Dog & Bear Hotel Restaurant in Maidstone

Stayed here in one of the bed-and-breakfast rooms… whilst the staff were fabulous, polite and helpful. My room was directly next to the courtyard of the beer garden, and it was soooooo noisy . Yes, I understand it’s a public house but if they are going to offer accommodation, it should be well away from drinking areas. My window was literally 5 m away from the tables outside and everyone was screaming and shouting. Do not stay here if you want a peaceful night sleep.

First time staying at The Dog & Bear for dinner, bed and breakfast as a surprise Monday night away for my husband's birthday. Lovely surprise on arrival to be upgraded to their 'Feature' room which was wonderful and very kind! After a few drinks in the bar, we sat down for dinner - my husband really enjoyed his main of Sussex Farms pork chop with Chimichurri sauce and would definitely recommend.. A very comfortable nights rest and then had a fabulous breakfast - I had the eggs Florentine, absolutely delicious! Many thanks to Simon, Vicky and the team - and great to be able to stay in a traditional pub/hotel - relaxed, welcoming and we very much enjoyed our stay.

We have eaten here on several occasions and find the menu to be varied and delicious: the staff are very friendly and attentive even to our canine companion.

Staff very rude especially the female waitress booked on phone. Said we hadn’t booked when we arrived. Food was poor avoid at all cost 2nd & last time I’ll be going there. Both times very poor

Visited for the first time and found the establishment very clean and welcoming. Pub has a lot of charm and appears to be popular with the locals. Landlord and staff were very friendly and accommodating. Stayed overnight and the accommodation was excellent. Would recommend to anybody visiting / staying overnight in the vicinity.

Four of us have just come away from a very good lunch at the Dog and Bear, a Shepherd Neame pub. We all enjoyed our meals, drinks, desserts and coffees, as we should expect to, but it’s really the staff who are the credit to the place. Friendly, helpful, efficient, all of them. A really nice bunch! The restaurant itself was clean and fresh, a bit chilly, and very quiet for a Friday lunchtime. Only one other couple were dining. A bonus was I could use my Birthday voucher for the cheapest meal! Sadly, Shepherd Neame are not one of the chains who accept Blue Light card. The Dog and Bear has its own car park.

My first return here for 30 years and I was not disappointed. Our room was lovely and warm and the bed very comfortable. I had a really tasty, tender dry-aged steak for dinner and we relaxed for the evening in the bar with a real log fire. A very nice breakfast after a good nights sleep rounded off a very enjoyable stay. We will definately return if we are in the area again.

We have stayed here a few times in the way back from France. The room was clean, dinner and breakfast are superb. The staff are friendly and attentive to our needs and that of our four legged companion

The past few meals we’ve had have been terrible. The chicken wings were bland, they didn’t taste at all like chicken or anything for that matter. The crispy chicken was soggy, chips were cold. We think had probably been left sitting out for a while. Will not risk eating here again

Just good food and a friendly atmosphere. The owners / bartender / waitresses (yes Sally, including you) all made us feel so very welcome.

Had an excellent meal with superb service. Despite being a Sunday evening, it was very busy so would recommend booking if if you wanted to eat there. We used to eat there a few years ago but stopped because of the variable service under the previous management but glad things have now improved so much

We dropped in for dinner at 8pm and have eaten here before with a reasonable if not standard experience. Started off well enough but we’re soon told the list of what wasn’t available- which was nearly all of the starter menu. What we ordered took ages to arrive and really wasn’t worth the wait. Two of the group ordered the creamy mushrooms to come with the mains (more on that later). The burger at nearly £15 was dry and tasteless and came with a handful of chips but literally nothing else. One person asked for their chips separate so they could share with a vegetarian but despite agreeing to this request was subsequently ignored. Don’t bother with the ravioli, you can buy better and more in Aldi, they didn’t even drain them after boiling the life out of them to the point it was ravioli soup! The 2 portions of creamy mushrooms didn’t arrive at all and when chased we were told would be 5-10 minutes. What arrived were two grilled mushrooms rolling around in a bowl! Numerous apologies but nothing apart from an offer to not charge us for the creamy mushroom starters we didn’t actually get was offered to improve our experience. Instead a bill of £128 B team on tonight in this place, especially in the kitchen, we should’ve gone to the co-op

