The Kings Arms in Shepway

Excellent food, friendly staff, and a pleasant ambience. A good place to visit. We live in Elham and eat here regularly. Parking is limited so park up on the High Street outside the school.

Lots of promise in anticipation. Overly salty chowder. One fish and chips mediocre, although two others looked good, so maybe one set aside waiting for the others? Or batter changed? Willing but inadequate and varying service declining in interest. Confused delivery and non-delivery. Nice location.

Delicious fish finger wraps & a few pints of Moretti - charming staff & attentive service. So nice to go to such a well run local pub.

Took 2 (older!) friends for a 90th birthday lunch for first time in 10 years and immediately impressed by decor and ambience. Service is excellent - attentive and friendly without being formulaic. Extensive diverse menu for a 2024 pub and easy to mix and match a wide range of Small Bites, Starters, Mains and Desserts. We all enjoyed our food choices very much despite the 90 year old thinking the cabbage uncooked (= al dente!) and I didn't like having fennel seeds on my belly pork - though the cabbage was delicious! Have to say £20 per person cancellation fee is cynical and gave us bad taste before arriving - sure, charge a cancellation fee that's a deterrent but £20 per person is excessive and customer unfriendly.

Gorgeous restored, dog friendly pub in the middle of the countryside - updated 23/09/24 - still excellent 👌

We went for the first time yesterday and what an experience. The pub has been refurbished to a very high standard inside and out. The courtyards are a lovely place to sit and have been landscaped. The weather yesterday was superb which added to the experience. The food was top notch, along with the service from the two people on duty. I have Coeliac disease and wasn't a problem for the kitchen (we checked first before visiting). Overall a great place to visit and we will definitely be back with friends.

First time visiting the pub and had an amazing experience. Food and ambience were excellent. However, what makes this place different is the staff. Gary and his crew welcomed us the moment we opened the door and it continued until we left. Love this place and will be back. Thank you.

Recent complete refurbishment to a very high standard and first visit impressed greatly. Will be back - probably too often!!!!

Love it food is great. Staff very nice so nice it's been upgraded 🥃 also serving a fantastic breakfast.

Lovely venue for a special meal

BEST PIE OF MY LIFE: The pastry was perfectly browned, crispy and flaky. No part of it was undercooked or soggy. Rigid but not over-cooked. The braised ham hock and chorizo filling was so deliciously tender, flavorful and impressive with every mouthful. The steamed savoy cabbage side was seasoned very tastefully, bursting with flavor and complimented the pie wonderfully. The gravy was applied in just the right amount, had a great consistency, beautifully dark and rich. The mash was fluffy and creamy, dished out in just the right proportion to the rest of the dish. I can’t stop thinking about it - was actually exquisite.

Lovely pub, but a little overpriced in my opinion. The food was good, but not outstanding.

Such a lovely cosy aesthetic place, friendly service, and the most amazing finessed menu and food. Cannot fault this place it is the perfect pub restaurant. Dog friendly

Howie made a wise choice by booking a table at the King's Arms for a delightful Sunday roast dinner. The environment was incredibly calming and relaxed, setting the perfect tone for a leisurely meal. Our waiter was not only pleased but also highly efficient, making sure our experience was top-notch. The service felt organic and genuine, adding to the overall enjoyable atmosphere. Each dish was served at just the right time, allowing us to savor every bite. It was evident that the chefs put great care into preparing our meal as everything was cooked to perfection, exactly to our liking. Needless to say, we are already looking forward to our next visit to the King's Arms, eager to enjoy another wonderful dining experience.

Amazing place, lovely atmosphere staff polite and friendly, and accommodated us as a large party at short notice. Superb food. Will definitely come back in the evening.

Roast beef very rare, veg uncooked, roast potatoes hard, roast potatoes were replaced but beef still uncooked & tough, was given £5 off the bill, really disappointed as first impression went from 10 down 2.

Booked as I saw a review calling it one of best restaurants in Kent. Was disappointed, was average at best and a shame as this was a special occasion meal. Food served was not very flavourful, steak was ordered as medium rare but was served rare. After this was politely addressed by the server and asked to be cooked a bit longer it was served rare again & the ribs ordered had little flavour and were quite fatty. Overall sadly not the best food.

What a fantastic gastro pub. The food here is absolutely delicious, and probably the fastest service I have ever experienced in such a popular place. The pub itself is amazing too with loads of features, set in an idyllic little village in Kent. Highly recommend!

