The Poet at Matfield

Tasting Menu

19/09/2024 - 6-Course £65

Yes that’s right, for our next tasting menu we are teaming up with to bring you a 6-course tasting menu that incorporates a different coffee in each course! 

Chef’s delved into the science of flavour with this one. Each coffee has a flavour profile, for example, the coffee we use on a daily basis, Finca La Colombia, has flavour notes of brown sugar, raspberry and hazelnut. Chef has taken those flavours and built a dish around them meaning each course has something different! This is more than just a coffee sauce.

I have worked with Cast Iron for a number of years and even used them when I competed in the UK Barista Championships - I am very excited for this tasting menu, it’s going to be amazing! 

We are going to be joined by David from Cast Iron who is going to be talking all things coffee! David is a Q Grader which is the equivalent of a sommelier in the wine world, he owns 65MM Coffee in Tonbridge with his wife Jade, he came second in the brewers cup, top six in the UK Barista Championships and most importantly was a team mate of mine when we won Crush the Rush UK! 

I’m excited for this one, hope to see you there! 

Tom x

Book online to secure your place! Link is in our bio. 

As usual, this is the only menu we will be serving for the evening and will not be catering for allergies or vegetarians. 



Junior chefs - we want you!

We are looking for a junior chef (or two) to join us here at The Poet! What does that look like? Do you think you’re the right fit? Do you want to take the next step in the cheffing world? Well, If you(’re): 

- Keen to learn
- Love food and are passionate about cooking
- Want to improve your skill set
- Have a great sense of humour
- Posses good time management skills
- Have a minimum of 1 year experience in a professional kitchen

Then get in contact with Chef Lee at [email protected]

This is a great opportunity to learn under a chef that has worked in some of the best restaurants in the world - including The Waterside Inn! He’s even had a ⭐️ 

We look forward to hearing from you! 


We hosted our first ever Afternoon Tea yesterday! 

Chef absolutely loves an Afternoon Tea and I can now see why. It took me a good 16 months to come round to the idea of hosting one, I’m now kicking myself we haven’t done one sooner because it was flipping fantastic! 

Afternoon Tea was served to a sold out restaurant (we even extended our opening hours due to the demand!). This consisted of two courses, one savoury and one sweet, unlimited tea and the option to upgrade your experience with sensational English Sparkling Wine from

There is no doubt we will be hosting more Afternoon Tea’s in the future. If you want to come along to the next one keep an eye out on our socials (right here) or you can join our mailing list - a link will be in our bio! 

Have a great week, 

Tom x 



The Poet’s Afternoon Tea

18/08/24 - £45 per person ��After years of working alongside Chef Gary Rhodes, on different continents, to create unique Afternoon Tea experiences, our Chef is putting his twist on this fine food fare for one day only, Sunday 18th August. You can expect some timeless classics, as well as some new innovative ideas with influences from East Asia, all using local produce, showcasing both creative techniques and bold flavours. ��What’s better to pair with an Afternoon Tea than sparkling wine? England’s best sparkling wine. ��Enjoy glass of Classic Cuvée, Blanc du Blanc, Rose or Cuvee Cherie with your Afternoon Tea or why not go for something a little special? ��Pre order a bottle of Nyetimber 1086 and enjoy an English Sparkling Wine that’s beating other unnamed regions that don’t start with C! ��Please note we will not be serving our Sunday menu. Photo is Chef Lee’s from SKYE. ��Gluten/Dairy free unavailable. Vegetarian/Pescatarian unavailable. ��

Tasting Menu # 5 

You know the drill, this is our fifth casual tasting menu and we are hosting it on Thursday the 1st August! 

Come along for incredible food and delightful wine pairings! 6 courses for just £65!

Book now on our website or on Opentable. 

Please be aware that due to the style of menu we will not be catering for allergies or dietary requirements. 



The Poet Garden ☀️

Did you know we have a garden? Most people I talk to don’t realise we have a beautiful outside space perfect for a drink in the afternoon sun! 

