(C) Stuart Mack

“This new venture… is the best news for Tunbridge Wells. It has the makings of a destination – a relaxing neighbourhood restaurant with a big-city attitude” Good Food Guide

Celebrating classic new and old-world wines while discovering new varieties and producers, particularly English vineyards, has been a central pillar of the dining experience at The Counter in Tunbridge Wells, since launching. Now, husband and wife team, Chef Patron Robin and Greta Boccia-Read, who leads the wine programme, have launched a new series of wine events, aptly named The Counter Wine Club.

Launching on 24^th September, the first wine club event will celebrate and showcase three English wineries who will each share the stories and innovations from their vineyards and discuss the tasting notes, while guests sample the wines. Wines will include glasses from celebrated Kent vineyard Balfour, alongside the more niche offerings from Westwell, a small family run vineyard in the North Downs known for its experimental and authentic winemaking. Completing the trio is Hoffman & Rathbone, a boutique winery in the Sussex Weald, whose richly textured and distinguished Classic Cuvee has been on the menu at The Counter since the doors opened.

Wine Club doors will open from 7pm with a welcome glass of sparkling wine from Balfour Winery and canapes from chef Robin Read. Winemakers from each vineyard will take turns to tell their story to the room while guests sample each glass alongside a paired dish created by Robin to complement the wines. To encourage conversation and engagement with each vineyard and their wines, the event is standing and each dish will be served bowl food style.

All the wines in stock from each vineyard featured on the night will be for sale, for guests who want to take a bottle home.

The wines to be showcased on 24^th September include:

Balfour Brut Rosé
Balfour Brut is the wine that started it all. The original “if we can’t sell it, we’ll drink it” project dreamed up by Leslie Balfour-Lynn has since become iconic: the first English sparkling served in British Airways First Class and even featured at the London 2012 Olympics. Rich, precise, and unapologetically glamorous, it bursts with wild strawberry, blood orange, and just enough crunch to keep you intrigued. English fizz with a hint of showbiz flair.

(C) Stuart Mack

Westwell Petulant Nature Chardonnay
Westwell’s first Chardonnay Pet Nat. This lightly sparkling, low-intervention wine is made using wild yeasts offering crisp citrus and green apple flavours. Whole bunches are gently pressed and fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeast and bottled before fermentation is completed to capture natural sparkle. Citrussy saline deliciousness with a touch of residual sugar.

(C) Stuart Mack

Hoffman & Rathbone Blanc de Blanc
Hoffmann & Rathbone Blanc de Blancs is an award-winning sparkling wine from East Sussex. Crafted exclusively from 100% Chardonnay grapes, it is aged on its lees for up to 9 years to build rich, complex brioche, nutty flavours and mouth-wateringly apricot driven.

Tickets are £75 per person including a welcome glass of sparkling wine and canapes, a glass of wine from each of the three vineyards and a paired dish for each wine.

Wineries for future events will include both new and old-world vineyards, offering an interesting and full exploration of The Counter’s wine programme.

–            24th September 2026

–            19th November 2026

–            21st January 2027

–            22nd April 2027

Tickets for all Wine Club events can be purchased via thecountertw.com

The Counter, 77 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2UY
@the_counter_tw /  @robin__read