Fordwich Arms in Canterbury

This is the best most place to go the food was the most fantastic we have ever had, just brilliant,

2nd visit here, just as fantastic as the first time. Incredible food warm and welcoming service, and better than all of that, as if that isn't enough! It also dog friendly ❤️

The setting and the food was excellent. The service whilst polite and friendly, it was not quite on point for a restaurant of this standing. We ordered cocktails when we arrived ideally they should have been delivered along with the amuse bouche , I had to remind the waiter of the order , the cocktails arrived when we had finished the amuse bouche. The starter arrived before we had finished the introductory bread course which both made us feel there was some time pressure and also cluttered the table. We had to ask the waiter to remove the bread plates to give sufficient space to eat the starter comfortably. The background music was not in keeping with the ambiance the restaurant was trying to create in the very nicely appointed dining room. It was a mix tape of primarily pop like tracks which was was a little to loud when we arrived , as it happens a lady on an adjacent table asked for the volume to be lowered so this was not an issue during the meal. Instrumental music would have been more in keeping with the setting, for our taste something like Cafe Del Mare or Zero Seven others might prefer light classical music in the background which also would have been more acceptable. Although we have outlined a couple of areas which in our opinion could be improved given the Michelin standing of the restaurant , we enjoyed the meal and would recommend the restaurant to friends and family

Bland. I am shocked it has put me off of fine dining. The lobster was the worst I have ever tasted.

Outstanding food in a formal but relaxed atmosphere. Wood panelled dining room not cramped with an open fire and soothing ambience. Attentive friendly service.

We have dined here for a special occasion. The fire place was on and it added to overall atmosphere. We went for a longer menu. It was one of the best meals of our lives. Especially the lobster was just amazing. Every little piece was perfectly executed and balanced. Oysters were delicious as well. And the wine selection is very extensive.

Incredible lunch. Great service. A real treat.

Great food, service and venue. Really excellent all round. Do it!

Thoroughly enjoyed our lunch yesterday. very impressed with all staff who made us feel really welcome. We will definitely be returning soon....

Had a lovely experience at the Fordwich Arms. Fantastic service, wonderful wine recommendation and delicious food. We went for the a la cart menu and loved trying different things. The lobster was definitely memorable!

What an experience. 1st Michelin star restaurant we have been to and it did not disappoint. My daughter and son-in-law visit high end, Michelin restaurants a lot more than us and they said it was the best they have had. Well done to the team at The Fordwich Arms. Of course we had the taster menu. It was delicious. My wife wouldn't choose fish on any menu but she loved those dishes the best especially the oyster. We visited the Fordwich Arms about 20 years ago with my in-laws and it was great then. Pub hasn't changed much which is great. It has kept its old world charm. Service was lovely. Thank you. The Cooper's

Wonderful in every way. Warm greeting. Excellent service. Truly delicious food. Exceptional.

Great restaurant, food and service superb 👌.

Absolutely amazing, from start to finish. The oenology blew me away, I’ve never experienced that depth of knowledge in this area. I’d highly recommend including this to your meal, it completed an excellent experience. I struggle to see why this place does not rank 5 star. Others mention of the none refundable deposit, it’s clearly set out that this is their policy, good on them for ensuring a full house I say, after all this ensures of great ambience. This has to be one of the best restaurants in a 50 mile radius, easily. All staff were very friendly and accommodating to my pregnant partner dietary requirements. Fortunately right on our door step, I’m already looking for the next excuse to return. Wow. Thank you

AMAZING!!! Thank you to everyone involved in making last night such a memorable experience.

Lovely old gastro pub, really lovely outstanding foodie experience highly recommend

Exceptional experience for our anniversary. We both had the 7 course tasting menu and enjoyed every element of it. The food, service and setting are all of the highest quality. Very highly recommended.

Stunning. Had a wonderful evening here last night. Food was spectacular, service was attentive and friendly and the atmosphere welcoming and enjoyed! Thank you for a wonderful evening… the best meal I’ve ever had… period!

Absolutely beautiful place, food is fantastic and the service is exemplary. A really perfect place for a special occasion.

