The Poet provides an informal yet refined dining experience in the scenic countryside of Kent.
Set in a charismatic 16th century building, diners can expect humble, honest and innovative food, made using the finest local and seasonal produce and lovingly prepared by a small team of chefs led by Head Chef & Director Lee Adams.
In addition to the food, we offer a selection of fine wines, quirky cocktails, and have a collection of over 70 craft gins available.
World War I poet Siegfried Sassoon lived in Matfield and is the inspiration behind our name. Sassoon was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry" and later won acclaim for his writing. We're pretty sure he would have loved our food too!
A warm welcome awaits diners from Front of House Manager Tom Haacke and his team. We look forward to seeing you!
We're passionate about serving the finest food in the heart of the Kent countryside.
Peruse our menus, which change seasonally, below.
Allergies – Please Read:
In order to create a unique dining experience here at The Poet we will not exclude certain ingredients that may cause allergic reactions, as they are considered essential and fundamental to our food and ethos. These include Alcohol, Onion, Garlic, Salt, a few spices. Please let us know all allergies/dietary preferences, including vegetarian & pescetarian, before dining with us or there could be a chance we won’t be able to accommodate you when dining with us. We do not cater for vegans.
At The Poet we use an array of techniques in order to give the best possible flavour and texture to different cuts of beef sourced from all over Britain. Our in-house dry-ageing chamber holds varying cuts of different ages, giving us flexibility with our menus and pricing, to curate an experience well worthy of a visit. Seasonal offerings such as aged wild boar loin or venison haunch, could be sharing a menu with aged Scotch beef sirloin, or smoked hanger steak, all cooked in our 300-degree charcoal oven. The steaks on offer are served alongside seasonal vegetables, local potato preparations and sauces tailor-made to complement the flavours of the steaks available on that day.
There are no upcoming events. Check back soon for news!
Share the charm of The Poet with your loved ones. Our gift vouchers are a practical yet thoughtful way to let someone experience our local cuisine, relax in our unique 16th century building, and explore our wide array of craft gins.
Our vouchers are a versatile gift - ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, or even as a simple 'thank you'. Beyond just a meal, they offer an opportunity to enjoy the rural tranquility of the Kent countryside.
Please either reserve a table through our online booking service below. Alternatively you can get in touch with us by calling 01892 722416.
Please advise us of any dietary requirements 24 hours prior to dining with us. Many thanks!
For large table requests (over 6 people) please email bookings@thepoetatmatfield.co.uk
Due to only having 13 tables in a very small restaurant, we won’t always be able to cater for large groups and are very restricted on times, please bear this in mind when requesting your large table.
Please note: We do not take tables over 6 people on Sundays.
Tue-Thu: 12:00-14:00 / 18:00-20:30
Fri-Sat: 12:00-14:00 / 18:00-21:00
Sun: 12:00-18:00
Food service: 12:00–14:00 / 18:00 – 20:30
Drinks: 12:00 – Close
You can contact us by phone by ringing 01892 722416 or by emailing info@thepoetatmatfield.co.uk.
Alternatively, fill in the form below and we'll get back to you!
Can I use more than 1 voucher per table?
No, you can only use 1 voucher per table.
Do you have any job vacancies?
We are always on the lookout for up and coming talent so if you think you’re well suited for us then drop us an email on tom@thepoetatmatfield.co.uk for Front of House or kitchen@thepoetatmatfield.co.uk for The Kitchen!
Do you cater for dietary requirements?
We understand it’s tough eating out if you have allergies, just let us know and we will do everything we can to accommodate. We ask diners to let us know at least 24 hours prior to their booking for any special dietary requirements.
Do you cater for vegans?
Unfortunately we do not cater for vegans.
What are your opening hours?
Our food service hours are from 12:00 to 14:00 Tuesday to Saturday, and 18:00 to 20:30 Tuesday to Thursday, staying open until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, we serve food from 12:00 to 18:00. Additionally, you’re welcome to visit at any time during the day to enjoy a drink.
Is there a cancellation fee for bookings?
If you are to cancel within 6 hours of your booking or do not show up then we will ask for a cancellation fee of £20 per person.
Do you cater for large groups?
Our largest table booking is 6, we have very limited space in the restaurant so won’t be able to cater for any groups larger.
Is The Poet dog-friendly?
We do have 3 tables in the bar area that we allow dogs at, however we encourage guests to leave their furry friends at home at busier periods such as Friday & Saturday nights as it can get very busy and sometimes a little noisy for little ears!
Does the Poet have parking?
We have two car parks here at The Poet, one on the left of our main building and one on the right. Please note that if both are full there is free parking a 4 minute walk away at the Matfield Green. We ask guests not to park on the road.