The Hare at Blean in Canterbury

We had a great Sunday roast; truly excellent food and the chimney was lit and it felt really cosy after having been walking in the woods; staff were very friendly and service was excellent! We’ll certainly be coming back for food or drinks!

We had an amazing Sunday lunch, 6 of us covering all Sunday lunch options all equally delicious. Great friendly service. Compliments to you all. We will be back!

Amazing pub, amazing food, amazing staff with a cracking atmosphere

Nice people ,nice pub,and very nice food.

A Hidden Gem for Steak Lovers – 2-4-1 Steak Night My husband and I discovered this incredible steak night through Instagram and decided to book a table. It turned out to be one of the best dining decisions we've made. We opted for the 20 oz bone-in Sirloin and the 8 oz Ribeye, alongside the cheesy garlic bread and Garlic & Parmesan wings, and from start to finish, everything was spot on. For those eyeing the Tomahawk, I highly recommend pre-ordering when you book your table – they sell out every steak night! Now, let’s talk about the food. The wings were perfectly crunchy, with just the right balance of garlic and Parmesan, while the cheesy garlic bread was indulgent and satisfying. But the real star? The steaks. They were hands down the best we’ve had since moving to the UK – cooked to a perfect medium-rare, well-seasoned, and with minimal fat and gristle. My husband couldn't stop raving about the rosemary potatoes, which complemented the meal perfectly. Even the salad was fresh and nicely dressed. The service was equally impressive. The staff were attentive but never overbearing, and they made us feel welcome from the moment we stepped through the door. Despite it being our first visit, it felt like we were regulars at a local favorite. If you're a steak lover, this is a must-visit. We’ll definitely be back!

Firstly a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. Food was great with an obvious attention to detail. The diablo chicken burger was excellent with a beautiful crunchy coating. Everything was well seasoned throughout and not just as an afterthought. Desserts were made in house and ooof, stunnin' Prices were actually quite cheap, two of us ate a burger and a dessert each, with two drinks and the bill was less than £60. Overall a very positive experience from a family run pub that obviously care. We both agreed we would come back.

Friendly staff. Great Sunday lunch

People that like food and know how to cook very well know how hard it is to find a restaurant where you won’t feel sorry for paying for your meal or you won’t think… well, I could have done better! Well, this is definitely not one of those places. Matthew is an absolute artist in the kitchen, and the young lady that makes the brownies is a super star. If you are a chef or a great cook, you won’t be sorry for eating here!! Ever !!! Great atmosphere on steak night with the live music - those guys were brilliant 10 starts out of 5 to everything!!!!!!

Best place I’ve eaten in a very long time. Food was amazing and the atmosphere was flawless. Will definitely go back very soon.

Fantastic food, great and attentive service, a very well run family business which makes it its mission to look after each and every customer, and do it in style. Probably the best Sunday roast I ever had, and (don't believe I'm going to say this!) I really enjoyed the vegetables, which were cooked to perfection and had a lot of flavour! Had a 'wow' moment when I first tried them. Great relaxing atmosphere, very reasonable bill. Will definitely come again.

It’s a family-owned place with great atmosphere and delicious food. We came for the Sunday roast, it was great

I had the Sunday roast, and I really enjoyed the taste and the friendliness of the owner. Thank you to the team!

An amazing sunday lunch. Staff are amazing and food was even better

Stopped off at The Hare on our visit to Whistable and it was a fantastic pub. We ordered the grilled cheese burger and a margarita pizza and they were both absolutely delicious 😋 high quality food, great service, lovely dog friendly pub. 10/10 do give them a visit 👍

Brilliant local pub and top food!

My family and I love this place. As Paola said: this is a community hub! It is really hard to describe the atmosphere in this pub but it feels like a home from home! Wonderful food, wonderful pub but, most importantly, wonderful owners and staff! Thank you very much.