What a fantastic place! The food is totally exquisite and incredible value for such top Michelin star food! Really lovely food in a beautiful restaurant.

An amazing meal. Well worth the trek out from Canterbury. Spectacular presentation, inventive dishes, super friendly service. Tasteful dried flower arrangements everywhere, including a table sized piece hanging down from the ceiling. Outstanding wine pairings. Not cheap but a wonderful special occasion place.

Very well presented food. It tastes amazing. Lovely place! Brilliant service.

Visited yesterday and four of us had the roast turkey from the Christmas menu. It was amazing! Lots of delicious turkey and beautifully cooked vegetables. Definitely the best turkey dinner from a restaurant. All the meals we saw looked very tasty. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful, the ambience was good and I can't find any fault whatsoever. Unfortunately I live over forty miles away so can't visit that often but definitely worth the journey!

One star is not enough,Two Michelin stars please,wonderful team and beautiful building

My wife and I had a rare evening to be able to go out. We were greeted by Belle one of our servers, she was professional and extremely welcoming, the food was incredibly and could not be faulted, both of our server's (Belle & Elijah) were extremely knowledgeable and attentive, all round the food and service was a wonderful experience, highly recommended, thank you, Lee & Jo

We had an amazing lunch at this beautiful Michelin starred pub. The food, atmosphere and service were great. We did the al a carte which is 3 courses with snacks and bread for £75. Between the three of us, we got a different starter, main and dessert each to share which was a great decision to try different dishes. My favourites were the lobster (supplement), scallop, hake and venison. Sam looked after us and was super friendly and knowledgeable.

Never get tired of recommending this superb restaurant to anyone just exquisite.Paul and Freya simons Rochester

A laid back country pub with a lovely ambience, serving wonderful food made from the best local, seasonal produce. Definitely deserves its Michelin star.

Giving it a one star because I specifically asked for a rose (£7). There was only one rose indicated in the menu. I was then asked which rose I wanted, which was very confusing as I had only seen the one. I specifically opened the menu and pointed to the one rose that I had seen. The waiter dismissed my comment and said there’s two - regular and sparkling. At no point did he say the sparkling was double the price or anything else. I figured it was all the same so I asked him which was not sweet and requested that. Later, when it came time to pay my husband paid the bill and told me the glass was £15. This was extremely misleading and deceptive on the part of their staff. I would not come here again given this type of actions!

I don't think there is any more the staff could have done to make the night better. Starting from the card for my wife's birthday to the attentive but discreet staff. The food was just amazing. One of the best tasting menu experiences we have had. Thank you to all the staff and we will definitely go back for another special occasion.

We went for the tasting menu. The flavours were good, but every dish was far too salty. I couldn’t finish my food, not because I was full, but because of there being too much salt. Not what I expect do the price. The cocktails were good.

Absolutely stunning…..day trip to Canterbury and we stumbled on this gem. Service was top notch and the food was delicious…definitely has earned its Michelin star. Thank you The Fordwich Arms

We arrived at the Fordwich arms at 06:30 on a Saturday night and initially we were offered a table in the bar area which we were not happy about. We asked if there was a better table and were shown into the much prettier atmospheric dining room. We ordered wine and our food choosing the a la cart menu. The pre dinner snacks were beautifully presented and delicious. Gone in a flash! Then a bread course, delicious with lovely butter. 3 of us had the parfait which was delicious and served with beautiful savoury donuts. Venison main was delicious as well however we did feel that for the money the main course consisted of a very small portion ( one wee slice) of venison with accompaniments. Delicious deserts. The service was outstanding - very pleasant professional staff. I’ve not given 5 stars as we all thought that although all delicious and great service the portions for us at £75 a head were too small.

I found the highly rated resaturant over hyped and rather disapponiting, it used unecessary effects with boxrc , coffee beans etc to try and upgrade rather mediocre offerings, for a point that was lost on me. Some food was overcooked, the monkfish, for my taste, and generally food was oversalted, as is often case in michellin places

Had a wonderful lunch here to celebrate a special birthday. Staff were first class , welcoming , charming and attentive . The service was enthusiastic with detailed and passionate descriptions of each course as it arrived . We all had the set menu which was outstanding . I have not enjoyed a dining experience quite like this for some time . Thank you and cannot wait to return.

