Our story
A restored and refurbished Arts & Crafts era Country House on Tea Garden Lane…
The HISTORY
Tucked away down Tea Garden Lane sits The Beacon, a picturesque, extraordinarily refurbished country house with stunning views across Happy Valley and beautiful gardens. It truly is a picture postcard of whimsical, rustic romance, bursting with character and charm.
The Beacon has gone through many different iterations in its time; from a public bath house; to a private house; to a hostel for refugees twice; a hotel; a pub for the local community and now the gorgeous restaurant with rooms and wedding venue it is today.
We have always been a place of innovation and exploration. From the pleasure and tea gardens, to adapting to help refugees in need, it has always tried to serve its community in the best way possible, and that is exactly what we wish to continue doing and we are proud to keep this legacy burning brightly.
Going way back in time to the Roman times- in year 410 right up to 1066, the Anglo Saxons took over from the Romans and the land the Beacon sits within today was used as a provider of nutrients and sustenance- things we still wish to provide you with as customers today. What sits at the heart of our home is the fascination with feeding and serving others, loving, and caring for those who visit- and this is where it all began, so we are extremely proud to be keeping this burning bright and continuing this legacy. In the year of 1888 came the birth of Happy Valley, which is the valley right next door which you overlook from The Beacon today.
It was the Tea Rooms and Pleasure Gardens created by Sir Walter Harris which played an important role in housing both Basque and Jewish refugees during Wartime. A lot of people are aware of the role The beacon played in the Kindertransport, housing Jewish Girls from Germany from around 1938. However, not many are aware that this was not the first time The Beacon was used as a safe haven for refugees. On April 26th 1937, the Basque town of Guernica was devastatingly bombed by German and Italian air forces, where it destroyed and decimated all it could.
Picasso was infuriated by this and turned to creating his famous masterpiece paintings naming it ‘Guernica’ in support and admiration for the country. Many who were evacuated from Guernica were homed and kept safely looked after here at The Beacon. Having a long history of providing care and shelter for those in need, The Beacon strives to continue doing just exactly that and we are deeply proud of these values and traditions.
Rock Cottage was the building situated where The Beacon is today, but this was knocked down and rebuilt by Architect Robert Eddis, with Sir Walter Harris renaming the rebuilt building The Rusthall Beacon. We still have elements of this original design with us today such as the gorgeous Stain Glass Windows. Walter Harris then sold The Rusthall Beacon on to Colonel Sydney Sladen in 1910. Now, apart from being the first two owners of this building, what do these two men have in common? Walter Harris later became Lord Mayor of London, and Colonel Sydney Sladen became Mayor of Tunbridge Wells…
It was then sold in 1991 and renamed The Beacon Hotel, and was run with three bedrooms, which were on the top floor above us now. It was sold again in 2014 to the current owners and became simply, The Beacon Kitchen.
After many months working behind the scenes, we have opened up 6 bedrooms in the main house & our summerhouse, which is situated under the Garden Bar. We are delighted to be able to bring The Beacon back to its former self and open up our home fully, to our guests.