A beautiful family pub, where you are looked after , made welcome and feel part of their family. The food is amazing and locally sourced and Matthew is very passionate with what he cooks. We have been to their steak night twice now and wow the best I’ve eaten in a long time. Yesterday we went with friends we invited to the end of summer picnic at the pub where the focus was about the children. They had a brilliant time playing games , bouncing on the bouncy castle, having their face painted and listening to very talented individuals sing. Food was provided for them and my son is autistic and Paola went out of her way to make sure he had food and the food he liked. The night ended with us all singing on the karaoke and lots of dancing . Thankyou all so much we all had the best day x

Been to the hare at blean before, initially had a great experience and lovely food so wanted to go again. Called several times and left a voicemail but unfortunately wasn’t able to get ahold of anyone to book. Popped in to make a booking for later that day, despite being polite myself the attitude I was met with seemed instantly unwelcoming and I was made to feel like a nuisance. I asked when was the best time to call as we were hoping to go more often and I appreciate that they must be busy, which is why we were hoping to prebook for their ease as well as our own. However the staff went straight on the defensive, I was told to leave a voicemail if I couldn’t get through, which I mentioned I had but again was met with hostility. Eventually another staff member begrudgingly suggested dming the Instagram page which was a helpful suggestion however felt dismissive and just a way to shut down the conversation. I ended up going away from there feeling unwanted and angry so didn’t go back. Extremely disappointing experience, such a shame as we previously enjoyed the food. Update: Thank you for your quick response and offer. Unfortunately we don’t think the situation can be rectified as we have no intention of coming back, but really appreciate the gesture thank you.

The loviest people ever! Had a great time with my friends having beers and drinks, they are so nice and Matthew introduce us all the chickens 🥰

What a beautiful family experience. My children and I loved it and will be back. It was warm in welcome and so well set up for us all to enjoy. I highly recommend x

Dropped in for a mid ride lunch. Great sandwiches, very reasonable. Nice garden with cover to sit in.

Thank you for a great Sunday Lunch for my sons 40th 🎂 birthday x

We’re not from the area and wanted somewhere to stop for a quick bite after visiting Blean Nature Reserve. And what a hidden little gem this pub was! The staff were very accommodating and friendly, especially as we hadn’t booked. We ended up all getting a Sunday roast with dessert, and I think it’s the best Sunday roast I’ve ever had! We even had atmospheric piano music playing while we ate. They are super dog friendly, which was a massive bonus for us. The dogs even got their own pigs in blankets. I'm vegetarian and normally hate the veggie roast options, but the vegan wellington was out of this world! I’m already looking forward to my next visit!

A wonderful local pub serving absolutely delicious food. The staff and owners are super friendly and obviously passionate about what they do. We had the sandwiches which were amazing but will be back to try the legendary Sunday roast!

Family run establishment in a gorgeous location with amazingly delicious food. Though the food was remarkable, the highlight was meeting and getting to know the beautiful family running it. Truly special place and worth a visit.

Superb restaurant! I really loved it, the food was delicious and the prices really affordable! The quality of service was top-notch, and I'd recommend it to anyone (even with the language barrier, everything went really well). The welcome was really incredible! We'll be back if we get the chance before we leave.

I’ve never been to Cuba but they’d have trouble making a better sandwich than we had at the hate at blean. Especially as they were invented in Florida as the owner explained to us which I found fascinating and a lovely personal touch. With bread baked fresh for your order and pork made with some sort of flavour magic I can’t comprehend all at a very reasonable price for a meal we ended up with leftovers from I cannot recommend this picturesque little pub only a 10 minute walk from the University of Kent campus enough. I only took one photo and I think my dining partner used too so it’s not a bogus review. Perfect stop if you have kids your taking to Whitstable as there is a spacious garden with games and even a see-saw, or if your just on a walk in the area. They also do many activity nights such as quizzes and kareoke. We had a main dish and a cider and it was only about £18 per person.

Lovely food and staff and bouncy castle for my daughter too!

Wow, this place is a must! Ate in most Michelin restaurants in Kent, but these guys blew my taster buds with flavour combos that I had never even dreamed would go. Wow

We have eaten at The Hare, Blean many times now. Food is 5* From Burgers to Roasts, steaks and pizza's. Worth a drive. Not over priced for homemade food. Sticky toffee pudding is a must!!

Great ambience. Lovely meal. Thanks.

Visited the Hare at Blean for their steak night on Wednesday. Cannot recommend highly enough, food was amazing and service was top notch! Will definitely return!

Excellent place with excellent service. Good for kids and menu just right for a pub and reasonably priced. My fussy mum asked if her burger would be deep fried which it was so she ordered something else. The chef overheard and the waitress came back and said no problem he can grill it. Those little touches make all the difference. Proper customer service.

Stopped by for lunch after a walk around Blean woods. Had a fantastic pizza and sandwich. Me and my wife couldn't agree on the pizza but the chef was able to do half and half. The sandwich was unlike anything I've had before but very tasty! Overall a great experience, friendly and accommodating owners and great food. Would go again!