Fabulous lunch with friends,we came away thinking it just may have been our favourite food experience ever!

Some very tasty morsels but overall a bit disappointing. Went there for a special occasion but felt it was a bit lacklustre. Dining room was ok (just an old pub room), no table linen. Wine list was good but extremely pricey. Food was generally good but didn’t get the wow we were expecting. Each dish is delivered with a lot of drama and not a lot of substance. Not for us. Won’t be returning

Tonight we popped into the other Michelin star pub near to our base, The Fordwich Arms, I. England’s smallest town of Fordwich. This pub offers a seasonal menu focus on provenance, showcasing the best of local Kentish ingredients, sourced directly from local farms and producers. We opted for the a la carte tonight. I went for the BBQ lobster, grape & spiced butter sauce , not worth the £25 extra cost. However, the raw Orkney scallop was a hit around the table. Shame only one of us ordered it. Only negative was the slow service and plates left on table for too long. Having to wait 30 mins between mains and deserts with plates still on the table was unacceptable. Due to the time of our pickup by taxi we had to rush the last course

Tonight we popped into the other Michelin star pub near to our base, The Fordwich Arms, I. England’s smallest town of Fordwich. This pub offers a seasonal menu focus on provenance, showcasing the best of local Kentish ingredients, sourced directly from local farms and producers. We opted for the a la carte tonight. I went for the BBQ lobster, grape & spiced butter sauce , not worth the £25 extra cost. However, the raw Orkney scallop was a hit around the table. Shame only one of us ordered it. Only negative was the slow service and plates left on table for too long. Having to wait 30 mins between mains and deserts with plates still on the table was unacceptable. Due to the time of our pickup by taxi we had to rush the last course.

A real foodie destination. Chose the al la carte menu this time and it was exceptional. The brill was very good as was the pork my partner had. Will return for the tasting menu!

We had the tasting menu with wine pairings. The food was excellent, the wine pairings were outstanding, and the service was friendly and knowledgeable. A very nice evening out.

We had an excellent experience here when booking for a late lunch on a weekday. Both my husband and I opted for the set menu which was an incredibly reasonable £45 for three courses and a bread course and were really pleased with the exceptional food throughout. Each course was tailored to suit our dietary needs if required and the flavours for what was essentially a twist on the traditional pub food was outstanding. Everything felt like it had been crafted just before it came out, with even fresh churned in-house butter and whipped pork fat with the bread course which made even a couple of simple pieces of bread stand out. From the moment we sat down, staff were attentive and catered to every need, displaying great knowledge for their own menus which was lovely to experience. They did not hover or push anything like some restaurants of this level would, and created a relaxed and cosy atmosphere. We were celebrating two special occasions so they even made sure to have a handwritten card awaiting us on the table for both occasions which was a beautiful little touch. I did even have a little peek into the kitchen on my way to the toilet and saw just how many staff were working in the kitchen and how regimented and busy they were - they clearly work exceedingly hard which definitely pays off. The price was incredibly reasonable for a Michelin star restaurant, and a pint only cost £4.50 which was a pleasant surprise. We even added on a cheese course to our food at just £4 per cheese which of course exceeded expectations also, and was well worth it to try the homemade chutney and jelly. All in all, I highly recommend The Fordwich Arms for a great display of how to do Michelin food right with lovely local produce. They've definitely earnt that star through the sheer dedication to great food and service and I cannot commend them enough for how lovely our experience was.

I been twice now and both times were outstanding. By far the best Michelin restaurant in the area!

We took my mum out for her birthday and was more than disappointed at arriving at the Fordwich Arms with not even a warm welcome or greeting. Just received a bland "do you have a reservation or do you just want a drink" There were free tables everywhere and when we asked if we needed to book they said they would see if they could fit us in?! Very cold, not a warm pub anymore more just a business meeting place for al a carte stupidly priced menu. Would not recommend.

Last minute walk in meal. Went for the taster menu and it was a delight, the excitement of not knowing what you are going to get next. Fantastic presentation and service.

