Thomas Becket in Canterbury - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

We stopped off for a couple of glasses of wine and some bar snacks after our walking tour - we found both the staff members to be friendly and helpful. Will definetly stop by for a drink again.

Everything was very good and the welcome was very pleasant.

i’m writing about my experience from september last year as i feel people need to know this could be their experience before going. me and my boyfriend had booked for a roast for 1pm and when we arrived it was quite quiet so we took our time with ordering. food took an hour and a half to show and was all frozen store bought ingredients (unfortunately didn’t get photos of this). we then reached out to the management to let them know about our experience and was offered a free meal as a second chance to show what they were really like so we took the offer. on this occasion my boyfriend had got the battered halloumi and fries and i got the lamb cutlets. another 50 minutes later and this is what we were given !!! to say the least we were shocked and haven’t returned since.

Gorgeous pub, good food, wide selection of beers and ciders on tap, polaroids of cute dogs as a bonus. 5/5 would recommend

What a wonderful pub, it felt like a proper pub should, take the time and give it a visit

Always use the Thomas Becket when in Canterbury. A popular venue with a warm, friendly atmosphere. A good selection of beers and good basic fayre food wise. Very dog friendly.

A nice pub with good food. I took a hamburger and the other two in the party chose chicken schnitzel. At the same time, we could watch the European Championship quarter-final between Portugal and France on the big screen. We were all very pleased with the food and the service. Also, the beer was good!

En trevlig pub med god mat. Jag tog en hamburgare och de andra två i sällskapet valde kycklingschnitzel. Samtidigt kunde vi kolla på EM-kvartsfinalen mellan Portugal och Frankrike på storbildsskärm. Vi var alla jättenöjda med maten och servicen. Dessutom var ölen god!

Nice friendly pub. Has a covered outside TV area, which was good but doubles as the vaping / smoking area

Had a few glasses of wine and some bar snacks with friends in this cosy pub. A lovely experience I would recommend again and again!

A good selection of draft craft beers. We just wanted a light snack so we split a classic BLT. No complaints. Food, beer and service were spot on.

When we checked into our hotel in Canterbury (House of Agnes), we decided to walk into Canterbury to visit a delightful 18th century pub that we visited in 2021. It wasn’t as delightful as we remembered because the gray-headed bartender with an earring lectured us (two women) on the need to call for a reservation as opposed to reserving online with such a short window. It was 4:00 p.m. The restaurant was empty except for 12ish soccer fans drinking beer near the bar area. To be far, the waiter warmed up a bit, but when we left, the restaurant was still empty. Why lecture American tourists dumping their dollars in your restaurant, especially when it was empty? Just a thought.

Had a bit of a disappointing Sunday Roast. The local beer from Kent was nice and the environment is nice but the Sunday roast was very very bland, undercooked chicken, quite a small chicken and the gravy was very bland and flavourless. Was a bit disappointed because everytime I had Sunday roast they were amazing but this one was my first bland one. Would recommend this pub for everything else but maybe skip their Sunday roast.

Dont eat the sunday rost!!! If you go, then just grab a local bear, which is very good. But the sunday roast was AWFUL. Nice beers! The local one was very tasty. But the food was disapointing.

Lovely rooms, friendly staff and descent food

Pork belly bites and pints! I have been here many times. Consistently great food ans atmosphere. Bring your dog.

Came here for a beer and a sandwich, having been told by a member of staff outside that they did sandwiches and noticing some on the menu. However, the member of staff inside was very offhand and said "this is not really a sandwich place", I showed him that they were on the menu and he said that there was a very limited selection and suggested we go to a sandwich place up the road. So, of course, we left, found another pub and had an excellent sandwich and beer there. I have never been treated in such an unfriendly and offhand manner and would never go there again. Not as if it was a cordon bleu restaurant!

Had a most wonderful time here. I really enjoyed the Cider I had. Would love to know the name so I can purchase some more. Definitely will be back the next time we are in the area.

This is a traditional pub with a great selection of beers, and also an extensive range of spirits, cocktails etc. Frequented by locals. The interior is old and comfortable, you don't feel like an outsider. The staff are very friendly and helpful. We'll worth a visit when you're in Canterbury. I can't comment on the food as I didn't eat there, I'm not sure if they do food - check on Google.

Excellent choice of real ales, great atmosphere.