Whilst we don’t offer food outside (yet), it’s perfect for a cocktail, glass of wine or pint! 



Fresh Ingredients! 

We are blessed to be surrounded by incredible, fresh, delicious produce here in the South East & the entirety of England. 

From asparagus just a few miles down the road, apple juice in Matfield, meat from the local butcher, seafood from the English coast and local fishmonger, fruit & veg from the many growers surrounding our little 16th Century Building - we are lucky. 

It allows us to really encapsulate what local & seasonal dining can taste like.

Not only food, we’re surrounded by astonishing distilleries & brewery’s. Throw out your generic supermarket gin (not naming any names… BS), get rid of the hard to drink vodka, enjoy something different. We’ve got it all, in little ol Kent & Sussex (and surrounding). We’ve even managed to start making some pretty darn impressive wine!







Gressingham Duck Breast, Salsify, Pistachio & Onion Granola, Duck Cottage Pie, Jus.

A quick reminder that we are opening on Mondays starting on the 17th of June! 

We will be offering our A la Carte Menu and a special version of our set menu, something a little different, something a little fun. Swipe to see the first Monday set menu!

For those of you working in the hospitality industry, we know how important it is to relax with friends during your time off. Whether that be over lunch, dinner, a few pints or a bottle of wine. So we’ve decided to make it a little easier and offer you 15% off your bill.
Please be ready to prove you’re in the hospitality industry. 



Tasting Menu #4 

On the 27th of July we are holding another 6-course tasting menu for just £65!

Expect interesting, innovative & creative dishes influenced from the many kitchens our chefs have worked in over the years.

Swipe to see the menu. 

Book online now via our website.

Please note this is the only menu we will be serving on the night. 



Let’s talk wine! 

I am very excited to share that we have started working with one of the best organic, biodynamic, small producer importers in the industry. 

 is a name you might have come across before whilst supping delicious wine in London as they have 6 wine bars themselves, but they also supply some of the best restaurants in the city including a number of Michelin Stars, now they supply us too! 

These guys concentrate on absolute quality and deliver some of the greatest small producers the world has to offer. 

We’ve expanded our list here at The Poet and added some really interesting, progressive and damn right delicious wines on top of some classic French, Italian & maybe even a few Grand Cru’s. 

If you get a chance to visit one of their wine bars, please do, it’s a wonderful experience not to be missed. 

See you for a glass soon,

Tom x



Tasting Menu #3

It’s time for our third casual tasting menu. On the 30th May we are joining forces with .uk and creating a menu that’s full of fresh, local & delicious Driscoll’s berries! 

Most of you will have seen the Driscoll’s logo around in supermarkets but did you know the UK head office is based just a few miles away in Maidstone and many of their farms surround us in the Kentish countryside?

We’re taking their locally grown, speciality varietals and turning them into something pretty special! Swipe for the full menu & a few dishes from previous tasting menus! 

We’ve had such a positive response to our casual tasting menus that there are only 2 spaces left. We haven’t even shown anyone the menu yet, be quick! 

6 courses - £65



Let’s Talk Mondays! 

As of the 17th of June we are going to be opening on Mondays and changing our day closed to Wednesdays. 

Currently there aren’t many places to go and enjoy a bite to eat, so we thought we would address that and start offering our Set Menu and A la Carte at lunch times and do something a little different in the evenings. 

We are going to be running a different kind of Set Menu. Something more relaxed, something to take your mind off things, something we would eat on a night out - like our home smoked Lamb Bacon (swipe to see).

Those working in the industry spend an enormous number of hours serving the public, cooking up storms, balancing budgets, battling rising costs, and everything else - so we want to reward them in the best way we can. 

If you work in the hospitality industry, (yes, you’ll have to prove it) we want to offer you 15% off your bill on Mondays, whether that be A la Carte, Set Menu & your drinks!

Peanut Butter & Banana Parfait, Caramelised Banana Doughnut, Peanut Milk Gel

Today is the first day of our brand new A la Carte! As we move into spring, we’ve changed up nearly every dish on the menu.