Beautiful surroundings, friendly helpful staff, and exceptional food.

Brought my wife for Dinner here, food was outstanding, highly attentive staff lovely atmosphere - a must visit

Lovely restaurant - it's got a Michelin star for good reason. If you like intricate food and Michelin star places, you can't go wrong. Nice atmosphere, not stuffy at all. Lovely staff. Toilet seat didn't fit properly was only thing I could note that wasn't perfect.

This may state 'Pub' on Google but is a Michelin star restaurant. I'm vegan and the offering was absolutely exquisite. The service was incredible . Highly recommend

Great place an Lovely friendly staff.

First time visit for a special anniversary meal . We were absolutely blown away by the amazing food ! Had the taster menu and each course was delicious ! We were pleasantly full afterwards , perfect amount of food for taster menu. Staff were all lovely, very friendly and helpful. One of us was driving so couldn’t have the wine pairing but can’t wait to go back and stay somewhere local to do it all again with wine ! Thank you to everyone for a lovely evening, your chefs and staff are a credit to you !

Outstanding meal. Had the Sunday tasting menu. Probably the best meal we have had in several years. Will definitely be back. Staff were so so nice, polite, friendly and knowledgeable, superb service.

Ate on the terrace. What an experience made wonderful by the staff and the chefs. Wonderful restaurant.

Having looked forward to trying the Fordwich arms for some time, I can only express my total disappointment in somewhere which has received a Michelin star. First of all, we have had the good fortune of visiting several Michelin restaurants, maybe that means that we expect a certain standard, but the food here was totally average. The only standout thing was the petit four chocolates at the end. For one of the pricier options in Kent, you would anticipate that the food have some flare or at least flavour. Anyway, we were first seated when we arrived, within seconds we were pushed for drinks, we didn’t have time to look at the drinks menu we were asked again. We asked the waitress to give us five minutes and she returned for a third time asking for the drinks. We then said we’d like to think of the tasting menu, she very quickly tried to up sell the lobster. We said we’d share one and she made us feel uncomfortable for not ordering two. We also were not informed that you could substitute on the menu, which we late found out another table had done. They at least had the suckling pig instead of the absolutely flavourless pollock which had zero redeeming qualities other than the courgette purée which got covered in an emulsion that you could barely taste. That course was so bland it was total pollocks!! Following the lobster there was an immediate up sell with the waitress bringing a glass case around showing the varying fruits of a recently picked truffle. The sense of upselling made the restaurant feel more like an add on package deal rather than a fine dining experience. We understand supplements are available on menus but I’ve never felt like I’m being upsold and pressured to spend more in any other Michelin restaurant. Then there was the staff, while the sommelier clearly knew his stuff, he paid very little attention to any other table who was not prepared to pay £90 for the five glass flight of wine. The other servers came to the table and slapped the food down while half heartily explaining the food that we didn’t hear half of what they said. That said there was one girl who did at least say it with a smile. Meanwhile her counterpart would just appear at the table and phantom your plate away without so much as an excuse me. If all of this wasn’t bad enough, by the time the bread course had arrived, there was a foreign object attached to the bread. At first it looked like a hair, but then the chef took it away and said that it was just a bristle from the brush they use as though that is ok! I’ve never experience that before! Then I was given a fork which had another hair like fibre on it which I asked to be replaced. At the end of the meal, the manager/ sommelier made no good will gesture only to say he hoped that it had not put us off and to return again. At £300 for two to dine, I would expect a much higher quality of service and quality of food, creativity, and delivery. My advice would be, if you are going to go Michelin in Kent, go to the Sportsman. If you want to go somewhere you’ll have better food and experience go to Bowley’s at the Plough. In both of these places you’ll be served well and get delicious food!

Fabulous place, great and refined food, fantastic snacks, bread and classic starters and main courses delivered on flavour. Great service too with knowledge, style and a sense of humour. Recommend.

Amazing experiance, 1st class service and food. Cannot fault them!