My wife & I have visited The Kings Arms in Elham a few times now, as well as their sister pubs/restaurants called The Marquis of Granby & The Tiger inn. The Kings Arms’ transformation is sensational! You will not go wrong with their food, drink, staff or experience at any stage. We visited yesterday at 1:30pm with our 2 friends. We come from Maidstone & Rainham in Kent (45 mins travel time) and will continue to do so with The Kings Arms. They had live music playing on this occasion which was a delight! The Chefs pie is always amazing and a personal favourite of mine from the menu but honestly if you want to go for Sunday Lunch you will not beat the Roast Dinner anywhere else! Take a friend, family or even a date and you will not regret it! Thank you so much for your hospitality as always! We will be back 👏 *PLEASE NOTE we paid £75 per person for 3 courses & 4/5 Alcoholic drinks each* So amazing value for money!!!

Beautiful place And the roast dinner was lovely Well worth a visit

Great food, staff friendly and helpful good beer an all

A top class restaurant in an old public house. The food is excellent, the service outstanding and the ambience a dream. National Pub of the Year? I hope so.

Very poor vegetarian option as a Sunday roast option.

Great gem of a pub, hidden in the countryside

Delicious roast, sat in the gorgeous sunny court yard. Very friendly staff. Refurbished to very high spec. Can’t fault it.

An absolute gem nestled along our hiking route, Elham Kings Arms welcomed us with open arms and warm hospitality, despite us arriving with all our gear and a bit weary from the trails. Their kindness and welcoming attitude made our stop here truly memorable. The staff graciously accommodated our needs, ensuring we felt comfortable and at home even in our hiking attire. The cozy atmosphere provided the perfect respite, and the hearty meals replenished our energy for the journey ahead. Elham Kings Arms is not just a place to grab a bite; it's a beacon of hospitality along the hiking trails, offering weary travelers a place to rest, recharge, and feel genuinely welcomed. Five stars for their kindness, warmth, and exceptional service!

Very busy pub, booking is advised,great menu, We went for Sunday lunch, the portions were very generous, all in all a great meal

Quite busy in the restaurant but that's because it's popular. For starter had crispy beef to share. Had a roast beef and roasted cauliflower with satay sauce for our main course. Good food, good service. Would like to go back in the summer and sit in the garden for lunch

Great food, excellent service and relaxed atmosphere. Portion sizes are very good as well. Highly recommended. Not Kent Pub of the Year 2024 for no reason.

Was recommended the pub by a local during our stay in Kent and had the most fabulous roast. Any roast that comes with extra gravy and cauliflower cheese as standard ticks my boxes but the food was incredible! Would totally recommend!

Great hidden gem of a pub restaurant. It was a Tuesday evening and it was busy and I think that tells you all you need to know about quality of food. We had a mix as a family of steak, burgers and fish and all were well cooked to how we wanted them. Service was prompt but not pushy and if we needed anything they were quick to supply. Price wise for family of 4 2 courses each and drinks £180, which considering 2 steaks in that not too bad if you ask me. Inside has been updated super sympathetically with a lovely mixof old features with updated decor.

The interior design of this pub is incredible! Coupled with amazing food and a great atmosphere made this an amazing spot to visit!

Wow, what a lovely place . A hidden gem we didn't know about. The food was excellent with some lovely vegetarian choices I had not had before. Staff were really friendly and make an extra effort as we were celebrating a birthday. Beautiful lavatory and it was no problem that they are mixed.

Today we were a party of 17 to celebrate a birthday, the whole event ran like clockwork, from the pre planning to the execution on the day, the attention to detail, spot on. The food was prepared by professionals, every dish was a joy to eat at the highest standard you would expect in any top class restaurant. Thank you all involved in making today a memorable experience for my wife and our guests. Andrew Gendek

Fantastic meal. Really recommend it

Fabulous pub having undergone a wonderful renovation. Great atmosphere, staff were lovely and some good quality pub food. Sunday lunch offering was excellent with varied meat selection as well as other menu items if you didn’t fancy a roast. Will recommend and return 👍 - oh and don’t forget to book, otherwise you’ll need to leave a poor review marking the pub down just for being busy 🙄

We went for my wife's birthday, we made some requests where to be sat and a little birthday dessert, both requests were met brilliantly. Loved the food. Well definitely be returning soon

Nicely decorated and friendly staff. Food was good but nothing too memorable and expected more in quantity and quality for the price. Mains had us questioning whether to add some extra sides.

