The Forum

The range of music you will find hr is excllent, not just young kids hardcore rock music, but a lot of very good local bands, from Tom Williams & The Boat to the more laid back Son of Kirk.
Sure, it could do with a lick of paint, some insulation and a volume control knob that isn’t stuck on 11 but it is a decent venue that has no equal outside of London.
P. s. despite being a converted toilet block do not venture into the toilets, they are pretty disgusting.
Bar prices are cheapish and gig tickets are worthwhile ranging from £5 to £15 on an average night.
Queues for the non-​grungy bands are usually not that large.
Bouncers are friendly, not the usual arsey power maniacs.

Frankly?
Its wasted, badly advertised and run by people who are mildly obsessed with the past, the idea of some sort of dark dingy atmospheric place that kids come to get wasted in.
Reputation precedes all limitations, a real lick of paint, a team effort with an online ad campaign and advertising something that isnt just, get drunk here, we don’t mind could totally change the shape of music in teh south east, if they could be bothered. Tear it down or build it up, ultimately the glory days of the glory hole of middle england are over, it needs to get with the times, like most things.
Anyway, I love the place, heart and soul, I wish it would step up and make me wanna go there.

I think I’ll steer clear of the usual public toilet gags. I’m above all that. Anyway, I pulled up a stool (gingerly) at the bar & settled down to watch a gig promoted by a friend recently. Whilst TW will be always seen as a bastion of middle England, The Forum is a real boon for the local kids (& young-​at-​hearts!) that want original bands, cheap booze & access to The Common for afters! It feels like a North London joint, I always reckon. It sure IS cold, but it’s a great venue & the town is the better for it.

It’s okay here but really, really hot on a summer night and absolutely FREEZING in winter! No ideal medium haha! But it is cheap and cheerful and a good night out if a band you know and like is playing. Spunge have played before with plenty of opportunities to meet and greet — we managed to get ourselves on the VIP guest list for their next gig in Essex! It is right next to a KFC which is nice for when you come out of the venue at night. The queues are very long and boring when you’re waiting for a good band to play. I believe under 16s need to be with a parent (or anyone over 18) to get in. They stamp your hand to show you are over 18 so you can get served at the bar but to be honest they’re quite leniant.

One of the few music venues in the whole of Kent! The Forum is renowned for being ex-​public toilets and its not hard to spot when you go inside. That said, it provides an excellent venue for under 18s, offers something that isn’t available elsewhere, and has an intimate atmosphere. Many big bands have played here when starting out so worth keeping an eye on the line ups. Having said that I think I’d be a bit embarrassed to go in over the age of ¹⁸⁄₂₀!
Comedy nights are also good, though prepare to be pciked on — small venue doesn’t always work in your favor!

This place takes a lot of slack for all the middle-​class, goth, psuedo-​angsty, teen cider drinking youths it may or may not attract.
In the old days it was a very hit or miss venue for live music. but at least it was there. Where else in Tunbridge Wells can you go to see live bands that aren’t some poor man’s cover act (probably featuring Status Quo numbers and other such hits from the dad rock cannon)?
The Forum is a necessary evil in Tunbridge Wells and for all the negative connotations it attracts it does provide local youth with an important place to learn about music and culture. Something which is surprisingly scant in a place that provides itself on being such a historic site.
A place that was a useful oasis during my youth and I hope that it can continue to provide an inspire local music in an area that lacks other such avenues of opportunity

Great place for the youngsters to enjoy and hang-​out. But gripe time. after a Saturday night of fun and excitement, there’s so much litter left lying around the immediate vicinity, it let’s the place down.
Hey everyone, use bins or take your rubbish away and the whole place will look much more attractive to us oldies!

It used to be a public toilet — nuff said. Our teenage kids loathe the place as it attracts the local alco-​pop kiddies — but to give it it’s due there’s not much else for the kids to enjoy. Eldest daughter has been to a few gigs here which she enjoyed — her friends Dad is lead singer in local band The Anti Nowhere League so they get VIP access…

The Forum is one of the only venues in the historic town which caters for Rock, Indie and Electro and is a showcase for local bands as well as a pit-​stop venue between London and Brighton for larger touring acts. The atmosphere of the venue is fantastic, it’s rather small but this only adds to the intimacy and the crowd is really loyal to the music making each event really special. Anybody travelling through the area should definitely have a look as theres nothing else like it nearby. Finally it used to be a public toilet before it was converted!