weekend for 7 whole years... I stopped going there for a while thinking that it was just me being stupid but OH No, it's still the same. And as for downstairs the DJ likes House music and absolutely refuses to play anything else to cater for anyones taste... I know, as I have asked, R&B set non-existent and it is clearly evident that the record collection has not been updated since 1992, Baby D - Let me Be Your Fantasy!!! We loved it, at the time.... But now, something a bit different would be nice... I love the place, the people, just not the music and when you go there for a dance it's a real disappointment...
  • Avoid coco like the fuckin plague! Spoons is good for a quite drink but the place has no feeling due to the lack of music. Davs is alright but its starting to get pikey,i actually believe it or not think they best night out in t wells is down at a forum drum n bass night,dont believe me come down and see what its all about! We had Mc Skibbade down dere and Mc Eksman,if you anything about good music that will mean something to you.
  • HAHAHAHA THE LITTEN TREE CLOSED DOWN. HAHAHA. It was shit. There aren't any decent Indie or Rock clubs here. If you've got a spare £15 then travel up to London and go somewhere that isn't Frog.
  • THE CRAP AND BADLY RATED COCO LOUNGE.
  • You've got good old Coco... Which isn't all that bad, but is... if u get me?!? Davs and Beluga are always a treat if not a mission but hey! its who ur with that determines the kind of night you have... where ever i go i always have a good time! Music varies in all places depending on what day it is... Music at SOS is always good on a friday if ur into ur Garage, D&B, Hip hop and RnB.
  • Oh come on all you people that are slating Davinchi's / Beluga bar... the place is ALWAYS a great night out when I go with my friends. As with so many things, it's what you make of it. The people are all mostly decent but there are sometimes fools - VERY rarely though. I think it's just so fashionable in TWells to hate Dav’s that everybody hates it but for no good reason! Just had the first weekend since the Beluga bar opened and it was AWESOME. One of the best nights I've ever had! :) Bouncers are also MUCH better now - they did used to be very OTT. PS. The reason there aren't any other clubs in TWells is because it's VERY hard to open a club in a town where one doesn't already exist, which is also why Dav's can't get it's license extended from 2:00am!
  • Dance is, liek, totally rubbish. It's all so bad. Real music is, like Greenday because they are totally awesome. I saw them on TV once and Billy-Joe totally smiled at me! I know it sounds impossible but I swear he did!!1 Anyway, a number of Green-Day ish bands play at the forum if you can get in! Lolz, we know about my bad experiences there. You find ppl there who totally understand you and know how it feels to listen to their music and like be in love with it so much you die.
  • if you is loking for some jailbait then litten tree on the hill is the best place, but for truly top quality fluff and music then ya need to go to davs or coco the ho's that go there are great fun, or for you ugly blokes visit sos in tonbridge its full of easy tonbridge skanks
  • The Liquid Lounge (known to everyone as Dav's its former name) and the newly opened Coco Lounge in the precinct
  • Look, a dollar.
  • The tree house, where they have a different cd to play each night and a dj who pretends to play a set wen really its just the play button
  • Victoria snooker club Camden road, Tunbridge Wells
  • co co lounge....
  • anyone yet tried the much hyped coco lounge? formally chez moi? things can only get better!!
  • que pasa is the place to go. fit girl called amy goes. very good on pole.
  • Nobody has said enough about Que Pasa. If you love to dance, and you are aged about 25+ its the place to go because it is so sociable! The music is a bit cheesy but great fun, and the pole dance facility is never a bad idea!
  • MMMMMMMMMMM dav's......nice. Anyone know whatever happened to Chez Moi???
  • forum, blatently if you like upcoming bands, do not go to high rocks or bowl plex no matter what you read. trust me over priced and just lame. dervincies is bad as well. very small and the only lager they do is groslch and its like 3 quids. your in tunbridge wells man, get some beer from offy and go to the fields with your mates.
  • Uptight @ The Office. A seriously great sould and funk night, held on the second Saturday of every month.
  • davincis and que pasa are the best. sexy girl called amy goes!!!!
