The Gatekeeper in Shepway

The owner is rather stingy in my opinion, the person we went with frequents the restaurant several times a month bringing many guests for lunch and dinner yet the owner won't give her a complimentary coffee. Personally for what it would cost the woman for a coffee it would be in her interests to have given her it and got a 5* review from me. I mean how much does it cost her 50p at most. Good feeling is important with good customers.

Beautiful pub, fantastic service and amazing food. We had a wonderful lunch here today.

Had our anniversary dinner here recently. What an absolute gem!! The food was outstanding and so was the friendly service. Gorgeous pub with a fantastic atmosphere. I love the decor and good vibes. We also had the pleasure of meeting Honey, the beautiful pub dog. Looking forward to our next visit!

Another return visit with friends to one of the best places to eat and relax in Kent. Great service and exceptional food as always. It was lovely to see Kim again. Our friends were just as impressed as we were on our first visit and they said they would definitely be returning with their family and dog. We feel that we have made new friends here and we always look forward to our next visit and the dilemma of choosing from either the main menu or the specials board (Kim knows we have this problem) Hope to see you again soon.

Have visited before and found the food reasonably good. Today however the fish and chips were poor. Cheap grey fish and “homefries” as the Americans would say ie chips with skin on like fried jacket potatoes not chunky chips. Bar lady friendly and obliging. Pretty fairy lights and plenty of dogs too. It is awkward to say anything when one is with friends.

Lovely pub with a great atmosphere. Food is good, nice Asian influenced dishes as well as gastro pub fare, and the service is personal and friendly. Definitely worth a visit.

Small, clocky restaurant, very nice service. Food is very good. Even dogs are allowed.

Absolutely fantastic. One of the gest meals out I've had in a while. Pub is great, has a good mixture of food tables and groups drinking means you get a lively but not too loud atmosphere. The menu is great with loads of choice including a smattering of oriental dishes alongside much loved pub favourites. There is also a specials boards with 4 or so specials for each course. I had the Karaage chicken which was amazing and a beautiful steak followed by ice cream. Portions were big but not ridiculous so along with 3 drinks it was £50 each which is not too bad. Highly Highly recommended

First time we've lunched there for a while. Excellent menu and great all round.

Had a really lovely meal here 3 courses each and each one was banging theres plenty to choose from and the specials are changed daily, the pub it's self is very nicely presented the staff are very friendly and welcoming food was perfectly cooked I would like to recommend

A glowing example of how it should be done. We have visited multiple times now, travelling up from the Romney Marsh and we've never had a bad experience at The Gatekeeper. Upon arriving the building is nice to look at and looks well maintained, as is ample car park. Walking in from the car park and the character of the entrance appears, then gets better as you walk through the door. The inside is well decorated and is just a nice place to be. We have always pre booked for food as they can get busy. No matter how busy the staff never seem flustered and handle the service impeccably. The welcome is always with a smile as you are taken to your table. The tables are well dressed with comfy seats. Again the inside is so nice, there is loads to look at while you dine. Well presented menus with amazing choices for those that eat meat and those that do not. Spiced aubergine for my partner last night and king prawn tagliatelle for me, apple and pear crumble for pudding. The food is outstanding, never had anything but a delicious meal here. There is not a single thing The Gatekeeper and all the team could do better, an absolute gem of a establishment and a real treat to come to you for dinner. We will be back again soon.

This is one of the best places we have eaten in throughout Kent. The pub is perfectly laid out with a great atmosphere. The service by Kim was perfect and the food exceptional. We had the Portobello Mushroom to start and the Sausage & Mash for mains. We will definitely be back to try other menu items. Steve and Michelle

Had a lovely lunch yesterday in this wonderful pub. Great convivial atmosphere - an indication of a popular, well-loved pub is the fact it is busy and buzzing even on a Monday lunchtime - which this place certainly was! I had a delicious bacon steak served with bubble and squeak, creamed leeks and spinach and topped with a perfectly cooked crispy panko poached egg. My companions had a very generous dish of moules mariniere and the Korean beef rice bowl - all equally delicious judging from reactions! Owners Helen and Eric have obviously worked extremely hard to make this characterful pub (dating from the 16th and 18th centuries) absolutely THE place to be!