Sunday lunch with friends. Wonderful food and service. An aperitif on the terrace, booth in the bar with joyous dishes, a keenly priced exciting wine list and a team who delivered a calm and professional service at the end of a busy Bank Holiday weekend. Thank you for a fantastic lunch.

Our meal was superb. We managed to book in at the last minute for quite a late Sunday lunch and by the time we got there the fairly small dining room was beginning to empty out (our only slightest of gripes...we ended up on a...

Second time around (we are fairly local). Relaxed ambience, excellent service, and amazing food. Simple (and as complicated) as that.

Got to celebrate our wedding anniversary at an absolute amazing venue this evening .....The Fordwich Arms ...... stunning location and had the pleasure of being seated on the terrace this evening over looking the beautiful river . Service was brilliant and everyone we met through...

Traveled a long distance from the Midlands to visit the Fordwich Arms for an anniversary lunch & with an overnight stay in nearby Canterbury where we got a tax from our hotel. It was about a 10 minute drive from Canterbury city centre. On entering...

I’ve been meaning to write a review before now. We lad a lovely lunch here. Everything was extremely tasty and well presented. Looking forward to return. Service was a tad slow, but it was an extremely busy Monday lunch service.

We walked to Fordwich Arms from our inn in Canterbury - an easy walk through the woods on a bike trail. This restaurant was truly excellent - top 5 of best dining experiences of our life! Highly recommend making the trip to Fordwich to eat...

Although we had been to the Fordwich before I was again overwhelmed by the atmosphere, the quality of the food, the wines and the general professional of the team. I don't think I have ever enjoyed a Michelin starred restaurant as much and the attention...

Located outside of Canterbury, this unassuming restaurant is a true gem. The decor is welcoming and comfortable without any pretense. The staff were very pleasant and attentive. Most important, the food was absolutely amazing. The menu was very accessible for those with allergies, offering vegetarian,...

Didn't have any food but what I saw going out to the tables it looked pretty good,nice friendly atmosphere, service 5 star,a lovely place for a pint

Had the lunch time tasting menu. ( it's the same for the evening) absolutely 1st class. Bigger portions than the normal microscopic tasting experience. The staff were spot on, very knowledgeable, helpful and happy to be looking after their customers. We sat outside with lovely views of the river. There are 2 terraces one covered and the other with umbrellas. The only downside is parking can be a bit of a problem, you may need to walk a little, but its well worth it. Booking is essential. We will return.

excellent food started with complementary tasters and home made bread. delicious asparagus and fish for me. thought the dessert was too sweet. petis fort was coffee flavoured so i passed on that, not my fave. great sevice and restaurant was not stuffy but felt intimate....

Lovely location for a drink and watching the world go by. But in terms of the food portions are small and extremely overpriced, which is such a pity.

What an amazing dining experience. Exquisite food, knowledgeable and friendly staff, beautiful location alongside a river in the smallest town in England. I would highly recommend.

Another outstanding lunch at Fordwich. We adore the staff, the ambience, and the food.. never stops delighting. We had scallops, turbot and pork. Adore the 'snacks' and the bread... the homemade butter and silky intense rendered fat. The staff even managed to find the last...

Lovely place for a special treat. Excellent food and service. Would return.

Excellent food, friendly and informative service and pretty location. Portions can be small but we were comfortably full following our three course supper. Wonderful and intense flavours and very attentive to dietary requirements, likes and dislikes. We sat on the terrace overlooking the river and...

Great tasting menu with perfectly executed dishes. Fabulous service too. Fordwich itself is so pretty and I wish we arrived earlier to take in all its glory!

Absolutely fantastic afternoon had. From pre's on the terrace overlooking the river, to exquisite food had from there al a carte menu. We had intended to only have the set menu, but seeing the food on the al a carte, we thought we should bump for that, and we are so glad we did. The courses were excellently prepared and thoroughly enjoyed. We loved the little amuse-bouche that accompanied our meal. The staff were really professional and polite and made us feel very welcome. The best meal out we have had in many, many years.

Following a previous lunch when my friend and I had thoroughly enjoyed the Set Menu, we wanted to return and sample more dishes. This time we dined outside on the terrace. The location and weather was superb as was the food and service we received....

