The Kings Arms in Shepway

Had Sunday lunch about a month ago. Roast beef delicious, plenty of vegetables, really enjoyed our meal. Decor lovely, recently refurbished. Staff very friendly.

Superb place for enjoying great food and drinks The best in kent

My apologies to have posted this so late. We visited on Tuesday (18.02.25) and the warm service from Nadine and her team was really nice. From humour to knowledge, it made it such a pleasurable experience from the more stiff and less conversing atmosphere I feel in other places around. It was like having a VIP experience and nothing was too much trouble. The food was so delicious and well presented my only comment would be that the fries really are too salty here, I adore salt but these were really on the cusp of whether I could eat them, chefs take this comment with pinch of salt hehe, however that's a small criticism when overall it was so lovely. Thank you Nadine and team, fabulous!

Excellent gastro-pub, which offers top quality cooking. We though it was very well priced. I had a really tasty lasagne, immediately I could tell it was home-made. The restaurant is a fantastic building. Service was fantastic

Superb food, atmosphere & service. Roast dinner was excellent!

After having good experiences with the 2 other establishments of this chain we were a little disappointed with our sunday lunch we ordered was really not satisfactory as it had not been quite quite cooked sufficiently enough for my partner and also to we were never asked if we would like steak knives eat this particular dish which was needed. I also found the service from the staff was a little bit on the cold side , as was the room where we sat near the window. All in all the decor was beautiful and the views of the village church was interesting .

A group of us stopped in after a good yomp around the Downs. We did worry it was too posh but.... Nice beer, lovely recent renovations. Staff really lovely and welcoming. Prices similar to everywhere else. Ps toilets lovely, clean well appointed ungendered, very nice

It's a bit of a trek from Hastings but definitely well worth it. It's our 2nd time and we'll be going back

Food was amazing Service was fantastic and friendly Atmosphere was amazing Absolutely brilliant visit definitely plan to be coming again From Dani Mitchell josh and Nicky Tom Mitchell 💕

This is a lovely Pub to visit for a special evening as I went for works night out.

A top class Sunday roast!! Never been to the Kings Arms before but we will definitely return. The place is warm & inviting, staff were friendly and attentive and the food was absolutely delicious.

Beautiful place. Stopped on a drive out and popped in for a coffee and was a lovely place. Would definitely return.

Great pub, brilliant food. Lovely family place.

Bitterly disappointing… On arrival immediately visible there was a limited number of staff on duty, no warm welcome on Christmas Day. Fizz arrived in half filled glasses that had obviously been standing for some time so was no longer chilled, annoying when other tables around us seemed to be enjoying freshly poured full glasses. Canapés were over salted. Starters were nothing very special, then we waited 45 minutes before main course. Halibut was so small and substituted with salmon and another fish wrapped in a pastry casing which was awful. Beef served with some kind of potato slice which you couldn’t cut, turkey was very dry, over salted and served with a runny gravy and very limited vegetable selection. We didn’t wait for desert, had it boxed to take with us. One was a piece of sponge cake…. seriously !! Family all agreed, paying £135 per head plus £54 for a very poor service and also charged for wine that never arrived (disputed wine charge). The worst Christmas Day meal EVER !!!

Not a traditional country pub but a fantastic example of what you can turn one into.

Great food, great chef, the steak was perfectly cooked. Highly recommend

We went at 3.15 Christmas day for a meal,very disappointing,we had our starters which were average,we then had to wait 45minutes for our main course,the Turkey was dry and the beef was served with a burnt hard potato sliced wedge,unable to cut it,The halibut was very little fish and mostly pastry,for 135pounds per head,this was not acceptable .Ordered a glass of pinot grigio which never arrived to our table and was then charged on the bill,refused to pay for the wine.We were then not given the option of paying a service charge,10% was added 54pounds.The service was slow and the whole experience put us off on any future visits.