Lovely Lunch here today. I had the Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowl, my Husband, the Cod & Chips with Crumble Dessert. All food was spot on, great service too.

The Gatekeeper Pub in Etchinghill, located on Canterbury Road, Kent, offers an exceptional dining experience that combines fantastic food with outstanding service. From the moment I walked in, I was met with a warm, friendly atmosphere. The pub’s rustic charm and cozy ambiance made it a perfect spot for a relaxing meal. I opted for the **halloumi burger**, and it was a true delight. The halloumi was perfectly cooked—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside—creating a delicious texture. Paired with fresh coleslaw salad and chips, the burger was a harmonious blend of flavors, with the toasted bun adding the right amount of crunch. It’s a great choice for vegetarians or anyone looking for something different, and the portion was satisfying without being too heavy. The meal was balanced and flavorful, showcasing the quality ingredients the pub clearly values. The service at The Gatekeeper was equally impressive. The staff were attentive without being intrusive, always ensuring that we had everything we needed. They took our order promptly, and despite the pub being busy, our food arrived without delay. It’s clear that the team here takes pride in providing a high level of customer service, making every guest feel welcome and cared for. The pub itself has a welcoming vibe, making it suitable for both a quiet dinner and a more casual outing with friends or family. The combination of great food, attentive service, and a pleasant atmosphere makes The Gatekeeper a standout venue in Etchinghill. In conclusion, I highly recommend The Gatekeeper Pub for anyone in the Etchinghill area. The halloumi burger is a must-try, and the exceptional service ensures a dining experience you’ll want to repeat. I’m already looking forward to my next visit!

The Gatekeeper Pub in Etchinghill, located on Canterbury Road, Kent, offers an exceptional dining experience that combines fantastic food with outstanding service. From the moment I walked in, I was met with a warm, friendly atmosphere. The pub’s rustic charm and cozy ambiance made it a perfect spot for a relaxing meal. I opted for the **halloumi burger**, and it was a true delight. The halloumi was perfectly cooked—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside—creating a delicious texture. Paired with fresh coleslaw salad and chips the burger was a harmonious blend of flavors, with the toasted bun adding the right amount of crunch. It’s a great choice for vegetarians or anyone looking for something different, and the portion was satisfying without being too heavy. The meal was balanced and flavorful, showcasing the quality ingredients the pub clearly values. The service at The Gatekeeper was equally impressive. The staff were attentive without being intrusive, always ensuring that we had everything we needed. They took our order promptly, and despite the pub being busy, our food arrived without delay. It’s clear that the team here takes pride in providing a high level of customer service, making every guest feel welcome and cared for. The pub itself has a welcoming vibe, making it suitable for both a quiet dinner and a more casual outing with friends or family. The combination of great food, attentive service, and a pleasant atmosphere makes The Gatekeeper a standout venue in Etchinghill. The six of us are going back again today for Sunday lunch. .

Another superb lunch at this great pub. Six of us, various starters and mains, all delicious. I had the rice bowl for the first time and would highly recommend this. The service was, as usual, excellent. We have been eating at the Gatekeeper regularly over a period of two years now and have always been delighted with the food and the service. It is our ‘go to’ place for family birthdays and lunches with friends.

Charming gastropub in a small Kentish village. Lots of interesting touches in the many nooks and crannies - including a reproduction of part of the Bayeux Tapestry - which gives the place a mediaeval feel. Good selection of ales, including Timothy Taylor's Landlord, a personal favourite. Much to be preferred to the overhyped King's Arms a few miles up the road in Elham.