My wife had the vegetarian tasting menu, I had the standard tasting. We both had the wine flights. Absolutely superb from start to finish. The standard of everything: ambience, service, presentation, preparation, ingredients, wine match is at the top end of the 1* range. Special...

great gastropub food, casual and friendly service. for £75 got 3 pre-meal tasters (yum), excellent bread and homemade butters, starter of two delicious asparagus (partner had duck pate with dumplings), i had brill and he had beef (small but so tasty), small caramel tart with...

Charging for table water seems mean and tight when you are already coughing up £135 for dinner. The sauce on the beef course was mouth-puckeringly salty. Portions need adjustment as we felt peckish once home. Overall, did not feel like the whole shebang was good...

Closed at 6, we showed up at 6;01 and they wouldn’t serve one drink even though we watched as the server someone else after we asked who was already there.

Possibly my best meal ever. Great staff, great food, great location.

We visited last night with friends and had a wonderful evening enjoying the delights of the tasting menu, while being served by their warm and friendly front of house team. We’re already looking forward to a return visit in the future.

Thank you so much Daniel & Natasha Smith. You and your team delivered an amazing evening full of great flavour with service that only enhanced the dining experience. Right from the start the evening was perfect, from the introduction of the drink and food to...

When a friend and I made a trip down to a gastropub not far from the Fordwich Arms, we were greeted by an electrician undertaking repairs and told the establishment was permanently closed. After making the reservation a couple of weeks before the trip, we...

Lovely surroundings, great food. Superb!

Congratulations and a huge thank you to all the chefs and wine makers who pulled out all the stops at the amazing dinner evening which was thoroughly enjoyable. It was absolutely exquisite, with such a considerable amount of planning and intricacies to each signature dish...

Dan and Natasha have created something very magical. Warm welcome, delicious food, good value (for a special occasion). If you can book a table, do it! You will not regret it. - Angus

Exceptionally fine dining. Loved the evening. Highly recommended

We celebrated our civil Ceremony at the Fordwich Arms. It was absolutely fabulous. We turned up With two extra people which they accommodated no problem, along with everyone’s dietary requirements. The food was fabulous as was the service. They made our day very special.

Our second visit here and it was every bit as fabulous as our first time. Food is simply delicious and the service is excellent. Would 100% recommend the Fordwich Arms for a special occasion , especially to vegetarians.

It’s quite the experience! Truly one of our favorites for lunch or dinner.

Great food and service as usual. Enjoyed the tasting menu this time.

2 nd visit here, first time was before they got their Michelin star, and boy I didn’t disappoint, the food was utterly delicious every course, the service fantastic everything you’d expect from a Michelin star restaurant but without the celebrity chef inflated price, we’ll done...

One of the best meals we've ever eaten in a lovely setting with great service. Everything perfect!!

Unreal! The food here is exquisite. Every single bit an absolute delight to eat. Wonderful service and beautiful restaurant. Can't rate it highly enough.

Birthday treat… exceptional! Im not usually a Michelin star fan but I would eat here again and again. The setting is beautiful, ambience is relaxed and welcoming and the service brilliant. The food… 6/5 !

Complete change in experience, Surly service, over chilled oysters rendering them tasteless, over salted food. The chef has delightful flavours and well prepared food. However, these small issues that, when mentioned, were mainly ignored, made the dining experience under welmming after years of enjoyable dining. I hope they change service staff training, and the kitchen takes note of customer comments so they keep their valued star!!

after some great visits got a terrible experience. the service is like in a cheap pub, the food does not deserve to be called a michelin star, the bread is fantastically delicious, the only thing I can highlight. no response from the staff to our...

We enjoyed the set menu lunch here. The service was very good from knowledgeable staff. The presentation of all courses was excellent. The food was delicious , all served in a beautiful building with a very good atmosphere. There is plenty of choice , A...

Sadly so disappointing. Fifth visit was worse experience. Shockingly bad service from a disgruntled waitress, zero atmosphere, not interested in customer comments. Over chilled oysters, over salted food. Desert over sweet and almost inedible. Drinks not refilled at the correct time. Completely lacking the Michelin...