The best roast dinners in Canterbury! I’ve tried them all and their roasts are the best. A little more costly than some but the difference in quality and taste is worth the extra splurge. It can be hard to get a table though, sometimes they let you book and sometimes they don’t. A couple times I’ve been told quite abruptly by staff that it’s walk-ins only and then gotten there not long after calling and been refused a table. It’s a shame because the atmosphere is so great otherwise. Definitely recommend if you can get a table.

Had a quick drink here back in November as we were visiting the local theatre. It had a nice atmosphere and we promised ourselves we would come back again for a meal. Went yesterday for a bite to eat and couple drinks before the theatre. It was early so fairly quiet. We were shown to our seats and the member of staff explained to order at the bar. We had a really lovely meal. It was just simple and very tasty. Drinks are good too. Really lovely atmosphere and nice staff. We will be back! Thank you

Had a meal the other day food was excellent, even the steak went for a drink tonight very nice atmosphere friendly staff all the best for the future thank you Chris for the chat earlier glad to hear the issues are being resolved.

My husband and I arrived at about 5:30pm and asked if they were serving meals - we were told yes, but there would be about 30 minute wait as a large party had just ordered ….. there was a table of 6 and a table of 4!! We ordered quickly and sat at a table. There was clearly a disagreement going on regarding billing of the nearby table of 4, and the two members of staff were not discrete in their “opinions” of this when discussing this at the bar, within our earshot. We waited for over an hour and in that time, only 1 table’s meals were produced. (The table of 4) We continued waiting - no other customers ordered and in fact, a couple of groups came and went in that time without ordering. After over an hour, we finally mentioned this to one of the staff who just said “yeh, we’re busy, sorry” - literally only 12 people there!! We asked for a refund and this was not challenged in anyway - not even to say “it’s almost done” so clearly our meals had not been started to be prepared. We were quickly given our refund and no apology! Hugely disappointed as we wanted to support local business on our visit to what was a beautiful city. Went a short walk up the street to Prezzo and we were served within 10 minutes of arriving! The best reception was given to the dog that arrived from upstairs and with the number of photos and references to dog visitors and treats, it is clear who takes priority.

AVOID AT ALL COST!!!!! menu states 2 courses from the set menu for 17.50 but said we couldn't do main and desert although that isn't stated on the menu. The person at the bar and chef said it would be fine but the managers wife said it wasn't even tho it had been agreed upon earlier. When it was sorted after abit of back and fourth after many customers have left because they heard the problem with the menu. We ordered the food and it took 55 minutes for the main and over 40 minutes for the desert. For context, there was only 1 other table of 4 who ordered food in the pub. Food was okay but not worth the hassle and stress of trying to order and the wait for it to arrive. The ice cream was the size of my little finger ( no exaggeration ) . Just go to pizza express next door, cheaper , better , friendlier and they have a menu which makes sense.

Not a child frendly pub, no child menus and slightly inflexible on set meals, which is fair enough. Some really good real ales, more suited to none young families, being a granddad my fault just looking at the ales :)

Lovely and chill, perfect for an evening drink chatting with friends

Great place to visit so friendly great atmosphere excellent food extra dog friendly take you dog for a full dog lunch .Make you dog famous they even take the dogs picture our Bertie Bishon Frise is now on the doggie wall of fame please visit this pub your love it as we did we came back two days later 😀

We had a convivial lunch today, taking advantage of the £10 lunch offer, two fish and chips, one sausage and mash along with a pint of good beer.

Great atmosphere, excellent food and massive portions. Be sure to pre-book on Sundays.

The staff here are wonderful. I met two bar tenders called Katie and Rob. Rob was quick and efficient and had brilliant banter. I ordered food and the food was cooked to perfection. I had the beef bacon and cheese burger. Overall the experience was perfect and I will definitely be coming again and recommending it to everyone. Thank you Thomas Becket!

Very dog friendly! Welcoming staff and great atmosphere

Great pub, great atmosphere and the screen with the satellite camera going round the world was cool.

Great pub with range of beers/ales treated my toy poodle like a king

Great pub with nice food and lovely beer.

Great pub! The cosiest little pub with delicious food and a great atmosphere! Will be making this my go to pub!

Another brilliant visit for myself, family and our dog! Food was excellent and we got our dog some food off of their cute little dog food menu! The staff were amazing as always so thanks, we'll be back soon!

Lovely meal at this dog friendly pub. The food was lovely and at fair prices. As someone who loves a drink there was a great variety of beers.

