Essence

In Tunbridge Wells, Essence at The Pantiles by Atul Kochhar is tied to a specific access model: it is exclusively available to The Spa Hotel residents, with a set menu offered Sunday to Wednesday, 5.30pm to 10pm, excluding special events. The restaurant opened on 7 February 2024 and is housed within a Grade II listed Georgian building.

A hotel-resident set menu with Atul Kochhar's cooking as the pull

the restaurant at The Pantiles opened in February 2024, with Atul Kochhar’s name attached to the restaurant. Kochhar is a twice Michelin-starred chef, and the restaurant connects the dining room with his cooking.

The menu references specific regional preparations. Dishes include tender diced kid goat slow-cooked in a Rajasthani curry with Mathania chillies, garlic and aromatic whole spices; delicately braised venison in a Hyderabadi salan with green chilli, roasted sesame, green peppercorns, peanut and coconut; crispy Gressingham duck glazed with Andhra chilli, roasted garlic and ginger; and a melange of vegetables and cottage cheese cooked Awadhi style with salan and raita.

The room matters, but the access model matters more

Its setting is a spacious, brightly lit dining room within a Grade II listed Georgian building, with a warm heritage colour palette and high vaulted ceilings. There is also a private dining room on the mezzanine floor, separate from the main body of the restaurant, with its own private bar.

Quick reference: the restaurant is a hotel-resident set-menu evening option in Tunbridge Wells, associated with Atul Kochhar and built around regional dishes.