I chose the Dog & Bear for a Wake with family & friends as we had a service at the nearby crematorium. There were 29 of us and were hosted in the upper restaurant where we had the 'master brew' buffet plus tea & coffee on tap. On arrival we were given a warm welcome, the staff attentive and helpful throughout our visit. The buffet food was as described in their functions brochure, freshly made and of excellent quality, we did not leave much. The kitchen also provided gluten free mini buffets for those who had dietry requirements. The premises has ample car parking for visitors. It is rare occasion to visit a restaurant and have no complaints these days, but I am happy to say I thoroughly enjoyed the experience despite it being a sad day. I will certainly visit again despite the distance from where I live and sample more of their menu.

We received a warm welcome and were seated in the bar as we had a dog with us. Lovely service, good prices and a nice menu. Big car park at the back and Lenham is a pretty village. Well worth a visit.

Stayed here when we walked the North Downs Way, very comfortable and accommodating. Breakfasts excellent too.

Lunchtime visit at midday for drinks and food proved fruitless. Although the restaurant was empty at this time, apparently they had a party of 12 booked and the chef decided he couldn't possibly accommodate anyone else so my partner and myself were turned away - not even any bar food available....really ?? No fault of the friendly barman who seemed embarrassed and suggested we try the Red Lion next door. All the more galling as this is a hotel and has a large sign outside boasting ' Food Served All Day '. Not quite, it seems !

Visited here after the mad busy crazzzy light switch on Sunday . I choose the Kiev. Honestly it was a memorable plate of food.. My husband and Son had food envy . Large chicken breast in toasty breadcrumbs and obviously garlic.. Served with mash and I don't really care for mash . Spinach with pancetta and cream.and I asked for gravy .. Such a lovely plate of food. Hubby had ham eggs and chips . Which is always hard to ignore on any menu .. Then the final dish .. the good ole loaded burger . It was a great end to a wet boozy afternoon. Great service at the end of what I can only imagine was a mammoth exhausting shift.

Came for food for my nieces birthday and was very good however I was served by a short guy on the bar think his name is Tyler? He was the only staff member who didn’t really show any interest in his work. Very disappointed and has let your team down

Popped in for a spontaneous visit. Straight away we was greeted warmly by the manager himself. Was then served by Jaime who was very efficient and friendly. We had the fish and chips and the chicken Kiev's. Very generous portions and the Kiev was tender and juicy, you could easily tell it was fresh and home made, which is rare to find these days in pubs. So a massive thank you to the chefs! Our server even kept our baby distracted so both me and my partner could eat. Would definitely recommend.

Stayed here for 1 night as it was the base chosen by a school friend for his visit from Singapore. Very surprised to find this village pub has such a diverse clientele. The room was lovely, 4 poster bed, very clean, tea / coffee making facility, shower and bath. TV with basic channels, SKY down in the bar. Free car parking at the rear. Food was lovely. Bar staff very polite and eager to assist. I would recommend stopping here, as opposed to a town centre hotel, if catching Eurostar, or just visiting the area. I will be looking to visit again in the warmer months as I can only imagine the scenery, this visit was masked by a thick fog.

several of the group had pork belly which had in some case more than 60% of fat on it. The skin which would have been crackling was missing and all what was left with large lumps of fat what looked quite sickly and made me...

First time here on recommendation of my longest friend (over 60 years) and if we lived locally the restaurant could become as attached to us as he to me. Quite simply the best pub food we have had in years and all three of us...

My family and I stayed here for one night in August. We were greeted by their friendly staff and the friendly locals in the bar who welcomed us like friends. We had a family room which was plenty big enough and had all the essentials...

Lovely room, good food and a great bar. Staff Lisa and Paula truly amazing. Paula even left the pub to go to her own home to get 2 pairs of socks for my husband who had forgotten to pack his. We were overwhelmed by her...

I was good to find the Sunday Lunch was back to it's pre covid standard. We have been coming a few times a year for the last 20 or so. The service was fast and efficient. I do however suggest the senior girl is given...

We had lunch today table for 4 ,the meal was great great service with a smile, very pleased,recommended

Excellent hotel, with great service. Breakfast was lovely. Staff very friendly and helpful. Rooms spacious and very clean.