Great small pub with a fantastic and surprising menu!

I would like to express my extreme dissatisfaction with our experience at the Thomas Beckett Pub in Canterbury. Our visit on 13th April left us not only disappointed but physically unwell. Firstly, within hours of dining at your establishment, four of us experienced severe vomiting and diarrhoea. It is deeply concerning that such an outcome occurred, indicating a potential lapse in food safety and hygiene standards. Moreover, the limited vegetarian options available were shocking. Our vegetarian companion was left with little choice, chips and onion rings. Despite opting for what was available, they still suffered from gastrointestinal distress. Additionally, the pricing was exorbitant for what was offered. One drink and one main course per person amounted to an unjustifiable expense, especially considering the lack of variety and quality. The attitude of the staff only compounded our dissatisfaction. One male staff member's response to our request for additional ketchup was both dismissive and unprofessional. Instead of accommodating our simple request, he proceeded to lecture us on condiment wastage, which was wholly inappropriate given the circumstances. Overall, our experience at the Thomas Beckett Pub was abysmal and has left a lasting negative impression. I urge you to address these issues promptly to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The pub classic fish and chips was decent but disappointed to be told that we were too late to order dessert after our main meal… surely it couldn’t be too hard for the bar staff to offer some simple prepared dessert options as it wasn’t even 9pm….

We used to use this pub all the time up until about 8 or so years ago, and we really enjoyed being back just for a drink on route to a concert. We had a nice time (ignoring the group of very drunk men at 7pm that is who thankfully were not sold any more alcohol and subsequently left) it might even become our regular again.

Popped in before evening at the Marlowe theatre - great fun service and lovely atmosphere with great music playlist

I absolutely love the Thomas Becket. Fantastic bar staff 👍🏻

Good location in the heart of Canterbury. Burger was with mid-quality meat and chips, served o.k. You cant compare with their photos on the web. However, local really good ale and atmosphere both saved us after a long hike from Ashford to Canterbury. Thanks.

Love it, Saturday night live Entertainment very good

As a fussy vegetarian, the halloumi ‘fish’ & chips was the best veggie pub meal I’ve had in Canterbury, and I’ve tried them all! Also, great staff and atmosphere 😊

Lovely place, great atmosphere, very attentive & knowledgeable barman. Will definitely visit again soon!

The only person in the pub at 1pm walked in waited for a response as I was shocked the only one there waited for few seconds from bar person who was Nicely dressed in a tie and waistcoat then got a response. Went to bar saw a menu for £10 first choice of drink wasn’t available as punch prints menus for all pubs. Well done Wetherspoon got menu for each pub. Ordered the sausage and mash with peas and onions rings with Amstel only £10. When the food came out it was hot even the dish/ bowl was hot clean knife and fork with a napkin. Very clean all throughout even the toilets. The only negative point is Mother’s Day display was on bar in corner and the quiz date was out of date. Visit was Tuesday 12th march 2024. Nice background music nice volume level and choice of music.

lovely Mothers day lunch, superb roast chicken and beef lunch, great promt service from Niamh and Katie , good atmosphere and although it was busy we didn't feel rushed at all , we asked that the kitchen crew was congratulated for the well cooked and presented meals, thank you all for a great time on a grey and damp day.

Great food excellent beers and friendly staff, dog friendly too

I had belly pork for starter. Pie and mash which was very nice though the top crust was a wee bit hard for my liking but crumbled up with gravy, it went down nicely. Cheesecake was very nice

Me and a few friends visited this pub last night (Friday the 1st) and we were all thoroughly impressed. Rob (who I assume is the manager) and James were both incredibly friendly and were clearly very knowledgeable about all of their products. The pub was clean and Cozy with a nice atmosphere. We will definitely be returning.

