Sip & Slide opens its doors on Camden Road this Thursday (11th December 2025), bringing Tunbridge Wells a fresh, flavour-first spot for proper burgers, cold craft beer and cocktails that don’t mess about. The new venture is the passion project of Dan and Phil – two long-time friends whose parallel journeys through hospitality have shaped a venue that’s all about good food, good people and a genuinely warm welcome.
What to Expect at Sip & Slide
Sip & Slide keeps things simple – but done exceptionally well. The menu centres on grass-fed, locally sourced beef burgers stacked with big, bold flavours. Chicken wing lovers are in safe hands too, with options ranging from zingy lemon pepper to full-on fiery reaper.
Behind the bar, expect rotating craft beers from Lion Brewery Co and Long Man Brewery, alongside wines chosen to pair beautifully with the menu. The cocktail list covers classics, crowd-pleasers and a few favourites the team admit they probably drink too often themselves.
The vibe? Warm, relaxed and easygoing. Whether you’re popping in for a quick bite before a night out, grabbing a casual drink with friends or treating yourself to something comforting midweek, Sip & Slide is designed to feel like the kind of place you settle into and instantly want to come back to.
Meet the Founders: Dan & Phil
For Dan, food has always been at the centre of life. Growing up in a family where celebrations, apologies and everything in between played out in the kitchen, he found himself naturally pulled into cheffing. Nearly two decades later – after 80–100 hour weeks, tough kitchens and a law degree he never planned to use – he realised he was already doing what he loved: cooking honest food that brings people together. Sip & Slide, he says, is the culmination of everything he’s learned about flavour, fairness and creating a workplace people actually want to be part of.
Phil’s route into hospitality started behind the bar of a small country pub at 18. After a brief detour into the corporate world (and quickly realising train commutes weren’t his calling), he returned to hospitality, working his way up to management. His love of food began unexpectedly as a child in Southeast Asia when he tried sweet and sour pork for the first time after years of being a fussy eater – a moment he describes as “life-changing.” That curiosity for flavour, combined with a passion for making people feel welcome, is what drives him today.
The pair met while working for the same pub group years ago, instantly clicked and soon discovered they shared the same dream: to create a place where great food, great beer and great company could exist without compromising the wellbeing of the people working there. Sip & Slide was born from that shared vision.
Why Tunbridge Wells Will Love It
Sip & Slide is built on a simple but refreshing philosophy: great food shouldn’t be complicated, and great hospitality shouldn’t come at the expense of the people delivering it. Dan and Phil have created a space where customers feel welcome, the team feels valued and the food speaks for itself. It’s the kind of opening Camden Road does brilliantly – independent, heartfelt and full of personality.
Opening this Thursday (from 6pm), Sip & Slide is set to inject serious flavour and feel-good energy into the neighbourhood. Check out the menu and book a table here!
👉 Find out more at Sip & Slide online
📍 11 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2PS
📞 01892 680144
✉️ sipnslidetw@sipnslide.co.uk