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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.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Not the easiest place to find in what is apparently Britain’s smallest town” – Dan Smith (ex Clove Club), Tash Norton and Guy Palmer’s venture is barely two years old and “has really hit its stride” as one of the UK’s best dining destinations: “high end, but not poncy”. Picturesquely located on the river, “when you enter it feels initially more like a pub with food, but my goodness you are soon disavowed of that!”. “Every dish is beautifully crafted and presented” – “superbly intelligent combinations, prepared with skill and ambition” – and with “flavours that just hit you”. What’s more “staff are so attentive and polite and seem genuinely to care!”
Summary
“Not the easiest place to find in what is apparently Britain’s smallest town” – Dan Smith (ex Clove Club), Tash Norton and Guy Palmer’s venture is barely two years old and “has really hit its stride” as one of the UK’s best dining destinations: “high end, but not poncy”. Picturesquely located on the river, “when you enter it feels initially more like a pub with food, but my goodness you are soon disavowed of that!”. “Every dish is beautifully crafted and presented” – “superbly intelligent combinations, prepared with skill and ambition” – and with “flavours that just hit you”. What’s more “staff are so attentive and polite and seem genuinely to care!”
Summary
“Under new management and trying very hard to be exceptional” – ex-Clove Club chef, Dan Smith, Tash Norton and Guy Palmer’s “idyllically located” December 2018 newcomer won instant fame and inspired an impressive volume of feedback in this year’s survey, all of it very upbeat. “It’s rare to find a pub that has been worked over as a restaurant but keeps a bar for locals with proper draught beers” but this “beautiful building in a perfect setting” does just that. One or two locals have “found fine dining in this local a bit incongruous” but most focus is on the “outstanding food” – “the presentation, originality and moreover the mix of ingredients blending into superlative tastes was a joy!” (“They make their own bread too – a full selection including sourdough, wholemeal, white etc along with homemade crackers”).
For 30 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?
Restaurant details
The Fordwich Arms Restaurant Diner Reviews
"The 7 course tasting menu, with the addition of the optional lobster course, which was a must, was a good balance of rich indulgence and simple excellently cooked ingredients. Set in a rustic pub on the river Stour, the ambience was inviting and warm, helped by the friendly and knowledgable staff. Food has improved over the past 18 months and we would visit again to see where the menu goes next."
"It has restored my faith in fine dining"
"Fantastic food. Have got into their stride. Beautiful old pub on the river. Nice to dine on the lovely wisteria covered terrace by the river on a sunny day. Unfortunately service very slow due to the kitchen. Apparently they have several new chefs so taking time to get up to speed. Waiting service was as impeccable as ever"
"Our lunchtime visit on a fine August day confirmed, in general, that other reviewers are right about the Fordwich Arms. I say 'in general' because while every dish was absolutely delicious and individually was worth a score of 5, nevertheless we went home hungry. And that despite sharing an extra cheese course. We ate 'a la carte', but most of the dishes were more of a size one might expect from a tasting menu. The problem was summed up by a small semi-circle of duck parfait. When something is SO delicious, one needs more than two mouthfuls in the first of three courses. Portions reminded me of the bad-old-days of nouvelle cuisine. A shame, as we left feeling that despite the quality of the cooking, we hadn't enjoyed value-for-money."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £23.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.50 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
King Street, Fordwich, CT2 0DB
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑6 pm |
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