  • Uptight at the Office is fantastic, they play northern soul and funk. It is on the second Saturday of every month. It always rocks and they are known to give away free CDs of the tunes they play. People are travelling from far a field to attend. Great vibe.
  • Que Pasa is brill, upstairs is better as they have a pole dancing area with a pole! the music is good and its open till 12 on fridays! litten tree is ok but the people are getting younger all the time. Dav's is good upstaires, after 12 they play R'n'B, the bouncers are stupid, if u have even a small rip in ur jeanes u dont get in!
  • Davinchi's in the High Street can be a good laugh, but only two or three times a year, when you are with your friends and you just fancy rounding off a good night with some more drink and a dance. You can then afterwards tell people you "never go there" just to prolong the myth that people hate it and it's uncool!
  • go to opera house at about 7.30 before the bouncers get there- no music but cheap drinks. everywhere is pretty shit at the moment- try source of sound in tonbridge.
  • Clubs in Tunbridge Wells, don't make me laugh. The Jippo tits that own Davs or The Liquid Louse or whatever it is called have influence over the council, so therefore no decent clubs will ever pop up in our little town. These people are more concerned with money than with what the people actually want. I exclude all the over 50's in that, because they hate all things new in the town. It's about time the new generation of T. Wells residents stood up and made themselces heard.
  • There is the liquid lounge in the high street.cosy but not my cup of tea
  • Davinchi's is the place to go, especially on a Thursday after a hip hop session at the Grapevine. The cheese is minimal and with two floors at the weekend you get the dance and club stuff downstairs and the classic oldies upstairs, somthing for everyone.
  • Forget it - go to London or Brighton, or Paradise Park - Newtownards, County Down in Ulster - Check Knowhere Newtownards
  • if you want to go clubbing, don't go to tunbridge wells. There's a simple rule. They only have the bowlplex (shudder-playlist includes r'n'b, early 90s dance and bohemian rhapsody), chavinci's (equally awful and full of 30 year old slags and schoolkids), bar 54 (not quite as bad music wise, although fights break out every night) and bar zia. bar zia is full of sixth formers and squaddie types in pastel coloured ben sherman shirts looking like a packet of opal fruits. So really not much clubbing action, then. The forum hosts a few dance nights but they finish early and are populated by crustie pilled up hippies, which is ok but you want to be with cool people right/ SO GO TO LONDON!!! duuur. Or brighton. best places are funky buddha lounge, concorde 2 in brighton, and fabric in london. ok????? just don't try and club intunny wells. someone, please, set up a decent club night there. bit of hip-hop, breakbeat, drum'n'nbass, techno, tech-house- the town's crying out for it!!!
  • there are no CLUBS in t wells they are all crappy bars and oh yes...the high rocks which they call a club but its a big barn thing with a usless dj who doesnt no how to play decent tunes!!!!! and i dont go clubbing in t wells go to london 100% better oh and the bowl-plex, bowling ally bye day club bye night(at weekends)
  • well they are more like pubs, bar 54, barzia,littentree,high rocks(dont go its soooo cheesy)ok and they do have some mad drum n bass nights at the forum. but try sourse of sound in tonbridge its wicked but it finishes a bit eairly 4 me (3am). oh yea and the bowlplex(bowling ally bye day and club bye night well at weekends any way) north farm estate bye the cinema.
  • Liquid Lounge, formerly known as Davinchi but I think people call it whatever they want really, bit of a dive in my opinion, but only reasonable one in town. Chez Moi is not worth going to unless you want to get stabbed or get in a fight with the chavs of this world. High Rocks, is a laugh if you are drunk enough, I'll put it that way.
  • Never been to Dav's before.....Won't be going again. No facial piercing allowed. HOW RUDE!!
  • Three options. 1) A revival of the Nazi Germany routine on the door can be found at Davinchis. 2) Get a preview of the front lines in Iraq at Chez Moi. 3) Relive your Aunt's 50th birthday at the High Rocks. Any other clubs will be burnt down by the Tunbridge Wells Mafia.