It looks like we're not the only ones who've run into issues with the bald, grumpy bartender! Having visited a couple of years ago for a friends birthday, the guy in question seemed absolutely fine and friendly. However, friends of ours had been telling us since that he'd become obnoxious to deal with. We'd always remained sceptical, until... I visited a couple of weeks ago with a friend. The bartender / manager seemed furious the whole time, it felt like having people asking if the pub was open for lunch at 12 was a bad thing. When we did decide upon a table ( in a near empty pub ) we were promptly told that we would need to move if a bigger table came in. Then we were told the food we'd ordered would take extra long to cook, like it had been our fault! It was hugely embarrassing and to say I felt I'd let my friend down recommending the Beckett was an understatement. When we told other friends they instantly said 'bald guy and waistcoat?' They also related how they'd had issues and wouldn't return. What's awful is seeing multiple issues on trip advisor referencing the same guy, yet the owners haven't done anything about replacing him. He clearly can't make his mind up about what mood he's in - so why should anyone be waisting their time? With the cost of living crisis so high, it's a real treat to go out now so you would have thought pubs would've been extra conscious of being friendly at least. Let alone the fact the pub is surrounded by a range of really great other places. After our visit we went to one down the road which was great, friendly staff and great service. Should've eaten there. Such a shame, the Beckett used to be great, but like many others - we'd never return.

Chris was a top bloke.. very welcoming and very accommodating. The pub is set back in the narrow streets, This listed building is a cosy place to enjoy a drink and relax. Serving food and drink, unfortunately no carparking on site, free carpark next door for blue badge holders only, so if in the area.. worth a visit only a very short walk from the central area.

The Bartender made my experience uncomfortable. They don’t accept Amex (fair enough) but when I tried to pay with it - he said ‘we’re not paying for your flights’, which I felt made this personal. Terrible service. Standard pub. Nothing special apart from the pics of all the dogs on the walls. I wouldn’t recommend, far better pubs in Canterbury.

Great Pub, amazing food and very dog friendly. I would recommend

Really nice pub, the staff were friendly and Rocko the dog was sweet!

Very pleasant pub in the center of Canterbury, the staff are lovely, the food very good, the prices fair, just a bit of a wait as there are few staff but we had a great time, I recommend this pub! !!

Great pub, unfussy, with nice detailing, plenty of comfy seating to enjoy your beer in.

Friday early evening food and drink. Seriously good food, homemade pie & mash 😋. Good Real Ale, atmosphere and excellent service.

Popped in for a beer on a Friday evening with a couple of friends, cheery bar staff, plenty of beers to choose from, a nice atmosphere and even some nice board games to play. What more could you ask for. 😀😀

Loved this pub, really authentic and the governor educated me about snooker we didn’t eat anything here but what we saw coming out looked amazing

Stopped by for lunch after a recommendation from staff at Canterbury Cathedral (a must see when in (Canterbury!!) The Barman was very welcoming and there were multiple menus at the tables. Order from the bar, carry your drinks back to the table and enjoy the atmosphere as you wait for your food. Which arrived very quickly. Had the southern fried chicken strips, side of chips and tomato basil soup. Great for a cold January day! It was delicious!! Chicken was juicy and the batter was tasty without being too thick or heavy. This pub is very dog friendly and has a menu for doggie treats too. If you bring your dog get their picture taken for the walls and beams. One of the top pubs we have been to on this 2 month adventure!

The food and atmosphere is wonderful. We have completed our PhDs at Kent and returned to Canterbury after 13 years. We loved this place then too. Unfortunately the owner did not have any eye contact with us at all! When we knocked exactly at 12, he was grumpy to open the door. And I was there for sunday roast but I know that the meat might sometimes be too rare for my liking but when we asked about it, his reply was rude and condescending saying if he sold the meat I liked they wouldn't have been a good pub. I understand the point but together with no eye contact it came across pretty rude. After us, someone wanted to order J20 and he said he wouldn't sell it as it has 8 sugar cubes in it. As I said, all valid points but people are there not to be lectured but to have a good sunday lunch with family. I was so upset by this that it made me use tripadvisor commentary after so many years. On the plus side, they have an incredibly sweet dog and everything else was great!

Nous sommes venus faire le décompte du 31 décembre dans ce bar, loin de l'effusion des rues les plus fréquentées. Ambiance chaleureuse, calme et personnel de bon conseil qu'en il s'agit de gin tonic !

First time at the Thomas Beckett and will definitely return! Great cosy pub feel with big selection of drinks. Lovely touch with wall of pictures for the dog visitors.

Gentili, efficienti, cibo molto buono. Ambiente molto accogliente. Lo consiglio vivamente…ci tornerei.

Great for a lunchtime meal at a bargain price

Lovely pub, good food and service, very quirky 10/10

Delicious home made chicken strips with tasty spice mix coating.