Came here for a meal with my family. Unfortunately I forgot to take any pictures. The venue is lovely. Decorated really well and everything is clean and tidy. The toilets were really fancy too. We had a sharing starter and the scotch egg to start and it was all really delicious. For mains we had...the Sea Bass Special, the Chefs Pie, the chicken and I had something from the stater menu as I wasn't very hungry. Again all so so nice. We had a couple of desserts, a couple of wines and 7 or 8 beers in total and the bill came to around £200. Everything was great apart from some of the other customers, I get children will be children but letting children crawl around the floor and squeal and sing right next to other paying customers is a little out of order. Other than that we had a great time and will definitely be going back.

Amazing decor following an extensive refurb. Absolutely fantastic food and service and prices reasonable too, what's not to love. Looking forwards to a return visit. Update: Sixth visit now and this is still still as fantastic as each previous visit. Whether it's been a cozy meal for two at, what is now, our official favourite table, or as a bigger group.

I had one small piece of undercooked steak and a bowl of chips, small mushroom and a small tomato. £33 Total bill for 4 people £243 before tip. Disappointed? Very! Overall the portions were very small, especially my friends chicken, all bone very little meat. The starters were by far the best part of the evening. Going again? Doubtful!

Good food, great service in a lovely refurbished pub. Recommend the black pudding scotch egg starter. A little more expensive than some pubs but also not "pub grub" so worth visiting. Will be back.

Only had drinks at the bar. But the warmth and friendly staff makes us want to return.

Beautiful pub with so much attention to detail. Completely refurbished. Great food and drink. Lovely atmosphere.

Nice place. Lovely food and great service

Spot on, would go back for sure.

Amazing pub best in the area, loved the relaxed vibe, staff were so friendly and welcoming

Supports and hosts illegal fox hunts. Google this pub and their links to animal cruelty and barbaric animal abuse

Excellent food served by welcoming, friendly, attentive staff in a beautifully refurbished pub. Can't wait to return!

The staff and atmosphere here are exceptional. A great deal of care has been put into the design of the pub. The food was good however my only criticism is that I found the pricing to be a touch inflated. That being said, I was not disappointed. To top it off, allergy advice was tremendous. The chef was able to verify which foods contained what allergens, which many places do not do well at all.

We (5 ladies)enjoyed a fabulous lunch at this festive wonderful gastropub. Service was friendly food delicious and the atmosphere was relaxed and yet professional. Can’t wait to come back!n9n

Beautiful renovated pub large outside area ,Many helpful staff with good knowledge of the drinks they sell. Wide selection of foods on the menu, Well presented and reasonably priced.

Friendly, attentive service. Food very well presented. All cooked perfectly. The lamb was lovely and pink.

A perfect evening. Staff were excellent, food was sublime. Even the lavatories were different class.

Wonderful everything - atmosphere, food, service, beautiful pub and amazing Sunday lunch. Look forward to coming back soon!

Very friendly staff. Nice decor. Good service. Food was great although a little pricey

The renovation looks lovely. Sadly, we didn't get to experience the food. I travelled all the way from Australia for lunch with my great Aunt (91), who lives in the area, and we were turned away. Highly recommended to book a table, even though it didn't appear to be a recommendation.

Beautiful traditional pub with a modern twist. Extra dog friendly, great food and ale/larger choice. So lucky to have such a lovely local 💓

Newly refurbished so thought we would give it a try. The pub/restaurant itself is really nice with modern contemporary decor and was lovely and warm when we arrived. The Food was exemplary, compliments to the chef!! The service unfortunately let the side down. We waited on several occasions for our order to be taken, both for food and drinks and at one point had to go to the bar to order drinks. When the starters appeared the head waiter appeared before we had put a fork in the meal to ask how it was!! when the main arrived we were asked whether we wanted any sauces, which we said yes to, unfortunately we had finished our course by the time the sauces appeared and when we pointed this out we were met with the answer 'well at least you got them.' After the main course again we waited a long time before our plates were cleared and finally asked if we wanted another drink. We did raise our concerns with the head waiter and admittedly were given 10% off the main meals, however as regular restaurant attenders we would rather of had good service. Unfortunately this experience was not a pleasant one which is sad because the food and surroundings were fantastic.

Genuinely faultless , outstanding service probably the best Sunday lunch we have had for a long time , the Scotch egg starter is the go too , pigs in blankets and stuffing on the side show the attention to detail , we can’t wait to go back !!!!!!!

Totally lived up to our expectations- tasty food, welcoming atmosphere and very courteous staff

Fantastic. Staff were great and we were made to feel very welcome. Food is fantastic, the Chef deserves real credit for serving such fabulous dishes. Definitely returning to try more of the menu.

We ended up here by chance. We were staying in a hotel that didn't have a chef so we were delighted to find this place. The food and wines were excellent. They were full but they made space for us and made us feel very welcome. A hidden gem of a place.

