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

£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”.

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.

“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!”

For 33 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).

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Restaurant details

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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.
Tim Y
Not a false note in a memorable evening in ...
Reviewed 7 months, 7 days ago

"Not a false note in a memorable evening in this unpretentious pub restaurant: a succession of superb dishes, polished and attentive service, even the local taxi operator is particularly responsive. So good to end an evening feeling that it’s been cooking of sustained excellence and worth every penny "

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Chris J
Fantastic food. Beautiful old pub on the ri...
Reviewed 8 months, 17 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 "

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Prices

Availability 2 courses 3 courses coffee included service included
Always   £55.00
  Cost Availability Courses
Menu1 110.00 Always available 9

Traditional European menu

Pudding
£0.00
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £32.00
Filter Coffee £4.00
Extras  
Bread £0.00
Service 12.50%
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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