Lower Hardres, British, Modern - Restaurant Guide

2025 Review: This manor house link in the Pig chain, three miles south of Canterbury, continues to elicit notably solid feedback; the dining room (which has the airs of a potting shed, courtesy of its preserve-lined walls) follows the locally sourced ‘25-mile’ menu of the rest of the litter, making the most of the Kentish produce; there were reports this year of some “exceptional” dishes which were also “very good value”. It’s possible to opt for more casual wood-fired snacks in the Garden Oven, while there’s more foodie goodness on offer if you stay overnight in one of their idiosyncratic rooms (“dunno where they get their breakfast pastries from, but wow!”).

This “atmospheric” former coaching inn just south of Canterbury changed hands after our annual diners’ poll was completed in summer 2025, with chef-owners Dan & Tasha Smith of the Fordwich Arms passing the lease to their friend Elliot Hewitt (a former Fordwich manager). He promised to take the menu in a more ‘casual’ direction, but with ex-Sportsman chef David Gadd running the kitchen the cooking standard should remain high.

“Exciting fusion cooking using adventurous ingredients” continues to draw a high amount of more-than-local attention to Dev Biswal’s fine dining venue near the Cathedral, which promotes an ‘Odia dining experience’ based on the cuisine of Odisha in East India. Previously part of a group called ‘Ambrette’, some reporters have followed it for ages on its journey to Canterbury (“we are lucky to live close to this imaginative Indian restaurant which we have been going to since its Margate days. The food is always interesting and delicious and service is friendly and efficient”).

2024 Review: A “real bright light in an otherwise scrappy pedestrian high street”, this polished and “very well-run” hotel dining room takes the original name of the hotel that stood here back in 1892 and brings a rare fine dining option to the centre of Canterbury; add in “wonderful” cocktails, and it’s “a treat” for its many local fans.

A “beautiful old pub on the river” which boasts a large “wisteria-clad” terrace by the water and big garden. Daniel (chef) & Natasha (pastry chef) Smith have run it since 2017 and successfully established it as one of the culinary beacons in the locality: a haven of “all round loveliness, with cosy surroundings, warm staff and delivering excellence on the plate”. (The Smiths also used to run the nearby Bridge Arms, but stepped back from it this year in order to focus their energies here). Numerous best meals of the year were reported here by its dedicated fan club: “it’s on the pricey side but worth it to taste such flavours. While not an extensve menu, every dish is well presented and well thought out. Gripes? From a good number of reports, all acknowledge exemplary cuisine, and the most critical feedback says: “the food, what there is of it, is fantastic. But we found the portions ridiculously small”. Top Menu Tip – “Trout and quail starters, pork and venison main courses”.