Stopped on our way to Blean woods. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. The lunch we ordered was really tasty, we had chicken wings, fries and salad. All well cooked and presented, and generous portions. Will definitely return

Great people, great food, great Open Mike night. Always happy at the Hare 🙂

Firstly, the owners are so lovely! We stopped by for lunch and were so well looked after and kind of felt like we had just popped round to a friend’s house! The food/atmosphere was excellent and versatile - the homemade pizza bread on the sandwich was incredible. You can tell it’s a family run establishment with passion and good quality control for what is on offer. A new local spot for us and highly recommend!

Great staff really helpful food is amazing looking forward to taking friends to experience it five star

Having driven past the Hare for many years we decided to pop in for lunch.....and now wonder why it took us so long !! Great friendly service & amazing food and drinks, very reasonably priced too. A special thanks to Marijke for looking after us so well. Its a pleasure to recommend the Hare and yes we will be back...

What a find, great atmosphere, good pub food with a Spanish/Mexican twist and excellent value for money 👍 Will definitely be going back 😁

I took my two kids for lunch and it was awesome. Really nice pizza before Italian doughnuts for dessert, both made using homemade dough. The owners are lovely and the atmosphere is really relaxed. Very much recommended for families in particular. Good music too.

Very nice cosy garden for a drink in the afternoon sun.. We also enjoyed great burgers (good vegetarian version too!) inside the pub. Thank you for the warm welcome!

I cannot praise this place enough. I was lucky enough to try a new style of sandwich and all I can say is that it was one of the most beautiful meals I have ever had... yes I said meal; the portion size was so generous and it was filled to the brim with carefully selected ingredients that complimented each other perfectly. If the food wasn't enough to rave about, the service definitely is. Matthew and his lovely family are kind, welcoming and immediately make you feel like you are visiting family rather than visiting your usual pub. This place is a definite gem in Canterbury. Go! Please go and then go again. We certainly will be!

We loved it! The staff were so friendly and the food was really good!

Excellent , very friendly pub with great food.

Brilliant food, great service and we were pleased to hear the pianist. The kids played happily outside too.

Piano player when we went in which was marvellous. The roast potatoes were amazing and the dinner was amazing value at £15 per meal for a roast dinner. Plus it was actually the best I've ever had in a pub! Eton mess was delicious. I will return.

Such a lovely pub for a Sunday lunch away from the busy town center. A nice little gem that serve small portions if required so plenty of space for dessert. Staff were so amazing!

Excellent Sunday Lunch. Fantastic, attentive staff who are good with children. I recommend this place to all.

Went on steak night . I had the sirloin and my son had the rib I. Both were amazing but to my taste the sirloin was slightly better , in fact one of the nicest I’ve ever had . Cooked to perfection and full of flavour . Came with a lovely home made sauce . Tasty but not over powering. Matt , the landlord and chef obviously has a real passion for what he does and it shows. Great cosy atmosphere and very friendly, attentive staff. Great experience all round

This place is something special! The food was next-level (high quality meat and perfectly cooked veg) and the service was top notch, with the chef coming out for a chat at one point. It's clear this man knows and loves his food! To top it off, there was live pianist playing some great tunes.

We had a delicious Sunday roast today, I had the beef, was impressed when the owner and chef Mathew, came out to check we were happy about the answer regarding the details about the cooking of the beef, which, btw was superb, after I asked for details, he explained it was top quarter sirloin, water cooked for hours before being roasted, so I definitely didn't need the steak knife !! My son had beautifully done pork two ways, equally as good, lots of roasties, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, I like cabbage so asked for more, and was given a large helping, huge Yorkshire puds topped with fried parsnips and carrot snips, one of my favourites, and uses the peels on such a tasty way, fresh sweet carrots, and sides of cauli & broccoli in a cheesy sauce, and a large mound of extra roasties with pulled pork on top, super tasty gravy completed our heaped plates. Best Sunday roast we've had in quite a while and thoroughly recommend, prices were amazingly good value, service was A1 and Luke Smith played the piano, expertly accompanying our meal. Wow what a really enjoyable surprise our lunch turned out to be. We are looking forward to going again as soon as we can.

lovely food and experience! staff so kind

Really tasty and well thought out burger, pizza etc menu, Zeppolis are just out of this world and the service is just perfect. Friendly, family feel to the pub where the food is cooked fresh to order and nothing is too much trouble. Worth the 45min drive for such good food in comfortable surroundings with a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Our favourite pub by far, they hit the spot on all counts.