  • If you fancy going out at all, get on down to the high rocks on a friday or saturday.Its the best and biggest club in t.wells it also has the best light show and sound system.The dj's down there play a wide selection of music catering for eveyone.Many a mad time had down there by all.Well worth checking out.
  • i went to the high rock s the other night and what can i say... it was the best time i have ever had. it was better then the other shit holes in t wells the music was good and there were loads of birds// what a good night thanks high rocks....
  • Davinchi's wine bar, great when I was 15, now I'm not so sure. Lots of fun was had and a great place to meet guys!!
  • Bar 54 on friday nights, some Funky/Jazzy things going on in their, DJ's playing the very best funky house tunes, or you can go to the litten tree.....
  • Ice in Tonbridge, I had Never been there before until last weekend, WOW it was great, the club is massive, it was a really good night out and i shall be returning this weekend with my mates, wicked music, wicked dj's and nice birds, makes all the other clubs look pretty s**t..!! Check it out (recommended)
  • forum
  • Que Passa - Music is too loud Bar 54 and Barzia are the best ones to go to if you wanna dance AND sit down but after 11 Barzia charges 3 pounds to get in on a Friday and Saturday.
  • My favourite place in the whole of the town....DAVS! What would my life be like at a weekend without it? Although they have started letting all the pikeys in, come on guys, sort it out, it used to be the only classy (sort of) club in the town....do you want it to turn out like Chez Moi.....me thinks not!
  • What clubs?! Turn the old cinema into a nightclub,that's what i say!
  • all crap. Tunbridge Wells must have the worst selection of clubs in the world - they're not even cheap. Chez Moi is good for getting stabbed and that's about it, Da Vinchi's is crap, Bowlplex is boring and Bar Zia is the worst of all it's just a crap bar that they charge you to get into after half ten, and the music's rubbish, there's no real dance floor and the drinks are a rip off. In fact the drinks are a rip-off everywhere in Tunbridge Wells except Wetherspoons and they're everywhere and the ones everywhere else are way nicer and have beer gardens and actual sunlight in them (the Tonbridge one's nice in the summer).
  • Ice-in tonbridge-not busy but not really recommended( quite chavy) high rocks! tunbridge wells and of corse the discos at skinners, twggs and definately tech! yrs 7-9.
  • High Rocks......mmmmmmmmm!!!! The cheesiest, dankest hole on the planet (apart from chez moi) but thats why we love it- because it IS cheesy and dank! Don't drink pints from the middle pumps upstaris though - you have been warned!!
  • The Tunbridge Wells clubs are the sort of places that Del Boy would frequent, absolute shite of the most unbelievable order.
  • What about the bowlplex......I know it isn't all that, but it IS open till two (or three) and it does sell aftershock......mmmmmmmmmmmnnnnn!!!!
  • Chess Club
  • Chez Moi... the ultimate clubbing experience!!!
  • We have 4 clubs of note 1) Chez Moi - Full of gold and adidas 3 stripes mmmmmmnn, one to avoid, 2) Davinchis - Best club in town - still gash though 3) High Rocks - Always amusing if you can be arsed to get the mini bus as its quite a way out of town, 4) Forum - urrrgh - dirty scum ridden ex public toilet full of goths (do some good D.J nights when Goths are banned)
  • The High Rocks-The bst club in town, but reminds me of the worst wedding reception I've ever been to.
  • Tunbridge Wells - not a place renowned globally for its clubbing scene. However, if you're still standing come closing time then you obviously haven't had enough to drink. At this stage in the evening your choices are narrowed down to the following worthy and not so worthy venues: Bar Coast (open til 12), Bar Zia (open til 1), High Rocks (open til 2ish), and Dav's ... sorry, I mean Liquid Lounge (open til 2ish). Others aren't worth the mention. Bar Coast and Bar Zia both look to attract the 18-25's and are worth a look, if not for the buzzing atmosphere then for the talent that seems to come from nowhere when the nights draw in. If it's dancing (etc!) until the small hours you're after then the High Rocks and Liquid Lounge both serve up a mixture of commercial dance and pure cheese. Anything from "Zombie Nation" to lowering of the tone to "It's raining men" or, heaven forbid, Craig David! Tunbridge Wells has the people and the atmosphere to kick it with the big boys. Who needs London? Nights out here are always special!