Great food and cosy country pub staff lovely

A proper old English pub. Food was amazing, service friendly and efficient and a wonderful atmosphere. Super dog friendly especially with the lovely pub dog, Honey (a mini me of our Percy ♥️). The best pub experience we have had in a long time.

Very nice lunch , excellent quality food and very friendly service. A very pleasant experience. Clean plates all round.

We were staying at the nearby Beachborough Park and this was the nearest place to go for a meal and it could not have been better. It is a beautiful old building, but very comfortable with well spaced tables. The staff were very friendly and we had drinks whilst looking through a varied menu, plus a specials blackboard. Having finally made a decision, our meals arrived promptly, were beautifully presented, very generous portions and tasted as good as they looked. If you are anywhere near this pub, give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

Love it there, food and service is always good, we are regulars and never disappointed 😊

Starter of red pepper hummus and warm flat bread turned out to be red cold slop and bread roll sliced into three. Main meal of fish and chips - fish batter burnt and inedible! Was told that was necessary to make sure fish cooked inside!

Absolutely loved our roast dinner here, amazing food, super friendly staff, lovely atmosphere and dogs very welcome..we will definitely be visiting again. Would advise booking at busy times, very popular.

I live in folkestone and pass the gatekeeper on many occasions. At long last managed to stop for an evening meal, the place is beautiful, and the prices are very good 👍 will definitly come back.

A really good pub and restaurant. All staff trying very hard to make out visit a good one. Highly recommended

Delicious shared meat platter washed down with some very drinkable Soleil des Alpes rose. Great food and exemplary service. Many thanks

Beautiful pub inside and out, food was superb and service was excellent. Highly recommend!

Fantastic meal with great service. Will definitely be returning!

Beautiful old pub in a countryside location. Food is excellent and nice service. I had the rice bowl which was very nice and the steak was very good. We will return

Such a great find! The owners were so friendly and helpful, and food was delicious. Highly recommend 😃

An exceptional venue worthy of a 10/10 rating. Our first visit to this 'traditional' Kentish pub was just for drinks but it's so attractive and comfortable we had to return and sample something from the Sunday lunch menu. We weren't disappointed. There's a generous amount of space and tables to accommodate families, friends or single diners both inside and out. The Sunday lunch menu here is one of the best we've seen and caters for a range of budgets and appetites. Our meals arrived promptly and looked as amazing as they tasted....quality fresh vegetables beautifully cooked and full of flavour, accompanying scented sticky rice, karage chicken, 'bang bang chicken and a juicy salmon serving. In addition, we ordered traditional roasted pork belly with crackling with all the trimmings. Overall, this was one of a very few exceptional dining experiences I can recall. Without doubt, the location, the 'handsome' pub building, staff, presentation, food and drinks are what gives The Gatekeeper such well deserved top marks. Highly recommended.

Enjoyed a lovely cream tea for my Mum's Birthday. Everyone was so friendly and the cream tea was tasty. Highly recommend. Will return another day to sample the lunch/dinner menu. Parking is great, door direct access into the pub from carpark and Toilets spotless. Thank you all for making our cream tea a great experience. See you again soon.

Superb country pub. Beautiful in and out. Very friendly hosts and team. Excellent food and even better when you consider the value for money. Can’t recommend enough especially if you are using the tunnel. Must be the closest Inn to the terminal. Loved it and will hopefully return one day.

Amazing!! Excellent food, service, and atmosphere!

The best meal of our entire trip! Very dog ​​friendly!

Wow! This might just be the best pub i have ever stumbled across, the decor inside was just brilliant, i loved every single aspect. There is an absolutely stunning dog in the pub who is so friendly and well behaved. The food was excellent and so well presented. I would recommend this pub to anyone and everyone!