Friendliest and most atmospheric pub with amazing food. Super accommodating and helpful for events. Loveliest staff and great prices. So fun for children too! Games inside and so much space to play outside.

First time visitor yesterday and loved the place. The staff were really friendly and welcoming and the pub has a very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. The food menu combines pizzas and burgers but they have a great/varied selection of both (including veggie). And the dirty fries are a must (we had the pork ones). Loved it and really wish we were local to the pub

I went here recently and the service and food were top notch! I had a burger and it is easily one the best I have ever had. The chips were also great and they gave a generous portion. Service was also fantastic and I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a quality meal in the blean or Canterbury area.

What an amazing pub! The staff are so friendly, a very welcoming environment with a very talented piano player to accompany your Sunday dinner. Dog friendly with treats which was great too. I'm vegetarian and was amazed at how delicious the vegan wellington was. It was by far the best Sunday dinner I've had. The brownie sundae was to die for! I hope this stays on the menu. We can't wait to come back, already looking at dates. Thanks so much, what a wonderful pub you have!

Matthew and his lovely staff always help to create a welcoming, friendly and fun atmosphere. Open mic on the second Wednesday of each month is a great evening out. A wide mix of musicians, skills and styles. Well worth popping in!!

Love the Hare, the staff super friendly and welcoming. We wanted to try their roast and we loved every mouthful. Generous portion. Someone was playing the piano by the bar so lovely music without being intrusive. Great pizzas and Cuban sandwiches for other meals. We like the quiz and the open mics evenings too. Well done to the family running this pub

Food was great, loved the piano playing.

We moved to Blean a year ago, found this wonderful pub straight after and have never looked back! The welcome is like no other and you’ll want to keep coming back. The food is delicious and next on our list is their Sunday roast!! Editing this review as it won’t let me post another! If you’re looking for a roast this Sunday then look no further. We have now had one and you will not be disappointed!!

Don't judge a book by it's cover and the same applies to this brilliant pub/restaurant. If ever a pub was punching well above it's weight and winning, it's the Hare. The staff have all bought into the business plan and high standards. First class customer service and attention to detail. The food is of the highest quality, well presented and value for money. Don't judge, go and find out for yourself. You won't be disappointed but simply blown away!

An absolutely beautiful place with delicious food and lovely people. Highly highly recommend you will not be disappointed!

Brilliant food with fair price, excellent Sunday grub.

Great beer, great food, great people....what more do you need?!!!!

Great local pub with various entertainment across the month, Matthew, Paola and team are always welcoming and the locals who join are friendly

Nice place with substantial portions. Would have liked real ale

Excellent food, exceptional friendly service from both owners and staff. Reasonable prices and nice live pianoist in the background. Went for Sunday roast. Beef was beautiful. Many thanks will definitely be back.

It's such a lovely atmosphere and the staff are so nice

Came here for our drama society Christmas dinner and social. Genuinely amazing people, staff were lovely and made the experience for us all. The food was incredible, and everyone loved it. Cant wait to come back here again!

Went for a private event and everyone was so so lovely and quick to help. Reasonably priced drinks, games to play and hearty pub food. Would absolutely recommend for a social night out in a family owned place !!!

Wow what a truly amazing place. Firstly the location wow beautiful then you walk in to a beautiful up to date yet traditional country pub, a log fire!!! The food 5* so fresh all plates cleaned by me and the family which never happens. Lastly Matthew and Paola are truly lovely jolly caring hosts that are engaged in every aspect of the business, Matthew personally checking in with tables in between cooking the amazing food. This really is somewhere that just screams family and true love for your enjoyment of your experience so make sure to visit. We will be returning. Also hopefully will be booking as wedding venue. The smith family

The Sunday roast was absolutely exquisite - probably one of the best, if not the actual best I’ve ever had. We were a party of 12 and the food came out in good time and everyone loved it, children and adults alike! I can’t wait to come back and try the pizza! Great job guys! R

Went here for a late Sunday roast with a large family group! The food was insanely good! Like seriously best roast I've ever had! Service was attentive and extremely friendly and the atmosphere relaxed and the venue had a really really great homely and buzzy vibe - so cosy and comfortable. We'll be back for sure! Thanks everyone at the Hare :-)

Had an excellent Sunday lunch here. Good sized portions and at a great price. A good choice of drinks as well. Friendly, kind, efficient staff. Recommended and will return for sure.

Great pub - dog friendly, fantastic veggie/vegan Sunday roast and friendly staff

Wow!! Delicious food, excellent service and dog friendly!!

