• know exactly where to meet
• know how to recognize your host
• know whether to turn up in walking boots or shiny shoes
• know what's on the menu & can select from several choices in each course

Sunday lunch at the Ramada Hotel near Tunbridge Wells, just between the A21 and the Pembury bypass, so no country lanes to negotiate. It’s a great place for our first event of 2012 as Roberto looks after us like no one else could and ensures we have good food and an entertaining time. A drink in the foyer bar, then a three course lunch and we can sit in the hotel lounge for as long as we like, chatting over the coffee.

Tenterden is a delightful, quintessentially Kent town on the A28 and The White Lion is a prominent inn which serves a splendid dinner. As usual, we’ll start with a drink of your choice and then go through to the restaurant for a three course meal followed by tea or coffee. Time to chat, make new friends and catch up with old friends.

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The Dog and Bear in Lenham is one of our favourites and when it coincides with the Farmers’ Market it makes it even more enjoyable. February can be cold and bleak but the Dog and Bear will be warm and welcoming for our Sunday lunch and it’s easy to linger over the coffee and chat. Just off the main A20 between Maidstone and Ashford.

In the winter we have more Sunday lunches so that travelling is easier so we are now off to The Hadlow Manor for their wonderful buffet Sunday lunch. Easy to find on the A26 with a large car park. Not been before? This may be a good time to try something different.

The Wealden Hall is an authentic medieval building with real charm and the restaurant is renowned for its good food and service. Join us for a drink, a superb three course Sunday lunch with attentive waiters, then enjoy the coffee while we chat. Larkfield on the A20 just west of Maidstone. The car park is huge and it’s easy to park there. ‘My favourite,’ said one of the men who came last time.

Dinner at wonderful Woods Restaurant in The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells. We’ll start the evening with a drink of your choice and then follow this with a three course dinner and tea or coffee to follow. There’s a large car park close by.

The White Dog at Ewhurst Green has wonderful views across to Bodiam Castle. The food is wonderful too! Join us for a drink of your choice, a three course Sunday lunch, and tea or coffee to follow.

Another of our favourite restaurants also has great views over rolling countryside. The Leicester Arms in Penshurst has earned its spurs – we love the food, the situation, the service and the ambience. We always seem to be the last to leave because we chat over the coffee for ever and a day – and that’s a good way to make new friends.

Bluebells! A 5 mile walk through the Elham valley returns us to a famous inn – The Rose & Crown in the centre of Elham village where a refreshing drink of your choice awaits and a super meal to follow.