Informal yet refined dining
in the heart of the Kent countryside
A Home from Home in the Kent countryside
The Poet offers an informal yet refined dining experience in the scenic Kent countryside.
Set in a charismatic 16th-century building, diners can expect humble, honest and innovative cooking, lovingly crafted from the finest local and seasonal produce by a small team of chefs led by Head Chef and Director Lee Adams.
Alongside the food, we pour a thoughtful selection of fine wines and quirky cocktails, with a collection of over 70 craft gins to explore.
The World War I poet Siegfried Sassoon lived in Matfield, and lends his name to ours. He was awarded the Military Cross for “conspicuous gallantry” and later won acclaim for his writing; we’re pretty sure he’d have loved our food, too.
A warm welcome awaits from Front of House Manager Mary Jane Frost and her team. We look forward to seeing you.
Humble, honest and innovative food, from the heart of the Kent countryside.
Our Menus
We're passionate about serving the finest food in the heart of the Kent countryside. Our menus change with the seasons; explore them below.
To create a truly unique dining experience, we don’t exclude certain ingredients that can cause allergic reactions, as they’re essential to our food and our ethos.
These include alcohol, onion, garlic, salt and a few spices, so please let us know of any allergies in advance.
We’re glad to cater for dietary preferences too, including vegetarian and pescatarian, with a little notice ahead of your visit.
Vegetarian options are limited, so do give us a call or drop us an email and we’ll happily advise on the dishes that can be made vegan.
The À la Carte Menu is available Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri & Sat for both lunch and dinner. Our Set Menu is available Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri for lunch, and Mon & Thu for dinner.
The Poet Garden
Step outside and unwind in our charming garden space, open whenever the Restaurant is open (please note: closed on Wednesdays).
Our Poet Garden is a relaxed, walk-in-only spot, perfect for spontaneous visits, slow afternoons, and easy catch-ups. Surrounded by fragrant herb beds and vibrant flower patches, it offers a peaceful escape just beyond the dining room.
Take a seat on one of our garden benches, soak in the atmosphere, and enjoy our specially curated Poet’s Garden Menu of lighter dishes designed for al fresco dining. Or choose from our new Summer Specials cocktail list, a refreshing selection of quirky long drinks perfect for sunny afternoons and evenings.
No booking is required: our garden runs on a walk-in-only basis during restaurant hours, weather permitting.
The Poet Garden is lovingly maintained all year round by Ian and Jane, the parents of our Chef Lee. They kindly ask that four-legged friends are kept on their leashes, as they’ve been busy planting bulbs and herbs throughout the garden, both to keep it beautiful and to supply the kitchen: sage, parsley, thyme, nasturtiums, fennel, chocolate mint, squashes, lemon balm and edible flowers.
Walk-ins only · No booking required · Weather permitting
Something Different This Summer
The Poet is doing something different this summer. For July and August 2026, we are lighting up the charcoal BBQ outside, and will be roasting all of your favourite Sunday meats over hot coals and smoking chips, served alongside lighter, fresher vegetables, salads, slaws and sauces, to enjoy either indoors or out in our wonderful garden.
Experiences
Beyond our seasonal menus, we host a calendar of special evenings, from one-off chef collaborations to our weekly Steak Night.
Saturday 25th July
Afternoon Tea
With 10 years experience under renowned perfectionist Chef Gary Rhodes, you know The Poet’s Afternoon Tea is going to be nothing ordinary. Featuring nuances of flavours from Asia and the Middle East, reflecting on Chef Lee’s time abroad, it is a feast of flavour and creativity, on a tiered stand! It is not just sandwiches and cakes, it is a selection of thoughtfully-curated bites and delights, with your choice of refillable teas and a glass of sparkling wine.
Every Tuesday
Steak Night
We source beef from across Britain and age it in-house to bring out exceptional flavour and texture. All meats are cooked over charcoal and served with classic steak garnishes, then served with a complimentary sauce of your choice. The Steak Night menu is only £49 per person, and includes a glass of red wine alongside your meat! The A la Carte menu is also available for dinner, too.
Vouchers
Share the charm of The Poet and its beautiful 16th-century building with your loved ones. Our e-gift vouchers make a versatile present, ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, or simply to say thank you. You can even combine vouchers and dine as a group.
You can also choose to send the voucher to yourself, or to someone else. All vouchers are valid 12 months from the date of purchase, and blackout dates of 24th & 25th December apply. Email us for any questions.
Bookings
We'd love to welcome you to The Poet, and reserving your table couldn't be simpler.
Tables of eight or fewer can be booked through our online service below, or by calling us on 01892 722416.
Please let us know of any dietary requirements at least 24 hours before your visit. Many thanks!
With just 13 tables in a small restaurant, we can’t always cater for large groups and are quite restricted on times, so please bear this in mind when requesting a larger table.
For larger tables of up to 16 guests, please contact us by phone on 01892 722416 or email bookings@thepoetatmatfield.co.uk.
Info & Contact
Everything you need to plan your visit: our opening hours, how to find us, and answers to the questions we’re asked most.
Opening Hours
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri & Sat
Open from 12:00
- Lunch12:00–14:00
- Dinner17:30–20:30
Last orders for food
Sunday
Open from 12:00
- Food12:00–16:00
Last orders
Wednesday
Closed
Contact Us
You can contact us by phone by ringing 01892 722416 or by emailing info@thepoetatmatfield.co.uk. You can also read our Good Food Guide review or join our mailing list for news and events.
Find Us
Open in Google MapsFAQs
No, we do not accept cash payments. We only accept card payments. Thank you for your understanding.
Yes, we absolutely allow you to bring your own bottles to the restaurant, and we are happy to decant them for you if necessary. The price of corkage is £35 per bottle for Reds, Whites and Rosés, and £50 per bottle for Sparklings and Champagnes.
Yes! We allow multiple vouchers on tables, encouraging you to get together with your friends and family and celebrate with us.
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 to info@thepoetatmatfield.co.uk!
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.
Our food service hours are from 12:00 to 14:00 , 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 16:00. Additionally, you’re welcome to visit at any time during the day to enjoy a drink.
If you are to cancel on the day of the booking, or not show up for your reservation, a charge of £40 per person will be incurred. However, if you are able to re-book for another day, this fee will be waived.
Behind every table is a small team of staff preparing, cooking, and serving just for you. When a reservation isn’t kept, it’s not just an empty seat—it represents hours of work and wages that cannot be recovered. We appreciate your understanding and support in helping us maintain our service.
Yes, we offer a candle-lit private dining room downstairs in our 15th-century building, seating up to 16 guests nestled behind a fireplace. A small deposit for each booking of over 10 people and a food pre-order is required to ensure a smooth and seamless experience.
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!
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.
The Poet in Your Home
Can’t make it to Matfield? We bring the Poet experience to you, with our team cooking and serving a seasonal tasting menu in your own home.