Those that dine with us regularly will know this has been on the menu before, but why change something when it’s as good as this dessert?! 

*100% contains nuts. 



Chefs! 

We’re looking for a few of you to join the company at our sister restaurant 

Due to increasing demand and a necessity to expand, we are looking for a few chefs to help us build and evolve the business. 

Whilst Michelin guide experience would be fantastic it is not essential. We are after chefs that love food as much as we do and want to provide a memorable culinary experience. 

We even have a fully fledged Argentinian Fire Kitchen in the garden… (Swipe to see it in action) 

For more information please email Rob at [email protected] 

Could you be the next Head Chef?



Skrei Cod, Crispy Potato Prawn, Masala Pomme Puree, Courgette Basil Emulsion, Hispi

This has been on the A la Carte Menu for the last 11 weeks and as we are coming to the end of the Skrei season, I wanted to remind everyone of just how lovely this species of fish is. 

Skrei (pronounced Skray) is the Norwegian word for “migrate”. At the beginning of each year, millions of these cod make their way back over 1000km from the Barents Sea to their spawning ground. Thanks to this migration the fish itself is lean, rich in protein & packed full of vitamins and minerals. Firm, flakey & delicious! 

This has one week left on the A la Carte, try it before it’s gone for another year! In Cod we trust. 



TASTING MENU - 18/04/24

Our casual tasting menus are based around our love of food and wine!You’ll find interesting, innovative, creative dishes that are influenced by a concoction of kitchens our chefs have worked in, from Medway to Hong Kong! 

The next is the 18th of April, swipe to see the menu! 

You can book via our website & on Opentable! 



Aged Beef Fillet, Braised Short Rib “Spring Roll”, Leek, Courgette, Coffee & Celeriac Mac’n’Cheese.

Sous vide to a perfect medium rare, this Surrey Farms Beef Fillet is finished over charcoal and paired with a Braised Beef Short Rib “Spring Roll” meaning you get more than just a steak on the plate. 

Leek puree, Courgette Chutney and Seared Courgette garnish the dish - drizzled in a Bold, 48 Hour Jus, laced with a Light Roast Coffee. 

On the side? Celeriac Mac’n’Cheese. Why? Because we love it. 

📸 -

Last night we hosted a busy restaurant for our first “casual” tasting menu! 

This wasn’t a celebration or a special occasion. It was for the love of food & wine! 

It was so well received that we’re going to do it again, and then again each month! 

Next tasting menu date is Thursday the 18th April. 

Hope to see you there! Keep your eyes peeled for the next tasting menu here. 

Photo #2 - last nights menu 



The Raspberry Gin Sour 

I first started playing around with this cocktail around 6/7 years ago and it’s been with me ever since. A firm favourite! 

A good cocktail isn’t about how hard you shake it or how many components you can fit in a glass. It’s about quality ingredients and Raspberry Ghost is the champion here. 

The raspberries used in this stunning Eau de Vie are grown in Kent but deemed too imperfect for supermarkets, Greensand Ridge saved them and created something pretty special! 

All of their spirits are made using surplus ingredients from local farmers, not only that, it’s all 100% renewable energy. This has helped them become the UK’s first Carbon Neutral Distillery. 

I can’t really explain the true depth of what Greensand Ridge do in an instagram post so head to their website for some more information. Or go and make some gin with Will? Either way, it’s most definitely worth trying, lucky we have their whole range here!

 
📸 -

Jasmine Tea “Burnt Cream”, Plum, Bee Pollen Madeleines, Honeycomb.

If you’ve dined with us before you’ll know that bold flavours are the forefront of our dishes. Whilst living and working in arguably the tea capital of the world, Hong Kong, Chef Lee attended a few tea workshops to hone his skills at pairing these wonderful, delicate flavours. 

If you’re thinking that this dish looks like a creme brûlée then you’d be right, however, there is a bit of history dating back to 1630 claiming it was first served at Trinity College in Cambridge! 

Available on our A La Carte now!

📸 - 


Hello Tasting Menu!