Took my parents out for lunch to the Dog & Bear. Excellent choice of main courses to suit all our tastes. Service was prompt and our waitress was very friendly. It was sad to see the restaurant virtually empty - set in the middle of...

Brilliant hotel full of character and charm, nestled in a lovely village. Room was amazing, staff lovely and our meals great. Would recommend

A lovely evening with an extremely friendly and helpful waiter! Very accommodating to my gluten and dairy intolerance, definitely went the extra mile. Very COVID friendly and felt comfortable and safe throughout.

We stayed for two nights in this great/pub/hotel. So pleased they took the Covid rules so seriously, actively challenging people for not wearing masks, loads of hand sanitising stations and a one way system. We even witnessed them enforcing the mask wearing when entering and...

It's hardly the easiest of times right now, but at the Dog & Bear you barely notice the sensible and respectful coronavirus measures they've put in place. Our room was spotless, dinner was exceptional, breakfast was delicious and served with a smile even when the...

A wonderful place to stay, especially if you are looking for a dog friendly hotel. We stayed over the August Bank Holiday, and from the moment we stepped through the door nothing was too much trouble. The hotel staff are so friendly and welcoming. The...

Charming old country pub in a Kentish village, near to Leeds Castle. The dining room is OK and we found a good standard of food right across the menu. Service here is particularly good.

Beef pie a little tasteless. Portions not great and a little pricey. Service good and nice venue. Hopefully will get better by now after lockdown

Wonderful meal has last night! I chose the chicken and my partner had a lamb rump! All perfectly cooked and well presented. We’re be back! X

Stayed in the hotel this weekend. We had a wonderful time. Met Fraser and his team who really couldn’t do enough for us. Very clean bedroom and a lovely pub in a very nice village. We will return !

As an Irish woman, a warm welcome is second nature and that's exactly how I felt...at home. I took a take a mini break pre-lockdown and afterwards felt revitalised. The smiling staff made me feel at ease, Frasier was an incredible host, and his staff obviously think the world of him. I am in the process of booking my next trip there, and feel I've found a magical little place, warm, homely and like a soothing balm.Carla Battisti, BBC producer

I came for an impromptu visit and stayed last night and was welcomed to my cosy room with a lovely beer garden just outside. I had a great nights sleep despite the crazy hot weather and the breakfast in the morning was delicious although a few more beans would of gone down a treat Thanks to the team for a lovely break, I will be back!

I visited with a client and we both ordered from the daily specials board. He had a vegetarian curry and I chose the pork chop. Both were tasty, well cooked and reasonable.

Had a most fantastic meal when staying at the Dog and Bear. Portions are huge and the combinations are imaginative and work well together. I had starters and desserts from the specials menu and they were both outstanding. Ham, eggs and chips seemed very popular and rightly so. The restaurant was busy but not unpleasantly so and the staff handled everybody in a friendly manner with efficient service.

Fantastic food, and service. I have a photo of the whitebait, but forgot to take photos of my Salmon and Meringue mess and had eaten them before I remembered. DOH.

Family of 3, amazing food, lovely helpful and friendly staff. Excellent value for money, highly recommend this pub for food.

We had a cup of coffee and then later came back for lunch. The staff serving coffee were lovely and friendly. Lunch was delicious. We can recommend the salmon.

Une belle chambre, un bon petit pub, un bon petit déjeuner, le charme anglais opère bien dans cet établissement bien propre.

Room very comfortable and clean. Bath/shower. Coffee and tea facilities Dinner was well cooked but menu not extensive and quite pubby. Excellent choices of food for breakfast and again well cooked. Staff very pleasant and friendly

Having grown up in Lenham, I have been aware of the Dog And Bear for more than forty years. It’s always been a decent pub and the centrepiece of Lenham Square, a beautiful example of a medieval Kentish village. But then I visited in January ‘20 with my kids and was blown away. The service was fast and friendly. The beer (Shepherd Neame) was as good as ever and the food? Well. Let’s just say I’d give it a solid 10/10. Perfectly cooked, fresh ingredients and an attention to detail I just didn’t expect. I haven’t enjoyed a meal out this much in years. If you’re ever passing Lenham on the A20, stop and turn around. You’re missing a treat.