  • The High rocks is about as good as it gets, and thats not a good thing. Noone takes chances with the music,just tried and tested dance staples and oh-how ironic cheese. If i ever hear the weathergirls or the grease megamix ever again i'm booking in for a lobotomy at the K+C. If any DJs are out there,and i doubt it cos judging by your music tastes this internet buisness is a new fangled rubbish, please,please, we are not sheep, we can listen to 5ive at a youthclub,we wanmt PASSION in our music,we want blood,sweat and tears,we want to feel liberated from the daily grind,not herded in,patronised at huge expense to our wallets and livers, then herded out to fight and poison ourselves on dodgy doners as we contemplate the futility of it all.DJs,you may feel important now but unless you get with the plan you'll be grateful for a £25 Bar Mitzha booking.I thang yew.
  • the Old Barn at Hildenborough burned down a couple of years ago or so. This once-wonderful venue had its heyday in the 30s, and then again in the 60s. (Dated 9.7.2000)
  • You really only have three choices in Tunny Wells, Chez Moi. DONT DO IT. It's ok, just dont get anywhere near the 15yr old pikeys cos they'll 'av ya! High Rocks, it's a barn it has music it has people, it's ok if you cant afford to get to london. But keep an eye on your bag cos theft is rife. Or there's Davincis' Or Dav's. I've never been here but I thinks its ok. give it a go.
  • Davinchis - major spot for man-spotting, basically just pick and mix! Also Ray the excellent DJ who plays a bit of Northern Soul - what a geezer!
  • Anyone know if the Barn at Hildenborough still exists ?
  • Davinchi's and Chez Moi (both pretty poor), The Base in East Grinstead (about 10 mins drive)
  • Loads of Underground parties ask about down the Pantiles and in the pubs - no really TW can be a pit of sin when it wants to be.
  • Davachi's is now called the Liquid Longue and they sometimes look for a Loyalty card which were available for £5-I'm not sure if there still available.Unfortunately nothing else has changed.
  • Brighton is far better, most people go down to Big Beat Boutique. Tunbridge Wells is too dangerous to be fun at night.
  • the last time I was at Dav`s one of my mates was splattered with blood. Visitors from overseas get ready for the British larger lout! This low life may not be armed with a semi automatic but will not think twice about breaking a beer glass in your face. Have a nice day.VVVV
  • Nobody mentioned Thorins, as much as you may not like it, it's busy on Fridays. Just be careful not to get caught under the Green Wellies.
  • We're down to one now, Davinchi's. I haven't been in there for five years, but yes, it's exactly as it sounds. Most people go to the Barn in Hildenborough, or to Maidstone.

Live Music Venues

  • THE FORUM
  • The Forum always the main rebel scene
  • The best place to go see bands in tunbridge wells is The Forum. whether its a local band or a massive mainstream band (e.g. oasis) the forum will play anything. (yes oasis have played there.) if you look at the website the home page shows all the bands that have played there. the abergavenny arms pub has live bands too and the christ church and in the town hall they have "stimulation" where sometimes random R'n'Bers play..
  • The forum
  • Forum, thats all i know of.
  • The best place is the forum
  • Forum
  • Forum!!!
  • Well, obviously The Forum and High Rocks for up-and-coming bands (and some that have already made it). You get side an immensely wide variety of acts who play The Forum, and it has a fantastic atmosphere, friendly staff, good bar and not as many young teenagers as people think. London is your best bet for the bigger ones...go to Koko, the Barfly or the Purple Turtle if you're in Camden. If not, there's the Rhythm Factory and 93 Ft East around Brick Lane, and Oxford Street/TCR has The Metro and 100 Club (and Mean Fiddler).
  • The Forum is the place to be if ur a band... also open mic nights and the grey lady in the pantiles are great! you get all sorts...
  • Please please PLEASE get all the kids off the common outside the forum. PLEASE. The forum gets blamed for all the crap happening there and they have to pick up the litter left by the twats drinking cider. Use the money to go in and get rid of the risk of it closing!