Felt very unwelcome by the elderly barman. He lectured our party proving they were plus 25 even though they ordered soft drink. Later he had a big moan at three tables by accusing them of changing the TV channels remotely … we were out for a Christmas party and it spoiled the evening. Went to the Parrot as soon as we drank up - business was welcome!

Always liked this place. Good beer, nice layout and always a simpatico vibe.

Had our Christmas staff night out here for 16 people, really great food and excellent service but at an affordable price Many thanks

We didn't eat here as we were in Canterbury for the Christmas market and live music. Thomas Becket has an old world charm and relaxed atmosphere, a great place to sit and chill whilst visiting Canterbury.

We visited today 15.12 before going to the pantomime,very cosy and welcoming pub.the food was fantastic and reasonable priced.the landlord was very friendly everyone was enjoying the food and atmosphere

Often pop in for a few beers on a Saturday afternoon. Highly recommended.

Came across this bar down a little side street, walked in and was welcomed, the bartender was chatting and the beer was pretty good too.

We had our CAMRA Christmas meal here last night, 26 of us. The pub was busy but we received a warm welcome from Rob and his team behind the bar. Four excellent beers were on offer and our earlier request for a couple of dark beers was fulfilled. The service was good and our meals were brought out efficiently, all delicious and well presented. Any requests were dealt with quickly. Thank you Chris, Rob and the rest of the team for giving us a great evening. I recommend this pub and as a frequent user I suggest if you are in Canterbury, this city centre pub is definitely worth a visit.

Popped in after seeing a sign on the main street, lured in by the £7 lunch. Lovely and warm inside. Fair few choices on the lunch menu. We opted for halloumi wrap. Chicken wrap and the sausages and mash. All were very good and great portion size for the money. Friendly staff. Beer kept well.

We had an impromptu lunch here, and It didn't disappoint.

Perfect winter stop off. Warm with a real fire, friendly staff, and really nice food from a £7 menu! Beer kept well, too. No complaints.

The staff at the Thomas Beckett made us feel welcome, and had decorated the table especially for our Christmas get together. The service was great, and the food was tasty. We all had a great night and we may well come back again for the Quiz night that sounds like it would be a really fun evening! Thanks so much for a lovely night out, Clare

Went for to The Thomas Becket for a birthday lunch and was not disappointed! Once again the staff were amazing and the food, outstanding! The fire was lit and it made the pub feel so cosy. Thanks guys, we'll be back soon!

One of the better pubs in Canterbury. Very dog friendly, they even have a dog menu. Awesome staff and always had a fantastic range of beer on tap. Beautiful setting. A proper English pub with a lovely fire. One of my favourites. I just wish I had more time to visit more often.

The pub is traditional/old fashioned, the dining area intimate/cramped, the atmosphere was noisy, not helped by three barking dogs! We waited a long time for our meals, but to be fair they were busy and I was told that everyone had ordered at the same time. The meal was fine when it did arrive.

The better side of Pub food, good selection of different pub choices that you wouldn’t see, great value. Service was great Good selection of pints Cosy and homely pub Good tasting pub classic and food choices

The pub interior is nice. We were served by a young lady first who was very nice. Then we were served by a guy for the second round of drinks. He was very abrupt, passive aggressive and not very friendly. When my husband asked for...

Very welcoming - to people and dogs! Great food. Lovely, thank you!

Great traditional pub, very cozy, staff is very friendly, they love dogs, location is fantastic! My favourite pub in Canterbury.

Shopping in Canterbury and in need of a bite to eat so call into the Thomas Becket, couldn't have picked a better place to eat. Well deserved it's 5 star ratings.

Très bonne adresse. Cuisine délicieuse, personnel attentif et accueillant. Sélection de bières locales.

The pub is very clean and staff go above themselves to be helpful , service is great. Atmosphere is great , especially as it was Halloween on the day we were there with amazing figures creating a fantastic atmosphere.

Superb food, outstanding hospitality. Owner with a great humour. I've tried sunday roast for the first time, I absolutely loved it! Remember, ask it only on Sundays :)

Food was fantastic, halloween displays where amazing. Great pub.

We didn't know it had changed hands. We won't go back...

Great food and service, order and pay at the bar too so no faffing about when you need to leave

amazing barmen and food was amazing very cosy highly recommend

Very friendly staff excellent food and good selection of beer's

Good beer guaranteed, always many local cask ales, nice staff, friendly vibe, better prices than most others in Canterbury. Dog friendly too, a proper local pub