The Old Buttermarket in Canterbury

Unfriendly waitress with a goldfish memory.

Very good food but very poor quality service this day unfortunately with waitresses who clearly didn't care… A very good experience a year ago on all points but a very big drop in quality of service to date, too bad

Lovely steak sandwich and pint of organic ale

Very nice Pub an Restaurant! Fresh made delicious food. Nice and friendly staff.

Visiting from Overseas and first time in this pub. Not the friendliest welcome from the 2 female bar staff. Only stayed for 1 drink.

Really good pies and the atmosphere is great too.

Nice food. Seating ok. Service lovely

Great welcome from Stuart as always with a brilliant service and beer selection!

My dad popped in a pint and it took ages for someone to serve him and then the bartender had an attitude the whole time. She also did not pour the pint of Guinness properly. Poor service, not worth it.

Good old pub with great food as part of Nicholsons group. Pies and fish chips never goes wrong. Cask ales are great !

Great attitude of servers and owner/manager; excellent food and large portions

The Old Buttermarket in Canterbury is a charming and cozy pub that blends tradition and comfort perfectly. Located near the cathedral, it offers a welcoming atmosphere with its dark wood interior and the option to sit outside at pavement tables, allowing you to soak in the historic surroundings. During our visit, we ordered our usual shandy and classic fish with chips. The process is straightforward: place your order at the bar, which is typical of traditional British pubs. The service was efficient, with friendly staff who were attentive but not intrusive. Our food arrived promptly and was cooked to perfection. The fish was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and the chips were golden and satisfying—exactly what you’d hope for in this quintessential British dish. One thing that stood out was the cleanliness of the pub, especially the restrooms, which were spotless and well-maintained, adding to the overall pleasant experience. The pub's location near the cathedral and its inviting atmosphere make it a fantastic spot to relax after exploring Canterbury. For those who appreciate a good pint, The Old Buttermarket also offers a selection of cask ales, which adds to its traditional British pub charm. Whether you're looking for a refreshing drink or a hearty meal, this pub is a great choice. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Canterbury.

They market themselves as pie specialists but two pies were unavailable when we were there which was disappointing and limiting. That said, the pie we had (all had the same!) was very good.

nice atmosphere, great ambience, nice neighborhood nearby the cathedral, service was good, food was tasty and hot. Would go again if we were in the area

Fabulous city centre pub opposite the entrance to Canterbury Cathedral. Excellent selection of real ales and fabulous pies! Good value for money particularly given the location. Also, very dog friendly.

Stopped by for a drink and ended up having some bar snacks too as they have a deal. Have booked a table for dinner in the future as the pies going out smelt and looked amazing.

It’s so nice to done my dinner over there.

Amazing pub with a great drinks range and friendly staff. Must try the pie selection and their range of ales is amazing!.

A perfect spot to enjoy some historical time int he center of the city with an amazing beers and some great food.

Very Nice and cozy place to be while you are visiting Canterbury. Highly recommend.

I am courier to a coach party and lunch at the venue was very good. Visited with 23 over 60 passengers and was impressed with the quality of food and excellent service. The only downside was the restrooms being up a flight of stairs but as there are facilities in the courtyard of the Cathedral opposite we did not have a problem. I

Beautiful building and great lunch spot. Had a lovely time here.

I popped in for a bite there whilst on holiday a couple of weeks ago. I decided on an early lunch to avoid crowds. Snug and cosy inside. A pint of Spitfire and the sausage and mash lunch. 3 beautifully cooked fat sausages, smooth mash and plenty of onion gravy. Great service and great food, thank you.

The BEST restaurant in Canterbury

A charming pub with affordable prices and very friendly staff. Walls covered in the rich History of Canterbury. Well worth a visit!

The tables are sticky, unfriendly staff and steep prices for simple standard beers.

A friendly pub very close to the cathedral with excellent food and beer. Fantastic service from the team - allowing us to put a large order in right at the end of the day. Thank you!

One of the best Club Sandwiches I’ve ever had - amazing! Nice place, friendly service and great food. Recommended.

Rip off prices. £6.05 for a pint of bitter. Total rip of

Very nice to drink a good beer.