Wow. We booked early for Christmas Day shelling out £135 per person and expected to choose courses on 6th Dec. Arrived bang on time and seated at a different table from what was promised- under a harsh light on chairs which didn’t fit the table, so I was too high and he was too low. Ok, suck it up… Half a glass of the most acrid fizz arrived, described as ‘complimentary’ alongside some nibbles, one of which nearly made me ill with the texture 🤢 Starters were served within seconds of us finishing the nibbles, and they were enjoyable. We waited an hour for a main, by which time we’d grown uncomfortable at the table in our odd chairs. My husband’s was over cooked- although a great cut, and mine was inedible for all the salt so I regrettably sent it back with staff apologies. Waited another 10 minutes, letting staff know I wanted to cancel my main, and he complained that it’d be wasted now 🤷‍♀️ I watched my husband eat his lunch and they attempted to bring me the cancelled main, at which point I advised the moment had passed and if we could just have our dessert boxed-up, we’d pay for our drinks and be on our way... We didn’t receive our puds before we left- to be fair, we just wanted to leave. We’re locals and really wanted this pub to work for us, but this is the nail in the coffin of a few mediocre or downright unpleasant, overpriced dining experiences at The King’s Arms.

Lived in the locality for a couple of weeks so still looking around at places to drink,eat etc. Popped in for a lunchtime drink this week and have got to say after we answered first question ,“ are you here for food?” wrongly obviously because we only wanted a lunchtime drink ,we were then made to feel very unwelcome, especially after sitting on wrong table…… “There’s tables you can sit in down here”(the coldest part of the pub)not feeling very welcome …..hmm not so sure….Village pubs need to also remember their surroundings/history and not concentrate on being a gastro destination. Not everyone wants to eat in a pub!

The breakfasts that you served were just not up to your usual high standards. Any well-run cafe would have served a better breakfast. Either provide your usual high standard of cooking or stop serving breakfasts.

Our friends took us to this charming village pub on our first night of our long weekend in Kent. We see why they have raved about this place since it was taken over and remodelled. The food was your typical British pub dished, but elevated to the next level As this time of year, if we see pigs in blankets, we order some. I highly recommend you do, some of the best we have had ever. Other dishes we tried include, chefs pie of the day, beef and onion, just yummm, and the rabbit with gnocchi. The service was some of the best for a pic, pleasant, professional and very efficient. The pub its self is stunning with two open fires inside massive barrels, chandeliers made out of vine bottle. Highly recommend a stop here if you are in the area and book if you wish to eat.

Absolutely lovely for two ladies that like a nice light lunch once a month. Food was excellent and prices reasonable. Service was quite slow but very friendly.

A few weeks ago we all had a lovely meal at the Kings Arms, food absolutely delicious and beautifully presented and service fast and efficient. There's also a great children's menu for the little ones. The atmosphere is warm and ambient and the pub is also great for just relaxing over a beer or a glass of wine. Staff are always very friendly and welcoming. This has become our favourite local pub so we will definitely be back to taste more of their gorgeous food.

Lovely sophisticated venue attracting good honest people. Food service and drinks exceeding our expectations will certainly be returning. Thanks.

Great food but the only criticism I have is that their wine list isn’t great (for me anyway). I’ve had 3 meals here recently and each time the food is top notch. The wine though, I’ve had one out of 3 so far that has been good and tbh they seem a little expensive for what you get. If it wasn’t for that then this would be an easy recommendation.

Visited the Kings Arms in Eltham with other family members for dinner. The staff were welcoming, the drinks and food menu options were excellent and the food that was served was really very good. We had an excellent evening all round and look forward to visiting again.

Wow just WOW! Set down a side road in the quiet village of Elham is a cute little courtyard and this lovely pub has the prime spot. Gorgeous location, friendly helpful staff, lovely interior and the most fabulous Sunday lunch. We had a variety from fish, to pork belly, beef and the butternut squash roast. It was perfect. Good prices too. We'll be back and a visit in good weather is a must as they have a great outside area too. Oh and it was super busy which says it all but we didn't have to wait. There is parking outside the pub but if it's full then there is plenty on the road in the village. Thank you, we loved it!

Great food, staff friendly and helpful good beer an all

Great food served by a friendly welcoming team. The pub has been beautifully refurbished by the owners creating the perfect blend traditional and modern. The sticky toffee pudding is not to be missed.

Really nice pub, always good service, didn't have food this time. But have had in past and has always been very enjoyable

Popped in after a recommendation and wasn't disappointed. Comprehensive menu, very tasty food and attentive service. Good atmosphere. Off to try the other two pubs in the group.

What a great ambience, nice service and extremely delicious food. Monday is Curry Night and since the chef is from Nepal, it's doubly worth it. A great experience, 100% recommended!!

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.

Excellent food and service. We enjoyed our Sunday lunch and it was very busy so recommend booking

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

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

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 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.

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.

Fantastic meal. Really recommend it

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

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

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

Spot on, would go back for sure.

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!

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.

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

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.

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 🙂👍

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

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

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.

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.

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!