Had Sunday lunch and was fantastic. Great friendly service. Highly recommend.

Amazing service everytime, a joy to eat at the Hare at Blean. Ideal for families with the bouncy castle in the garden in the summer! Beef roast is amazing, alongside the meaty spuds!

They hosted a work event the food was amazing the hospitality was great and the atmosphere was homely. Defonatly be going back.

Very friendly staff at this comfortable pub. I will return to try the highly recommended pizzas!

Well where do i start, the location was lovely and i believe there are many trails to walk through the woods from there. The staff were amazing, the food was amazing, the atmosphere was amazing. Such a lovely garden as well. Trust me we'll be going there again.

Always having the best time visiting The Hare at Blean. Amazing food, great atmosphere and wonderful owners!

We absolutely love this place. The team are incredibly welcoming to families, which makes everything more relaxing for us when we rock up with our four year-old, and the food is such an exciting addition to the local area: a creative, exciting menu with lots of home-grown produce.

This is a lovely family run pub and restaurant with friendly and welcoming staff, a great atmosphere and beautiful interior. The freshly cooked pizzas are amazing and great value. There is free parking at the front and a huge garden at the rear with plenty of space for the kids to run around and a bouncy castle and see-saw for the younger children. There are regular feature nights throughout the week, so check the event board when you visit. Well worth a stop in for a quick drink or book a table for a meal, you wont be disappointed. 10/10 🙂

Loved the pub! Me and my friends went camping around Canterbury for the weekend. Stumbled across this charming pub. We saw the kitchen was closed but decided to go in and enquire anyway as we were starving. Ended up getting an amazing tour of the owner’s garden, bee hives, and birds and trees they are taking care of there, meet the staff, stay for food (kitchen opened 2 hours later), had the best spicy veggie pizza, and came back for seconds the next day! Thank you to the entire team for their generosity and hospitality, we felt so welcome and at home. Will definitely go back and say hi every time I’ll be in the area.

Genuine pub with great staff, homely feel and incredible food & drink.

We attended the Hare on the 29th July 2023 to watch a female singer called Natalie, she was amazing but aside from that the restaurant was amazing the food was fantastic and the staff where outstanding. The owners have done a fantastic job here, we didn't feel we where at a show but felt like it was like going to a family gathering everyone was having g a great time. Fantastic family restaurant.

Great place for food and atmosphere,. Kids welcome and even have dog treats on the bar . We will definitely be back .

Friendly pub, great staff, decent prices. Good sized car park. Did not eat.

Sehr leckere Pizza und Service. Wer loved it. Extra für uns Pizza gemacht da wir eigentlich zu spät zum Mittagstisch waren.

Really friendly and food is good quality. Very clean and tidy. Happy to accomodate allergies and have a chat. Large car park and garden. Great pub. First time I went there lunchtime there was a quiz for local Uni students. Seem to do a lot for the local area. Second time I just had a coffee as heading to work amd they were equaly as friendly even though I was a low spend. Highly recommended

Delicious Sunday roast, staff very welcome, friendly and helpful. Lovely place, nice garden too, with things for children.

Best Cuban Sandwich outside of South Florida!!! I had a Cuban sandwich in the UK. Unbelievable!! A must-try!! And Matt went out of his way to serve the sandwich with maduros, fried sweet plantains, instead of chips. I was without words, speechless. I will go to Matt's for a proper Cuban sandwich whenever I cannot make it to South Florida. The place, atmosphere, food, and all are a must-try. Go try it yourself! A must-visit! @Matt Thank you very much for the ropa vieja!! it was amazing. I made congri to go with it. We all enjoyed it. Thank you, Paola, Matt!!! See you again soon!!! Hasta la vista!

Hemos comido fenomenal pero lo mejor es que son muy ambles. El ambiente familiar y acogedor. Tienen mucho espacio de jardín con sitio para que jueguen los niños. También tienen parking para los coches, muy accesible.

Had a fabulous evening. Pizza was Devine. Nice garden.

Thank you Paola, Matthew, Marijke and the girls for making us so very welcome on our first visit. You have created a very special place. And the cuban sandwiches were top notch! We will be back! Til then, take care and keep on keeping it real.❤️😊

Lovely warm welcome, good tasting beer and delicious Gaucho Burger. What’s not to like!

Absolutely in love with this pub. Our new local. I don’t usually leave reviews but the staff are so kind and kept the kitchen open for us AND made sure it was all vegan 🌱 we will be back x thank you so much to the lovely manager x