A bit of kindness would have been greatly appreciated

Perfect place to end our day in Canterbury. Close to Cathedral. Excellent service. Delicious food at reasonable prices and welcoming atmosphere.

Lovely pub, especially if you can get a table outfront. Didn't eat, but what we saw looked lovely.

Amazing little Gem of a pub! The food was amazing & the service was great! The manager/owner was so accommodating to us and made us feel so welcome! We will definitely be back! Thanks also to the guy working with him! You are both amazing I’m sorry I don’t remember your names it was that last Long Island ice tea 😅 Thanks Guys!!

I popped in with my husband last night for a peaceful drink. The service and atmosphere was flawless from staff until the supervisor - old man with glasses - appeared to rush everybody out of the pub while picking on and condescending the poor young lady he was working with. I myself work in a restaurant and would be appalled to be spoken to in this manner. What a pity.

This pub has a perfect location, food that shows professional pride from the chef but the service was miserable. Rude staff who were angry and annoyed, a shame for English service!

We were sold beers without being told we can no longer use the tables outside, as those now belong to shakespeare pub . The place has lost its charm I'm afraid.

Service was outstanding👍🏽 highly recommend

Came here a few days ago with family. I found the service was very poor, from having no table service to take the order We had to pay for our food before eating which was an initial red flag. We ordered our food and drinks at the bar for a family of 5. We waiting about 45 minutes for our food to arrive to the table and when it did 2 of the 5 meals were freezing. We sent the chicken dinner back to be heated as it was inedible. It was overpriced and very disappointing altogether. Overall the service and kitchen needs improved allot. Wouldn't recommend eating here especially with large groups of people.

Food came out an hour after it was ordered, it was cold and hard. Almost chocked on the chicken as it was so hard to swallow .

Went at lunchtime and ordered food. Waited a very long time for it to appear. Husband’s burger was good but it and fries were only lukewarm. My pie was barely warm and the mash was stone cold. Sent back but took ages to return. A bit grubby and understaffed. Unfriendly and graceless young woman brought the cold food back with a sulky gob on! We were perfectly nice customers but were made to feel unreasonable for asking for cold food to be warmed. Not brilliant.

A pub where you can have a few pints.

Great pub we called in for a couple of drinks while we were visiting. Great lad behind the bar Luke nothing was tooo much trouble for him . Would recommend

Expensive for what it is, tourist trap really. Food a step above weatherspoons but nothing special. Didn't have 2 of the 3 veggie options available. Drink selection fine but again nothing special.

Loved it outside space less than usual But it rained anyway

My partner and I enjoyed a delightful visit to The Old Buttermarket in Canterbury. We each had a drink, a Peroni and a Guinness on tap, which were served perfectly chilled and refreshing. For our meal, we opted for the hand-pulled lamb shank shepherd's pie, which was simply outstanding. It came in a rich minted gravy, topped with a delicious herb mash, and was accompanied by thyme roasted carrots, long stem broccoli, and an additional side of rich gravy. The skin-on fries and chunky chips were also cooked perfect. We chose to sit outside, where we had front row seats with a stunning view of Canterbury Cathedral. The ambiance was further enhanced by the Beer Marque sign hanging outside the pub, a symbol of the establishment's commitment to serving quality draught beer. Definitely recommend, would come again 👍

sadly we wasnt able to sit outside in our usual spot at the Buttermarket as the main area has been taken over by Shepherd Neame for The Shakespeare. Dont get caught out, we were moved on. Despite there being banners around the area you dont see them, there needs to be something on the table.

Hollie and Rose were amazing! Gave great drink recommendations and were super helpful and attentive, they both deserve a huge pay rise. Will be coming back for sure!!

Great Food, Great service and very adaptable to our requirements! Loved the fact that a bowl of water and some dog treats were at the table ready for our 4 legged friend!

