The Binkybus: September 2026

Apple Acres Camp Site

Another rugby trip in this new season in National Division 1 and this time it was off to watch Cambridge play Tonbridge Juddians in Kent. We found a very nice camp site about a mile and a half outside town and on Thursday we completed the familiar route down the M11, M25 and A21 to Apple Acres Campsite. What we didn't realise was the site was on top of a mountain and it certainly wasn't a flat walk into Tonbridge.

On Thursday we wandered down the mountainside and into Tonbridge, had a mooch around and a beer in the excellent Fuggles beer Cafe, a quick curry in 'Spoons then climbed the mountain back to the van.

Apple Orchard at the end of our pitch

The track leading down to the campsite

Resident Goat

Fuggles Beer Cafe

Sunset

On Friday we decided to visit Aunt Vera, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, a relatively short bus ride from the site. When the Number 7 dropped us off in the centre of Tunbridge Wells we decided that we really ought to see the Pantiles, so we marched down the steep hill to this lovely spot and stopped for coffee and cake in The Cake Shed. It was average, overpriced and the cheeky barstewards slapped a 12.5% service charge on the bill to cover the bad service. Don't go there - it's crap. Anyway, off to Aunt Vera's, who, obviously, lives right at the very top of the hill, so up we slogged and had a delightful afternoon visiting.

The Pantiles

Bloke doing yoga on a polar bear. A very common sight in Tunbridge Wells

The Pantiles

Saturday was match day. As ever, those nutters Laura and Steve were ready for breakfast at some ridiculous hour so we marched down the mountain at speed (the buses were still infrequent as most of them were still in bed at this unearthly hour). Anyway, we met the maniacs at the brilliant Jel's Cafe for a big breakfast then on to the dreadful 'Spoons for a pint (there was nothing else open that early), a pint in Fuggles then off to the ground to watch Cambridge lose by 1 point. Great ground and friendly people though. We enjoyed our visit (apart from the result). Popped into Waitrose for some provisions then, not wishing to climb the mountain, we caught the bus back.

Breakfast at Jel's

Tonbridge Castle

Luke Wallace

The Chairman of Juddians

Adrian Cheeleading

Packed crowds (!)

We were due to leave on Sunday, but thought "Tonbridge is close to London - let's take the opportunity to visit Mother in Chiswick as it's so close". Accordingly we asked to stay for another couple of nights and headed into town. Poor planning on our part though. Trains from Tonbridge to Charing Cross are frequent. Tubes from Charing Cross to Turnham Green are not. In fact, there were none at all. Some tit had decided to close all lines from Earls Court to Acton for the Sunday, so we had to do some emergency planning and catch a number 94 bus from Haymarket to Turnham Green. It was quite a nice journey there as we were first on and sat at the front on the top deck. It took quite a while to get to Chiswick though, but we spent a pleasant afternoon with Mum before catching the 94 back. This wasn't so good. The bus terminated at Oxford Circus and threw us off in the hell on earth. What have they done to the place? It was always touristy, but now it is threatening and intimidating. Gangs and garish rickshaw things abounded. We felt totally alien, despite being Londoners. We couldn't wait to escape and we certainly were not going to take our 'phones out to take pictures! Rather than hang around in the city that Sad Dick Khan has turned into an absolute dump, we caught the train. Our misery was compounded by finding out that there were no buses after 5 on a Sunday and we had to walk up that poxy mountain again.