We have visited this pub on many occasions over the years but it just gets better and better! Our most recent visit on Sunday evening 3 days ago with our family was fantastic. Helen the Landlady is lovely and was very keen to make sure we were ok and all the staff were very attentive and the food was amazing as always. Between us we had various choices from the menu and every one of us was delighted, they obviously have a super chef working hard in the background. The pub is beautifully set out and clean and tidy and the prices are very reasonable for what you get. I just wish they would bring back the banana pudding! 😉

A lovely cosy pub with exceptional food, super dog friendly, attentive and friendly staff and all very reasonably priced! Couldn't recommend more if I tried! We'll definitely be back here again when we're next in the area :)

We went for Sunday lunch, it was disappointing compared to previous visits. The food seemed as if it had been thrown onto plate with no care. Staff seemed disinterested. Food was mediocre, and poorly presented.

1st visit for a while..really good food..burger was delicious..wife's rice bowl also..recommended

Lovely old fashioned country pub with a good sized car park. Food was good (sandwiches etc after a funeral) i haven’t eaten their restaurant food so cannot comment on that food

A lovely local pub, a nice atmosphere and very friendly. Main courses were wonderful, inventive, well cooked, quality ingredients, and lovely presentations, but best of all, fantastic taste. However, one tip if you get desserts, avoid banana cream pie.

Excellent food, nice quiet restful ambience in a reasonably priced charming olde-worlde gastropub. We recommend it.

Now this was a surprise, I expected just a pub lunch and got so much more. This place has class and a great menu and food served to perfection.

Had a lovely meal and a warm welcome . Just what we needed as we were to early for our tunnel crossing so the sent us away for hour. Here they serve food all day so very handy .

Super fun experience as a stopover while following the Tet trail. Delicious food! Top place

Excellent and creative food in a lovely setting with v good service. Sensible prices too. Highly recommend.

Great pub out in the countryside. Fantastic food and friendly staff. All four of us raved about our meals- Fish and chips, Asian salad, Tofu burger, Steak burger. Various good selection of beers and lagers.

Friendly atmospheric pub. Great fish and chips!

Really nice pub that serves good food , we went in on a random Wednesday night and were surprised how busy the pub was , luckily they did manage to fit us in for dinner, it was well worth it, great food and service 👍 top tip book before you go for food even on a week day night

The Gatekeeper was the recommendation from our B&B. The pub is very comfortably furnished. The staff was super friendly. Our dog and we immediately felt welcome. The food was great. And the price is completely reasonable. We'll come back sometime 🤗.

First visit here, meal with friends, had a lovely meal, sharing platter to start, then i had one of the specials, a beef ragu. We all had something different and all enjoyed our meals. Great quality and friendly staff.

Lovely village pub restaurant in a nice setting. Food was excellent, well prepared and presented. Staff friendly and efficient considering how busy the place was. We were on holiday for a week in the area but we will hope to repeat our experience when we visit again.

Excellent surprise find today! Stopped for a late lunch and were greeted with a friendly welcome and lovely service, and enjoyed a truly super meal. Delicious dishes of pan fried salmon and chicken supreme were accompanied by perfectly prepared and presented vegetables - all of top quality and great flavour. A chocolate pudding to finish was a culinary triumph! A must visit place if you are in the area.

10 of us enjoyed a really good lunchtime meal and drinks. Everyone had a good time in this lovely pub

Just popped in on the off chance and had an amazing lunch, thank you so much.

Lovely pub, friendly and professional staff. Extensive menu including a large specials board. I opted for the BBQ board, it was well presented and very tasty. Highly recommended 5*

popped in for a late sunday lunch - spur of the moment. took our dog too which was great. excellent food, service from Poppy was impeccable and reasonably priced too. will definitely be back!