  • The forum is hXc!
  • Trinity Theatre, check out their website www.trinitytheatre.net
  • The Forum on the common plus various pubs, its good to keep an eye on chalk boards outside pubs as they usually display upcoming gigs
  • The Forum occasionally has a good band playing.
  • The Forum - can get up to 44 peeps in. Otherwise ur gonna hav to look dwn to Brighton or up to London.
  • Sankeys wine bar on mount ephraim has a live band every sunday, best bands there are jinn house, dragonfly and the tarr babies, gets very very packed!
  • forum......i like washing my hair
  • try da forum
  • Huge amounts of local pubs have live music. Try The Sound garden
  • look out for new bar opening in Camden Road Tunbridge Wells it is Rock n Roll & Elvis themed and will be Rockin
  • My Son rates the Forum but I recall it as a public toilet (honest !) Assembly Hall is rubbish for bands - dreadfull acoustics and seating. The Opera House Pub would be great for Bands if they ever decided to "go live".
  • THE TAR BABIES JUNE 20. White Hart - Ardingly (lunchtime) 20. Limpsfield British Legion 24. O’Neill’s - Blackheath 26. Unicorn - Marden 27. French’s - Hastings 4-7 JULY 1. Hook & Hatchet - Hucking 4. Prince of Wales - T.Wells 9. Junction - Burgess Hill 10. Post Office Club - Hastings 11. Cookson Festival - Tyneside (T’Pau) 15. Foresters Arms - E. Hoathly DUO 16. Swan - Forest Row 22. Villager - Vigo 24. Lingfield Leisure Centre 29. O’Neill’s - Blackheath 30. Harrow - Caterham
  • The tunbridge well forum well it is gd on ocassions as long as the pickies arnt out, and if u go on a gd nite which seems to be slim now. dont wear ur best dinner jacket as not only do people in the sweat but so do the walls lol has some cool laocal bands (stable nights) but most of the time now there just full of 12 year old wannabie girls. other than that go to LONDON!!! the astoria see badns like ataris, home grown less than jake and the night out will only cost about £25, watters free at the bar.
  • the forum, but everyone mentions that- it's about all there is. there's always the christ church if you're into the christian stuff.
  • Was lookign grim until recently when several pubs have started having live music again, namely; Cassideys's, The Sussex (in the sellar bar), Orson Welles, Royal Wells (hotel), also the one at the top of camden road. Then there's obviously the forum which has and I know still does occasionally play host to some great bands. (mine for example - 21 Nov '03).
  • As above, with the exception of the Forum. Can be the worst place in the world to be, but not to long ago a collaboration of oh so hip people created The Funky Buddah, and it was the place to be for a chill Sunday Evening or a once a month party. One of my fondest memories from a few years ago, so it's a shame it never lasted... Reunion perhaps.....who knows ??
  • The Forum-i love it! for the young and old music lover. Caters for all types of music listener.A great little venue that is well respected and is well established on the national touring circuit.
  • go to the grapevine on thursday night where they play classic hip hop and funk. get pissed on san miguel and listen to ther jackson 5- what more could u ask for???
  • forum is the only place i no it ok there now coz they have drum n bass nights and shabba d has been down there to liven the place up a bit now.
  • fourum erm thats about it.
  • Forum is good depending on what is playing at the time. Beau Nash has good bands. Best to pick up a gig guide or keep yourself informed. Jam nights at Prince of Wales is a laugh. It is a bit of a dive but because of the music and the talent you don't really notice. Don't order a glass of wine though, tends to be luke warm and a little corked!
  • some sad bands occasionally pop in by d clock god dey annoy me. also d ppl who live out on d streets play good music
  • The Forum as its the only venue in Town............ sweaty old bogs rule!!!!!
  • The Forum but not the best place to be if you prefer a more MATURE audience. Great place to mosh and make bodily contact though.
