The Forum
Royal Tunbridge Wells, West Kent
Photo of Royal Tunbridge Wells: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0Photo of Royal Tunbridge Wells: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Forum is a small, independent live music venue in a former public toilet block on the Common, a few minutes from Tunbridge Wells station. It hosts touring bands, local acts, tribute nights and club nights, and runs a second room in the basement of the Sussex Arms on The Pantiles.
Highlights
- Grassroots gigs from rising bands and well-known names
- Tribute nights and dance events
- The Forum Basement, a second stage under the Sussex Arms
- A five-minute walk from Tunbridge Wells station
Good to know
- Under 16s can come to live music events only with an adult aged 18 or over
- DJ and dance late nights are 18 and over, and you may be asked for ID
- Most gigs are standing; email if you need a seat
- The Forum Basement is reached only by stairs
Getting there
The Forum, Fonthill, The Common, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8YUParking: No car park. Castle Road behind the venue is the nearest free parking, and Linden Park Road and The Pantiles car parks are nearby.
Get directionsChecked on 30 October 2026 against twforum.co.uk, twforum.co.uk, twforum.co.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
Spotted something wrong or missing? Tell us
What's on at The Forum
Image: The ForumBarrioke: The Big 2026 Farewell
Barrioke is a karaoke night at The Forum in Royal Tunbridge Wells on Friday 30 October 2026, starting at 8:00 pm. It is billed as the big 2026 farewell and suits groups of friends and anyone who enjoys singing along. Booking is recommended, and price and age guidance are not listed, so check the event page before going.
Image: The ForumBarrioke: The Big Final 2026 Farewell
A karaoke night called Barrioke: The Big Final 2026 Farewell takes place at The Forum in Royal Tunbridge Wells on Saturday 31 October 2026, starting at 8:00 pm. It is open to everyone, and booking is recommended. Details on price and age guidance are not yet listed, so check the event page before attending.
Image: The ForumRepublica: 30 Years of Ready To Go!
Republica perform a concert marking 30 years since the release of Ready To Go! The show takes place at The Forum in Royal Tunbridge Wells on Thursday 5 November 2026, starting at 7:00 pm. It suits fans of 1990s alternative and dance rock who want to hear the band's best-known material live.
Image: The ForumA celebration of Placebo: Debut Album 30th Anniversary
A tribute night marking the 30th anniversary of Placebo's debut album, performed at The Forum in Royal Tunbridge Wells on Friday 6 November 2026, starting at 7.30pm. It suits fans of the band and anyone who enjoys rock music from the 1990s. Booking is recommended.
Image: The Forum BasementHollow
Hollow is a cover band made up of members of Jet Black Bees, Mighty Worm, Seamonkeys and 18th Emergency. They play heritage grunge favourites with some classic punk, drawing on influences such as Alice in Chains, Queens of the Stone Age, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam and Iggy Pop. The gig takes place on Friday 6 November 2026 at 7:30 PM in The Forum Basement, Royal Tunbridge Wells, and is free, with booking recommended. It suits fans of 90s grunge and punk looking for a live night out.
Image: The ForumChina Crisis
China Crisis perform live at The Forum in Tunbridge Wells on Saturday 7 November 2026, starting at 7.30pm. The concert suits music fans of all ages and is best booked in advance. Price and age guidance are not yet listed, so check the event page for full details.
More things to do in Tunbridge Wells
Nearby
Photo of Royal Tunbridge Wells: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0The Chalybeate Spring
The iron-rich spring that a passing nobleman, Lord North, stumbled on in 1606 is the reason Tunbridge Wells grew into a spa town at all. It sits on The Pantiles, restored and flowing again, and is a short, free stop on any walk around the old town.
Photo of Royal Tunbridge Wells: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0King Charles the Martyr
Begun in 1676 as a chapel for visitors taking the waters, King Charles the Martyr is the oldest building in Tunbridge Wells. Step inside and look up: its plaster ceilings by John Wetherell and Henry Doogood, who both worked for Christopher Wren, are among the finest of their period.
Photo of Royal Tunbridge Wells: Tilman2007, CC BY-SA 4.0Tales of Tunbridge Wells audio trail
A free app that guides you round 30 historic sites in Tunbridge Wells, from the Chalybeate Spring to the Forum, using short recordings made by historians, shopkeepers, clergy and residents in 2019. It follows the town's story from the spring's discovery in 1606 to today, and works just as well from your sofa.