We ate here as we were staying at the hotel. I wouldn't say the menu choice is extensive. We both ordered the salmon which was well executed and at £14.50 was what you would expect to pay. Ample seating with a choice of in the bar or restaurant.

Always a warm welcome - always excellent food - good pub grub and friendly staff. A good place to eat

We stayed here overnight as a stop off on route elsewhere.

Fantastic hotel, great food and atmosphere. We have enjoyed lunch, have a cosy room and look forward to a yummy dinner. Thank you to all the staff.

Poped in for a drink and to view the menu, the complete area around the bar was full of what I can only describe as "locals" who made no effort to make a space for me to get served, eventually a young man did slightly step aside and called to the barman and indicated that I was waiting to be served. What a difference to the other pub in the village, the Red Lion, where I had been made welcome. I will not be visiting this pub again, nor would I recommend it to anyone, unless of course you are accompanied by a "local" very disappointing

We are from Australia and just walked in for breakfast, we were treated so well and the publican Brain and staff were so fantastic. The food was yummie. We sat in the bar area and the table was big but the chairs small if your a bit on the large size but it's a really old English pub. You may need to duck if your tall. Everyone enjoyed there meals and were full. Thanks for hospitality. If we ever came back we would even stay the night.

A very pleasant pub. The food was excellent. Good vegan choices, and pudding. The staff were very pleasant and helpful.

We visited this pub for the 1st time and was very pleased we did. It's a very nice friendly pub which serves food. Staff were extremely polite and friendly. Worth a visit x

Good service, good choices. Nice food. We arrived late and we were still accommodated with no problem. Staff were very nice.

We were staying locally and this was one of the places recommended by our host. Set in the local small square, this was a proper traditional and old fashioned local that had been really nicely decorated. Service was nice, not rushed and the food was very good.

Door geluid van afzuigkap is de beleving van dit verder best wel prima hotel een flinke afknapper. Eten was prima, kamer zag er goed uit. Douche mag verbeteren, stortdouche in bad, laag boven het bad, hierdoor paste ik er niet onder, bad was smal dus je stond tegen de schuine kant op met de douchekraan in je rug. Veel lekkage op de badkamer vloer. Maar vooral het continue geluid was vervelend.

Stopped in for a traditional pub lunch, a plowman's lunch would have been ideal. No plowman's but a cheese and fancy relish sandwich should be good, after all it would take talent to cock up a cheese 'sarnie.

Warm welcome. Great menu, local beers. A lovely relaxed lunch in comfortable surroundings. A great pub/restaurant...we will return

We went to the Dog & Bear with friends and ate in the bar area, the food and beer was excellent, I had the black and blue burger and my wife had the traditional cod and chips which were excellent and left us feeling satisfied. As a result of that visit we decided to eat in the Restaurant on the Sunday evening, it was quiet but the staff were welcoming and attentive, I ordered the confit duck and sweet potato croquettes which were delicious, we then ordered the trio of meats and couldn't believe the portion size. All meats were well cooked and delicious and an abundance of vegetables, we almost didn't have room for pudding but dud indulge with Apple pie and Sauce Anglaise and the Chocolate Brownie which was lovely and rich. An excellent evening. We will be back

Een jaar of vier geleden verbleven we hier voor enkele dagen. We werden toen heel vriendelijk en attent onthaald en waren erg tevreden over dit hotel en de keuken waardoor we voor onze trip dit jaar geen moment twijfelden om hier opnieuw te boeken. De kamers waren top in orde. Mooi, gezellig en netjes. Ook het zaal- en barpersoneel is over het algemeen vriendelijk en steeds bereid je te helpen. De keuken is er echter vreselijk op achteruit gegaan. Nieuwe kok of besparingen? Geen idee maar het eten is zowat allemaal of gegrild ofwel gefrituurd en, op de hamburgers na, gewoon niet smakelijk. De salade met kipfilet die ik een keer genomen had was droog en smaakloos. De ‘drizzle’ balsamico was ver te zoeken en de geroosterde cashewnoten waren een paar kruimels. Op een ochtend bestelde ik ‘avocado & tomatensalsa in sourdough toast’. In plaats van vers geplette avocado kreeg ik een plat papje van guacamole uit een potje en pikante salsadip recht uit een bokaal van de supermarkt, jakkes! Op het English breakfast’ van mijn man lagen verkoolde champignons, ook niet erg smakelijk. Er loopt ook voortdurend ander personeel rond (op 5 dagen tijd ongeveer 16 verschillende serveersters en ‘soort’ managers geteld!). Denk dat hierdoor de directie te veel andere dingen om haar hoofd heeft want deze is totaal niet met de gasten begaan en je krijgt zelfs geen ‘thank you for staying with us’ of ‘hope to see you again’ bij vertrek. Spijtig.