  • NOT THE DAMN FORUm - cept on hip-hop night
  • I now find it is compulsery to visit the Forum at least once a month, there are the before and after 'parties' where drink is a plenty and if you pick a good night the atmosphere is amazing and for the guys there are quite a few girls in bras (including me)
  • Forum used to be a toilet and smells like one - the walls actually sweat. Occassional good bands though so keep an eye out, but have the worst soundmen in the world - often voted worst music venue in the country on Steve Lamacq.
  • forum. good place for music and a laugh and a gd place to hear ur fav live bands.
  • The forum? also there are sometimes wikkid bands in the Prince of Wales on camden road/
  • The Forum - Decent bands at times but full of cocks inside and surrounded by cocks outside. Shame really
  • There are none, unless Opera at the Assembly Halls or musicals at Trinity suit you. For alternative music(ska,punk,rock,metal)hit the Forum.Hip hop nights are wikd if you ignore the fact ur surrounded by four walls dripping sweat(applies to every night not just hip hop,and ur more likely to notice the sweat when its a group of metallers moshing to hard punk)
  • FORUM! Very dingy but everybody started off there, Oasis, Manics, Ocean Colour scene (apparently).
  • The forum- if sweat dripping off the walls (and you!) is your thing. Music is sometimes great and the moshpit is good for taking ou pent-up aggression! If the band is crap you can sometimes get in for free if there are a loada chavs chasing you across the common!
  • None - folk festival once a year though
  • the forum...actually watch as the sweat covers the walls!hip hop night is wicked...just watch your head for flying decks
  • Saw Gifford and Tillbrook (Squeeze) at the Forum on the Common a few years back. Tiny but excellent venue - fantastic atmosphere. I also saw the Boomtown Rats at the Assembley Hall god knows how long ago. It seems a lot of washed up has been bands make it to the Assembley Hall if you wait long enough.
  • The Forum......ish!...................Dunno anywhere else..Sometimes hi rox does it though
  • Forum
  • Forum...great to sit outside, shit to go in
  • As above! Royal Wells do some good live Bands (Tar Babies Rock - Beatles covers etc)!
  • The Forum is THE place for wonderful music to grace your ears, by wonderful music i mean anything other than garage and all that crap
  • Apart from The Forum which hosts live bands Friday, Saturday and on the odd occasion during the week, including a Hip-Hop night on Thursday there isn't any specific music venue. Theres is however The Assembley Halls and The Trinity Arts Centre but these aren't The Astoria, Brixton Academy or even The London Forum. There are a small handfull of pubs who have a music liscence who also have live bands but this has died out over the last few years.
  • forum, if u have a deathwish!no, it's ok, the hiphop nights are wik!
  • the forum (home to the infamous malcolm says) this stunning little place used to be the town lavatories, but someone with a plan converted it. the forum has had mentions in countless numbers of musical magazines and radio shows. it promotes many local bands and has a fantastic feeling. whatever youre musical taste the forum will cater for it........ but be warned there are many bazzas and shazzas lurking in this area of tunny wells looking to fuck you up.
  • No more music at the Old Barn Hildenborough. Burned down some time ago. Anyone know why or how? (Dated 9.7.2000)
  • Forum forum forum forum. Head for the common and you'll hear some cool live music, from punk, goth rock, metal and mentalist rock. Mosh away to your hearts content!
  • The Forum: Your average rebel without a cause hang-out joint. Young people who like all sorts of music hang here. Particularly popular are the Fetish nights. Yes, that's the sort of place it is: where parents definitely do not like their teenage daughters to go. If you're 'different' then this is the place. Caters for lesser-known bands: metal, folk, punk etc. If you are Anti-clubbing and dance music then you'd love this joint. I do....
  • Broomhill, a brilliant venue in a country house wasted on the musical ghetto that is Opera.
  • The High Rocks Inn in Rusthall, which alternates between dodgy cabaret artists and big league players doing pre-tour gigs (eg Big Country June '95)
  • The Assembly Hall, a cavernous council run venue that specialises in tribute bands and stars of the David Essex variety
  • The Forum is the main one, probably the best 'L' shaped auditorioum converted from a toilet block in the country. It has a good track record for pulling the big names before they become big names.

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Last updated: 2007-05-22


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