What a great gem. We where looking in town for a meal before our night out at the Marlowe and we walked in for a meal and a drink. It was busy and alot of tables had a reserve sign on them. To me that is a good sign as this means the good food is served. We found a table in the corner by the bar but it still had empty plates on it. We moved the plates and quickly use a spare napkin to wipe the table clean. We both ordered the Chicken Schnitzel and OMG was that great. The chips, and meat where perfect. The garlic butter ontop was fantastic. Then a quick dip of the chips in the alioly mayo. It was heaven. We will be back soon to try the rest of menu.

Used to be really good, one of our all time favourites. I think your losing out to the Shakespeare (?) next door, in terms of outdoor seating has impacted you.. they're no substitute, by the way, and we suppose that's somewhat out of your hands. That said however, we found the level of service somewhat lacking when we dined that evening, and many dishes were unavailable - including your normally excellent steaks.. I mean, steaks Off!

Lovely friendly pub food smelt amazing although we were there for the drinks, hidden gem

A quick stop for a quick drink. Very busy so service was very slow. They're good for food but less concentrate on drinks. Even they are serving various cask and keg but mostly not much impressive likjke dome bar stuff. May be next time.

Lovely pub right opposite the cathedral. Good value for money Fast and pleasant service Special mention for the photos visible in these ladies' toilets

Nice and warm food! Friendly staff! Cosy atmosphere!

What a great spot for lunch! I had the steak and ale pie and my wife had the fish and chips… both were delicious!!! I highly recommend this place!

We had a party of four and not a lot of time. The staff was so kind and courteous and answered all our questions (Americans here so we are still learning a lot of the vernacular). The food arrived piping hot and delicious! Honestly not sure if I loved the perfectly-seasoned mash most, or carrots, or the boar and chorizo pie more. So, so good, and if you visit Canturbury once or regularly this pub is a must-visit!

The best steak pie you will ever eat!!!! And the mashed potatoes are beyond! And let me give a shout out to the Roasted carrots! You won’t regret it! Best take out meal!

Nice good and very pleasant host

Located right in front of the entrance to the cathedral, beautiful place, quite typical, very friendly. The waiters do not take your order at the table, you have to order the food at the counter.

Great little pub with entertainment and friendly service

Friendly service good chat and great food

Lovely clean pub that still has its character, food was amazing, quite busy but service was quick

The steak pie was delicious without costing a fortune, but the service was laughably bad. It doesn't take much to offer decent service, and yet some establishments just fail at the basics. Otherwise, nice and warm atmosphere.

Really nice to go for just a drink or a meal as well

Good drinks lovely place friendly staff.

Fabulous food Burger was amazing and club sandwich excellent Fast friendly service decent wine Perfect lunch venue great

Really good service, 4 of us visited on a busy Saturday lunchtime (book a table). Pies would all good, and the pint of T Taylors very nice

Great pub with the most amazing pies!!! Staff were very helpful and attentive. Would highly recommend. In a great location.

Lovely food. Amazing customer service. Good atmosphere

A cosy high end pub with great decor, lovely customer service, amazing food and a lot of high end beverages

An historic old pub in view of the cathedral, perfect for a quiet one at the end of a busy day of sightseeing in Canterbury.

Food and service was exemplary. I had a particularly lovely pint of Cornish beer which I liked so much we returned the following night. Sadly the beer was off but the Manager went out of his way to find me an alternative and when he couldn’t find one I liked he promised me a free one when he had the original beer up and running. Highly recommended in an ideal location .

delicious food and 10/10 staff! absolutely recommended

Fish plater for 2 was a generous portion and delicious. Service speedy and attentive

We ordered fish and chips and pie. It was great quality food and tastes great. The people were nice however, it was kinda busy and a bit pricey for the area. The prices were like I was in London. Overall, i liked the food and experience

The pies were very tasty. We loved that the Kids could choose mashed potatoes to their dish.

We went back again to sample their wonderful pies. Had the chicken and oyster mushroom and they were fabulous! If you love pies this is the place for you.

A lovely bright English pub with wonderful rustic interiors. Directly opposite the entrance to the cathedral, the pub invites you to treat yourself to a pint from the large selection of fresh draft beers. We didn't eat, so we don't rate it.