Great burgers. Had the jack and bean which was a nice vegetarian offer. Staff friendly. Place felt relaxed. Will visit again.

If you are over 6 feet tall go somewhere else. I could not stand up in my original room, the bathroom had an even lower ceiling, which was made worse if you step up into the bath/shower.... You would have to kneel down to shower.

Visited for my wife's birthday meal having been here a few times before. On this occasion we felt that standards had dropped and the food was not up to previous visits. One of the meals had to be sent back as the chicken was rock hard, the replacement was not much better. The rest of our food was of an acceptable standard and the service was good with any of our concerns rectified.

Typical Shepherd Naeme pub hotel very mediocre too much football on tv not what I expected of a village pub hotel therefore lot of yobs shouting at tv not my scene fir a weekend break

Set in the village square this delightful old inn offers a good varied menu. There is parking at the rear as well as in the square carpark opposite. This is a hotel as well as a pub/ restaurant. Great layout inside including a separate dart area within the bar with a TV for sports. Service at the bar was excellent. Friendly helpful staff. We really enjoyed our lunch , decent fayre well cooked and presented. We shall return by train as the station is 10 to 15 minutes walk away for a beer or two.

Lovely people, place and location. Some of the facilities in pub and the bed and breakfast rooms could do with a bit of work, but a lovely place

Nice village pub, nice atmosphere, a good selection of beer and nice food. There is also a pool table and darts.

We visit The Dog and Bear at Lenham a few times each year. We have never been disappointed with the lunch time menu or the service and last Thursday was no exception. There is a large car park for use by guests when eating or staying at this hotel.

This is a good place and it’s very convenient for Leeds Castle, but it doesn’t merit 4 stars. On the plus side the rooms are of a good size, the showers are great. In the restaurant the food was very good, the service excellent. But the beds were too soft for me, the room was overheated. But my biggest criticism is for the people who appeared to be in charge: the welcome was less than warm. They seemed to be totally disinterested in our custom.

Interesting, might even suggest adventurous in parts, menu with standard 'pub' regulars. Food always of high standard and excellent service every time we have visited. Excellent range of wines and other beverages at reasonable prices. I have booked business colleagues into the hotel on many an occasion who have always reported it to be a first class establishment. Superb breakfast, which I have also sampled myself!

Had lunch here today with friends.

We had booked ourselves into a hotel which out to be appalling, so we "escaped" for dinner and found the Dog & Bear in Lenham. Excellent service and food. So good that we came back for breakfast the next morning. Would go again.

Great local friendly pub, great food and service. Would highly recommend. Staff could not be more helpful with food choices. Nice fresh and very tasty food.

Popped in for a spot of dinner, lovely warm welcome from the bar staff who sorted me out with a table, no bother at all to them.

We started the evening with a drink in the hotel bar. Lovely atmosphere and the 2 members of staff were very friendly. We asked one of them if there was a table free for dinner. She disappeared off to check and came back to confirm there was one available. We said we would be 10 mins, just wanted to have some time in the bar. All ok so far.......

Have eaten here a few times, hence the reason we come back. This time though food was only average at best, and when we said we were not satisfied, nothing was offered to compensate, not even coffees on the house. Finished up therefore paying the full bill, but vowed not to return.

My husband and I went for dinner with a couple of friends and were very disappointed. The whole night we found ourselves waiting a long time to order/be served/table cleared/pay the bill etc.