We are starting our casual tasting menus, these aren’t for specific events as we have done in the past. These are for the love of food. 

On Thursday the 21st March we are running a 6 course tasting menu for £65!

This is the perfect opportunity for the kitchen to exhibit some of Lee’s Asian influence. Our A la Carte is always going to be as local & seasonal as possible but the tasting menu gives us a chance to showcase some incredible flavours that you may not have tried before! 

Please note this is the only menu we will be running for the evening. Lunch will be as usual. 

Due to the nature of this menu we will not be catering for allergies or dietary requirements on this occasion. 

 
📸 -

64° Egg, Celeriac & Mushroom Remoulade, Crispy Parma Ham, Parmesan Veloute.

📸 - - From taking photos in Hong Kong for to Matfield. Just a short trip.

Starting next week here at The Poet, we are going to offer our Set Menu on Wednesday and Thursday evenings! ��This menu changes almost daily as we source the best possible products from local suppliers. Our menu is seasonal, local (where we can) and full of interesting, innovative ideas from Chef Lee and the team. ��Tuesday - A la Carte & Steak Night�Wednesday - A la Carte & Set Menu �Thursday - A la Carte & Set Menu �Friday - A la Carte �Saturday (All day) - A la Carte�Sunday - Roasts! ��Lunch Tuesday - Friday we run A la Carte & Set Menu. ��Please read terms and conditions regarding Allergies / Dietary Requirements on our website and/or Opentable. ��Book online now! ��Look forward to seeing you all soon. ��Tom x�📸 - �

Four Daughters Albariño 

We have a new Kentish wine in the building! I know what you’re thinking, Kentish Albariño?! Surely not. 

That’s what I thought, but the team down at Westerhill Farm have had a sublime harvest and their first vintage is, in my opinion, outstanding. 

These Albariño grapes are grown at Savage Vineyard, situated at Westerhill Farm that sits on the pocket of Greensand Soil overlooking The South Downs. 

Pale lemon in colour, this dry, high acidity wine offers bold flavours in a light body sitting at 12.5% alcohol. 

Think lemon, lemon zest, lime, grapefruit, touches of honeydew melon, a light salty note, and bags of honey! 

Well done, a new firm favourite for me! And it’s from Kent!! 

Hopefully you’ll enjoy this as much as me! 

Tom x



Chef Lee likes to bring a sense of nostalgia to his desserts, and this one will be no different. Reminding him of summer holidays in Devon and Cornwall with his family, this salted fudge will feature on our new dish of Hot Chocolate Moelleux with Chamomile Ice Cream and Poached Pears!

Come and see the new menu for yourself starting the evening of Friday the 26th of January.

Beautifully vibrant & fresh rhubarb supplied by our friends 

We’re prepping this spiced rhubarb chutney to accompany Gressingham Duck Breast, Salsify, Pistachio & Onion Granola and our glorious Confit Duck Leg Cottage Pie. 

New A la Carte arrives the evening of the 26th of January. 

For those of you on the mailing list, keep your eyes peeled for the full menu before anyone else! 



❤️ Valentine’s Day 2024 ❤️

Celebrate Valentines with your loved one, or even friends & family at The Poet.

Raise a glass of English Sparkling with your loved one to start the evening, followed by a 6-course tasting menu packed full of innovative, wonderfully indulgent dishes, unique to The Poet, sure to set your evening up perfectly.

Please note, in order to create a unique dining experience for our guests, we will not exclude certain key ingredients that cause allergic reactions as they are essential and considered to be fundamental to this dining experience. Therefore we won't be catering for any allergies or dietary requirements/preferences.

£125 per person
Alcohol pairing available

Only 6 tables left! Book on our website www.thepoetatmatfield.co.uk

🎉 HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎉

We want to wish you all a wonderful New Year!

Thanks to everyone that has supported us during our first year here at The Poet. We’ve met some truly wonderful people & we’re excited to share with you all what we have in store.

Here’s to 2024! No doubt we will raise a glass with you all at some point soon.

Lots of love,

Tom, Lee, Chris & Debbie