Great atmosphere, happened upon a live singer event as we were passing this pub so stopped in. Such a well laid out spacious pub with good seating and friendly staff. Will try food next time

Visited today after a walk round the town and cathedral. Welcoming and warm, nice little pub with what looked like a good choice of menu. Prices more on the steep side, but I guess to be expected and were generally just looking forward to celebrating mother's day with a good meal. Unfortunately, the beef roast dinner did not live up to much. 'Roast' potatoes were hard and tasted odd. Small rubbery Yorkshire pudding and the parsnips were completely inedible. I sent mine back and the Manager did what he could and came back with more 'roast' potatoes (I use the term loosely!), and some extra carrots. At least he tried I guess. However, wasn't impressed that we were then not asked if everything was ok. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this place. Maybe we were just VERY unlucky! A real shame.

Very Friendly Attentive Staff, Good selection of Meals & Drinks, price very reasonable

I visited recently and on the whole was disappointed. The staff just seemed like they didn't want to be there and the atmosphere was not nice. I had lunch, which was ok, but the food was warm at best and not hot. Cup of coffee was small and not hot. A strange experience, unfortunately I will not be going in again and I would not recommend. Disappointed customer.

My friends and I were looking for somewhere to enjoy our work leaver's meal together and we came across this lovely cosy pub... We are so glad we did! We ordered some picky bits to eat which were easy to share and enjoy together. The platters were delicious, the calamari was fresh and the mac & cheese was ohhhhh soooo gooood. The staff did such a fabulous job at making us feel at home and we really did have a fun time there. A big thank you to Luke, Hollie, Issy and especially Stuart for helping us organise such a lovely evening filled with good vibes and even better food! Such a fab team, thank you guys! No doubt we will be back soon :) <3

Pleasant restaurant in Canterbury.

English food in all its glory! Highly recommended...

Great pub, great food and great staff, kudos to Rose for her professional and kind service.

Great pub, fantastic food, the beef brisket pie is to die for! Exquisite service by Rose, she was a great host! Will be back surely.

Excellent Pie, magnificent service and good atmosphere. Highly recommended

I booked the festive menu for Christmas and there were 5 of us and my dog. The staff were very attentive and the food was lovely! They went out of their way to cater for allergies and check that we were happy with everything. I'd recommend this pub for food and a Christmas meal out.

Lovely old pub, my lamb shank pie was excellent, would definitely recommend. My Mum’s chicken dish was good too. Great ambience there were lots of families enjoying the food after graduations.

Generic responses to complaints, as well as the consistent complaints themselves, made me skip this tourist trap 👍

It was a relaxed visit, the food was cooked and served to perfection, staff friendly, I can't say that I found that there us anything that can be improved on our current visit

We had our pre wedding dinner and drinks with family and a few friends here.The drinks were OK but some things on the menu were not available which is understandable being a Sunday night.The thing that really wound me up was we gave the staff a pretty good tip for the food as we had spent quite a lot of money that evening, 10 people all having food and drinks, only to be thrown out at 21.30. Barman came over at 21.15 and said "The Pub is actually closed now!" At 21.25 he threw the doors open letting the freezing wind blow through while we had to down our drinks very quickly, so he could take the bins out.

Had a nice old pub feel, lovely staff, Thank you

Exactly what an English pub should be, warm, welcoming, great food, great ales, good service.

14 of us had dinner as a post-Christmas family get together. Preordered the food and everything was available, served on time at the correct temperature. Everything was great. Drinks orders were fulfilled quickly and the service throughout the meal was excellent. Will definitely be back.

A warm and cosy pub opposite the Canterbury Cathedral gate so it’s the perfect venue for lunch after spending the morning touring the church. The food was hearty, plentiful and delicious. Value was ok, slightly higher prices considering it’s in the heart of a tourist hub, but not outrageously so. Can definitely recommend.

Brilliant service from all staff. Very helpful with accommodating us and our puppy. Little treats and bowl of water , lovely touch. Food was amazing

The pub has a good selection of ales and spirits. However, the main reason we book as a family, is due to the great food and child friendly environment. The pies are rightly highlighted, but the menu provides a lot of options, which makes it easier for us when we visit a number of times across a month, for example.