Beautiful village pub. Lovely atmosphere and friendly/welcoming staff. We ventured up from Seabrook for a change and glad we did. Food was quick to come, generous portions and very tasty. We will be back ☺️

Always a relaxed atmosphere and great food

If you seek a traditional English country pub and restaurant then this is definitely a place to visit. Welcoming staff, internally decorated with comfy chairs by fireplaces (I counted 3) and tables for eating. Outside there are tables and chairs/ picnic benches for Al fresco dining and drinking. The food menu was varied and the specials board full of that days offerings, so something to suit anyones taste buds. Normal range of alcoholic beverages on sale, with beers on tap (probably local craft as well as mainstream) as I drank a nice Merlot with my meal. So will I be back, you betcha!

Excellent pub food, at reasonable price, and some n8ce local ales. Friendly and casual atmosphere.

Popped in for lunch on a Tuesday. Really welcoming atmosphere and great service. Food was absolutely spot on. The best pub lunch (though I actually think that phrase doesn't do the food justice) I have had in a very long time.

Warm welcome excellent food and lovely friendly service - highly recommend

We visited this pub twice recently. The first time we sat in the garden, which gets the sun late into the evening, and we had the sharing platter which was fabulous. This week we returned and enjoyed the sunshine with a drink before going inside to eat. Once again the food was delicious. I had the karage chicken rice bowl which was really different to the usual pub fare with interesting flavours. Service was friendly and good throughout. My husband who has also been to the pub a few times previously declares it as good for ale drinkers! The toilets, along with the rest of the premises were very clean and well appointed. We will be back very soon.

Really impressed! Brilliant service, amazing food at a surprisingly good price! Two of us out for dinner, with a couple of drinks each and still less than £50! Would definitely recommend booking in advance, we were lucky to be squeezed in! Will definitely be back again!

Found this pub on a journey home ,now one of my favourite places to relax ,amazing atmosphere, great food and service, lovely playful dog running around, and roaring open fires amazing 😊

Recently called into the Gatekeeper whilst walking the North Downs Way, what a fantastic surprise ! Very friendly welcome and a well kept pint of Hophead but the absolute star of the show was the food. We enjoyed a selection of small plates (sweet potato bhajis, whitebait etc) and were blown away by the quality, presentation & taste of everything. The landlord's lovely dog provided a welcome bit of fun too ! Very highly recommended.

Good food, recommend the sharing platter. Friendly and attentive staff.

We have been to the Gatekeeper many times over the years with it's various owners and had been recommended a visit with the new owners firmly in place. We weren't disappointed. It's walking distance for us so is a nice pub to hike over the hill to. We went for a family mid week dinner, the pub was pretty full but the service was still prompt and pleasant. The wine was well priced, as was the food. It's not trying to be anything it's not and it's quite refreshing for it to not be a gastro pub, I think it's a pub as it should be. There were plenty of drinkers at the bar as well which is nice to see in a local. I will definitely return!

It was absolutely heaving, not a spare chair to be found, even the bar area was full of people standing. Despite this, the service was very quick, drinks, three courses etc Starters were generously sized portions. 4 big chunks of halloumi but teeny pot of sauce (that needs to be bigger) Fish and chips, fish was lovely but too small. Chips were too chunky and big, very dry in the middle. Dessert- well presented and everyone enjoyed theirs.staff were friendly and attentive.

Would've been nice to see a complete vegan roast dinner. Or a better selection otherwise Lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. 🖤

Superb Sunday lunch, plenty of nicely cooked vegetables well presented. A superb meal. One of us the Belly Pork, the other had the roast lamb. Both were delicious

Delicious Sunday lunch, friendly service and cosy pub. I would highly recommend thus pub for drinks, food and a great atmosphere.

This place is idyllic - great staff and atmosphere, food was incredible - best pub for miles. We didn't want to leave!

Came for a group meal, food massively overpriced and way below par. Pie has far too much pastry on the edges, inside of the pie is dry with very little sauce, what was there was bland and barely any chicken to be seen.Parsley sauce on the greens much too sweet and over garlicy. One steak came obliterated and had to be sent back as medium rare was ordered and it came well done. Chips looked old and refried about 4 times, some inedible due to going hard and dry. Desserts extortionately priced for tiny portions. Service was slow, even to get drinks to the table, and kitchen door non stop squeaking everytime it's opened, not annoying in the slightest.