Lovely refurbishment cant fault it. But drinks very expensive sorry wont be back at that price

Very impressed. As a local that has enjoyed this pub in it’s previous incarnations I was apprehensive about my first visit following such a dramatic reconstruction, but I felt very welcome and the pub had a lively mix of locals and newcomers. I can’t say the decor was particularly to my taste, but the Guinness was good and the staff were friendly and attentive. My two terriers were also welcomed and that’s much appreciated 🙂👍

Haven't tried the food yet, just met some friends for a Sunday afternoon drink the bar service was excellent and a really pleasant atmosphere

Beautifully restored and decorated. Ideal location in a beautiful village square. Unfortunately the food was overpriced, the pub was overcrowded, and the staff were inexperienced and overwhelmed.

Visited today as part of a table of 3, I heard this place had re-opened under new ownership (I had visited 1 year ago and it was OK). The decor and refurb is great and looking amazing, lots of space and designed nicely (im a graphic designer so I look at things like colour etc... superb). I ordered steak medium and a chocloate brownie for desert. I cannot fault the food, it was fantastic. The service was great. This was one of the best meals I have had and I am so pleased. I hope the Kings Arms can keep up this superb quality of food and service, I shall be back.

We were lucky enough to discover this beautiful place on a sporadic camping trip to Ehlam. The food was incredible with all dishes being flavoursome, the glass fronted kitchen is a beautiful touch too, nice to see the professionals at work with fresh ingredients too! Service was attentive and friendly, with drinks and food both very quick to arrive. Priced a little high for country pub but well worth it for the quality and flavours. Would recommend to any visitors to the area... if I were local I'd frequent it myself!

Very impressive, fantastic refurbishment good luck for the future 👍

I don’t know where to start. Only the 2nd full day of the Kings arms being open after a full refurbishment and everything was fantastic, from the delicious food, extensive drink selection to the outstanding service, we couldn’t have asked for more. It had such a massive wow factor and looks out of this world. We already can’t wait to come back and bring the family too! Thank you all! 👏🏼

Wow, following the recent extensive refurbishment this is truly a destination pub! What an amazing transformation that has been beautifully restored to reveal its original features along with with some modern touches. This is somewhere you will want to travel to from far and wide.

Lovely outside space, very pleasant staff, delicious food at very reasonable prices, will definitely return!

Traditional pub serving excellent food. Friendly helpful staff.

Enjoyed meeting an old friend here for lunch, the hosts were very proactive. Sandwich good and pleased to have a good helping if salad served with it

Oldy worldy pub Nice staff will be going again

Just went last minute for a drink and snack with a friend, Sunday lunchtime. Welcoming atmosphere even for 2 women on their own 😊

Probably one of the friendliest pubs to be found anywhere. Comfortable period features, friendly staff and a small restaurant as well as bar. Highly recommended

Staff caring making sure you had all your needs met, food was good quality with more than enough at good value price.

Lovely little pub in Elham village. very good beer friendly staff and good restaurant

Very cosy traditional 'local' pub. Felt quite cramped and therefore not 100% Covid-Friendly but could see more seating through the building that I don't think was open. Men's toilets were a little run down. Would stop over again

What a lovely place. Such friendly staff and wonderful food. Will definitely we going back

Had lunch here and the food is fantastic, service is great and it's in a beautiful setting. Definitely worth a visit

Had 2 Christmas party's, both days food was excellent served hot and plenty of it. Had good food good company. Sarah and her team were excellent, thanks you all. Lyn

Good pint at decent price in a nice atmosphere, hear food is good to

Enjoyable evening in this lovely village pub. Good food and selection of beers.

Lovely place and made very welcome

Very nice meal delicious lasagne! Very polite friendly service. Reasonable price and good size portions. Great to find somewhere that does proper food .

Nice country pub in a quiet village. Good beers and food.

Nice friendly service good food family friendly

Arrived an hour before closing time but was refused entry as they said they were closed, when there were clearly other customers. Convenient parking though.

Lovely service but a limited beer choice but understandable with location

Great food and beer. Friendly service. Staff made us feel at home.

Nice village pub and a good size garden. Only had a drink but the food looked good.

Lovely friendly local. Amazing food!

The 2 ales weren't nice, and I'm not usually fussy! Nice garden round back, but inside seating area more for sitting down and having food than having a pint, so no one was in that bit.

Love this pub. Proper kentish pub in a proper kentish village, great atmosphere, huge garden and good Guiness!

Faultless,superb hosts . Will be back.

Excellent food and staff very helpful.

Great service, friendly staff, lovely food and a traditional atmosphere.