My wife an I have stayed overnight at The Dog and Bear Hotel a few times (My Mother lives nearby) but have always forgotten to submit a review. The rooms are comfortable and well equipped. The staff are always welcoming and helpful and the resyaurant offer a wide choice of sensibly priced options. Christmas lunch last Decemer 25th was outstanding! High reomended at any time of the year with the added bonus of the lovely village of Lenham.

On a cold Thursday at lunchtime it was nice to find the open fire in the bar. Service was very confident and speedy, and I enjoyed my beef pie special. In the past we've just gone in for a lunchtime coffee, and this time the flavour of the filter decaff was very pleasant - best I've had for a long time.

This is a quaint pub in the centre of Lenham village. They have nice accommodation upstairs for around £60 per night.

So good that we went back the next time we were nearby. Lovely sharing dishes for the four of us. A warm welcome from the staff added to the lovely experience.

Food is excellent, restaurant can seem a bit quiet and lacking in atmosphere sometimes. Staff very attentive and good, perhaps the atmosphere in the bar area might be a bit more cosy? Maybe we'll try it next time, but for a meal that's a bit special, the restaurant ticks more boxes

I have visited the pub, dined in the restaurant and stayed in the hotel on many occasions. The food, drink, accommodation and service has always been excellent.

Went in a large group Christmas eve, a lot of the dishes they had ran out of, if you know you are fully booked you make sure you have enough food to serve the customers. The last Skate wing was ordered however it should never of left the kitchen, completely inedible. A sausage dish which was "zapped" was rubbery and unpleasant. The suet pudding was poor and I imagine bought in. Desserts for those who brave it were forever leaving the kitchen. First time at the Dog & Bear and last.

Dropped in late after a day shopping in Ashford and found the place to be very warm and welcoming with an atmosphere that felt like a place where the locals gather to enjoy good beer, good food, chatting, pool or a TV showing football (not loud)

Definitely not to be missed. Excellent service from friendly staff. Breakfast out of this world. Village pub at its best.

My sister and I stopped here for lunch last week when passing through, we had the Steak pie, Mashed potato's and peas for lunch. Really the food was not good. The steak pie contained very chewy meat with not nice bits of fat/gristle. The potatoes were extremely lumpy, the only nice bit about it, was the gravy was ok. I did not see the lady when she came to take our plates away, but noticing that we had eaten not very much of it, should have perhaps asked my sister (who was on the phone at the time) if everything was ok. Which she would have replied No!!

Great find! Stayed for one night. Free parking on site. Breakfast included in the price ( great selection). Room was a good size. Enjoyed a lovely evening meal on site too. The owners are very much a part of the everyday running and were very welcoming. Staff were very helpful.

Been here many times. Food and service excellent. Hot plates, clean tables and cutlery. Menu good with sensible choices. Served by Lynn. Very friendly as always. Value for money every time.

Went here for my husband's 70th birthday family and friends meal.

We ate here on a Saturday lunchtime in October. My husband and I both had the chicken on a butternut squash salad - it was delicious! My sister had steak and ale pie - also very good. The food arrived quickly. But the servers were so grumpy. Try getting a smile out of them - not possible. And we had finished our meal and waited for maybe 15 mins while the waitress gossiped to the people next to us. As I write this we still haven’t got our bill, despite asking twice so far.

Only went in for breakfast but superb service and lovely food nice surroundings and very clean and tidy next time I go to Lenham I intend to stop here for the night

We now visit here on a regular basis, despite living in Kingswood we treat this as our local.

Typical Pub / B&B; type place. All there that can be expected. Friendly staff. Close to Dover and Folkestone.

We've always loved Lenham village, so quintessentially English. Having failed to get in at two nearby pubs, we were successful at the Dog and Bear and ate in the lively bar area.

Quite a nice setting, the staff are helpful. The food was okay but no where near worth the £78 bill. The Gypsy tart was runny too which just isn’t how that pudding should be. Won’t be returning.

This restaurant came highly recommended, but I was not impressed. Menu is fusion rather than traditional pub, and several items were not available that day. Not a particularly friendly or welcoming place, but service was quick.

We stopped here on the return journey from a funeral, for an early dinner. The restaurant is clean and has a pleasant ambience; while the staff were cordial and helpful. The menu was interesting and I would describe it as "good pub grub plus".