The food can honestly be described as fine dining such is the quality. The layout of the pub (?) is done in a way that creates a great atmosphere while not being too cramped and on top of other diners. Not the cheapest pub prices, but is there any such thing nowadays? Would highly recommend.

Eric and Helen are back running this most excellent pub with great value high quality meals with absolutely 10/10 service thanks for a great Mother’s Day lunch everyone happy see you soon x

Came in for a meal with wife, great atmosphere, lovely food.. terrible selection of ale! Shame considering there's 2 great local breweries down the road

A truly great dining experience, the Sunday roast lamb was very special and their steak burger was gourmet in every sense. Highly recommended, book to avoid disappointment as its very popular.

Had a lovely lunch here today. The staff were so welcoming and accommodating for our two young children. Food was delicious.

Stunning country pub with a great cosy atmosphere. Dog friendly too

We pop in here for a pint after a practice on the golf course nearby, always a nice atmosphere and polite staff

Excellent friendly service , I had the chicken, bang-bang sauce rice bowl , it was so delicious. Lovely atmosphere, such a cosy pub . We will be back .

Surprise Valentine meal which started with a very warm welcome from the landlady and a flute of champagne. The whole event was wonderful from the ambience, the service, the fine dining 4 course meal to the toilets. It was fine dining in a pub atmosphere, and could not have been better. Thank you so very much to Helen and her lovely staff and talented chef

My husband and I enjoyed an amazing Valentine's Day meal last night at The Gatekeeper. Four delicious courses, plus champagne, sorbet and coffee - a very talented chef, friendly welcoming staff and a lovely atmosphere. A perfect evening, thank you all.

Lovely valentines meal, delicious menu and excellent chef.

Great pub with extensive menu choices. Great beer and log fires. The food was excellent what more could you want.

It's open again! Great! Landlady Helen and her team gave us a very warm welcome and served us quickly and efficiently. The food came promptly, was well cooked and tasty. The squid especially was not overcooked or rubbery and the batter was not excessively oily which is often the case elsewhere. Overall then, great welcome, good food, lovely country pub atmosphere and reasonable prices.... what's not to like! Bravo Gatekeeper!

Lovely evening at The Gatekeeper Inn. Dinner for 4 - 3 courses each was £122 with 1 alcoholic drink each. Lovely warm welcome, friendly service and staff. We really enjoyed all our food. Loved meeting the dog resident too!

Lovely (dog friendly) country pub with pleasant & professional staff. The Guinness was great too.

Excellent Atmosphere, Staff and Food. Can’t fault anything. A warm welcome from opening the door to find locals who smiled as we entered. Staff we’re very friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. We will come back .

Warm, welcoming staff, great beers

Wow, what a delightful pub, cosy, warm and welcoming! Booked for Sunday lunch and we were not disappointed. The food was amazing, the best Sunday roast we had eaten out in years. The pub was very busy, and fully booked, but the staff were welcoming and attentive, nothing seemed to much trouble for them. We will definitely be back- thank you

Visited for a family reunion of 9 adults and a baby. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff who were super helpful and friendly. Childcare facilities were excellent. All meals were really delicious and the atmosphere was very welcoming. No hesitation in recommending and we hope to be back soon - thank you!

The food was dreadful, wine nice and staff not well trained at all and customer service -1. Oh and by the way, compares favourable to prices of much nicer pubs/ restaurants including London.

We came here in a party of nine as a late Christmas get together and the food and service was excellent from start to finish. The food was delicious, portions were of good size and fantastic value for money. All nine of us at clean plates! Will definitely return.

This is a lovely cosy place in a country village. A beautiful resident dog comes to greet you. The cauliflower soup was sublime. Lovely ambiance. Impeccable service. Definitely returning soon.