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RestaurantsKentFordwichCT2

Harden's says

Ex-Clove Club chef Dan Smith and sommelier Guy Palmer-Brown have teamed up (with Smith's partner Tash Norton) to re-open this large Kent pub, with a great beer garden, in December 2017. Expect the foodies to descend - it's already been rated very highly in the national press.

survey result

Summary

£108
£££££
5
Exceptional
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“It looks like a typical pub from the outside but what a surprise inside” – Daniel & Natasha Smith jointly run the kitchen at this riverside pub that they purchased in 2017, and which nowadays is one of the top-100 most commented-on destinations in our annual diners’ poll. “There’s not a false note in the memorable experience”: “polished and attentive service delivers a succession of superb dishes – cooking of sustained excellence that’s worth every penny”. “In the summer, there are a few tables by the river and it’s delightful watching the passing boats”.

Summary

£103
£££££
5
Exceptional
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Each time we come we are impressed by the attention to detail and outstanding quality of the food at this well-regarded gastropub” – Daniel & Natasha Smith purchased this “beautiful old pub on the River Stour” in 2017 and has become one of the most commented-on venues outside the capital in our annual diners’ poll. “The style of cuisine is that of fine dining with locally sourced produce and the flavours bring out the best in the ingredients”. “Tables are well-spaced and the staff certainly know their stuff” – “incredible value”. Top Tip – “Lovely wisteria-covered terrace by the river on a sunny day”.

Summary

£79
 ££££
5
Exceptional
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Lovely old pub, serving brilliant modern cooking” from chef-patron Dan Smith (ex-Clove Club) and his pastry chef wife, Tash, that “gets better with each visit”, and the “imaginatively presented and delicious” dishes now make it “one of the best restaurant experiences in the Southeast” – “worth travelling to enjoy”. The highest accolade of all? – “enjoyed it even more than the Sportsman!” (just up the road in Whitstable).

Summary

£79
 ££££
5
Exceptional
5
Exceptional
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“This former public house is nowadays a fine-dining restaurant” under Dan Smith (ex-Clove Club), Tash Norton and Guy Palmer – and the “beautiful” old riverside venture, with “lovely wisteria-covered terrace”, delivers a “stunningly good” experience… “the best gastronomic meal I have had in a long time. It has restored my faith a little in these high-end restaurants being able to deliver the quality they promise”.

For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at The Fordwich Arms?

+−
Leaflet | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
King Street, Fordwich, CT2 0DB

Restaurant details

No dress code

The Fordwich Arms Restaurant Diner Reviews

Reviews of The Fordwich Arms Restaurant in CT2, Fordwich by users of Hardens.com. Also see the editors review of The Fordwich Arms restaurant.
Martin B
All round loveliness - cosy surroundings, w...
Reviewed 4 months, 25 days ago

"All round loveliness - cosy surroundings, warm staff and excellence on the plate. A nibble at the pre-starters immediately assured us that we were in good hands. Trout and quail starters, pork and venison main courses. "

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Chris J
Fantastic food. Beautiful old pub on the ri...
Reviewed 10 months, 23 days ago

"Fantastic food. Beautiful old pub on the river. Nice to dine on the lovely wisteria covered terrace by the river on a sunny day. Unobtrusive but attentive service unfortunately in one instance the plates weren't cleared before the next course was delivered to the table"

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What the Newspaper Critics are saying

The Times

Giles Coren was “very, very impressed” by lunch at this country pub near Canterbury from ex-Clove Club chef Daniel Smith and his wife Natasha, declaring it “a crowning jewel of my winter, and I’ll bet eating outside here in the summertime is one of the glories of the world”.

Giles worked his way through the tasting menu plus a supplementary quail course, and found cooking that was “beautifully precise, wonderfully composed for colour and tone, visually restrained but then full throttle in the mouth“.

“This is a wonderfully situated, friendly local restaurant with an absolute master in the kitchen (or telling some other very good people in the kitchen what to do).”

Giles Coren - 2025-02-02

Prices

Availability 2 courses 3 courses coffee included service included
Always   £75.00
  Cost Availability Courses
Menu1 110.00 Always available  
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £36.00
Filter Coffee £3.00
Extras  
Service 12.50%
+−
Leaflet | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
King Street, Fordwich, CT2 0DB
Opening hours
MondayCLOSED
TuesdayCLOSED
Wednesday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm
Thursday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm
Friday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm
Saturday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm
Sunday12 pm‑5 pm

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