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The Kings Arms, Canterbury, Kent

The Kings Arms

4.6 (287)
£26 to £40
Gastro Pub
St Mary's Rd, Canterbury, Kent CT4 6TJ

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2 people
7:00 PM
animated flamesBooked 7 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
Situated in the sought after Elham Valley, this beautiful Grade II pub, The Kings Arms, has been restored to its royal glory in celebration of the coronation of King Charles III. With local ales and craft beers, a carefully curated wine list inclusive of some of the best of the Garden of England's wines on offer and Gastro pub food done to the very highest standard from our acclaimed award winning chefs, this historical pub will be the perfect centrepiece to this picturesque village.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Gastro Pub
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Tue, Sun 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Wed–Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Neighborhood
    Elham
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 287 people are saying

The Kings Arms reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseEnergetic

Loved For

  • Kent

    Gastro Pub

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Kings Arms is a charming pub offering "excellent food and service" with a "lovely atmosphere." Guests appreciate the "beautiful" and "quirkily renovated" setting. While the menu occasionally lacks variety, the standout dishes and attentive staff make it a popular choice. "Definitely recommend" for a delightful dining experience.
287 Reviews
  1. Geoffrey

    Kent1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was excellent. The waiter was very attentive without being overly obtrusive. He was just aware all the time if it looked as though we needed service. We were seated near a speaker and the music was a little loud for my taste.

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  2. charles

    Kent1 review

    3.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    the food and service was great and in a wonderful pub that has been brilliantly done up. however what spoilt it, was a family with three young children who were screaming and shouting and seemed to be being encouraged by the adults to be even more noisy. we were there for a business lunch and should have been able to discuss things in an atmosphere that was conducive for a discussion. we had to move as soon as we had finished our food as the children were getting even more noisy so that we could carry on our business discussion.

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  3. Clair

    Kent8 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Lovely pub, food was good and the staff were friendly

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  4. Mark

    Kent1 review

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Bit on the expensive side, though lovely location and good service. Had the fish pie, which was disappointing. Other diners happier with their choices.

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  5. Laura

    Oxford/Oxfordshire1 review

    3.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great menu choices, excellent food. Staff were attentive.

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  6. Nick

    Lancashire1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Went here for the second time this year, this time to celebrate our wedding anniversary with a decent meal and the food is excellent quality and decent portion sizes. Waitresses was very good and polite even if they was very busy ! Lovely ambience about the place with lots to look at and admire, whoever did the interior design surely has a good eye for it.

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  7. Darren

    Kent2 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on May 17, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Been here several times before. Today was the first time I’ve been stuck in what to order for my main course. The new spring menu is uninspiring. There’s very little variety in there if you don’t want meat or normal pub faire. I had the scotch egg which was bland. I then had the ribeye steak which was chewy, tasteless and came with McDonald’s fries. They were gracious enough to take this off the bill. I know this place can do better but after this visit I’ll be thinking twice about coming back. There prices seem to have crept up as well and tbh for what they’re charging now it isn’t worth it.

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  8. Karen VIP

    London8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food, staff and service always excellent. Nice atmosphere inside and out!

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  9. Janet

    London1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food was really tasty and nicely presented without being fussy. Portion sizes were just right, not too much and not too little, enough to feel replete after three courses. All the staff were helpful and attentive without being overbearing.

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  10. Victoria

    Kent1 review

    3.0

    Dined on April 19, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 1
    We went here on a Saturday evening at 5 30pm for a birthday meal. The location is lovely. Set in a very pretty square in the village. As soon as we walked inside however, we were hit with very loud live music from a singer in the main bar. The staff did not greet us so I had to get their attention which was particularly difficult over the noise. We were taken to our table and assured the music would stop at 6. Unfortunately however it carried on for a further 40 mins. The waitress apologised and informed us that it was a longer set given it was a bank holiday weekend. The food was ok. I feel the menu lacked vegetarian options and my daughter's burger was overcooked. My husband enjoyed his meal. We probably won't return although it's a pretty location. I feel there should be a warning when making a booking if there is going to be loud music.
    The Kings ArmsResponded on April 28, 2025
    Dear Victoria, We're sorry to hear that your recent visit didn’t meet expectations, especially on what should have been a special occasion. We sincerely apologise for the disruption caused by the live music and the delay in being seated and greeted. We understand how frustrating that must have been, especially during a birthday celebration. Your feedback regarding the music not ending as scheduled, we can only apologise, usually our music on Saturdays ends at 6pm but due to it being Easter Weekend the singer did an extra 30 minutes. We appreciate your comments on the vegetarian options and food quality. We strive to cater to a variety of dietary preferences. We hope that this experience hasn't put you off from returning and giving us another try. Many Thanks, Meg - Assistant Manager

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FAQs

The Kings Arms is rated 4.6 stars by 287 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Kent
  4. Elham
  5. Elham

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
animated flamesBooked 7 times today
Google Map for The Kings Arms

St Mary's Rd, Canterbury, Kent CT4 6TJ

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Elham
  • Hours of operation
    Mon, Tue, Sun 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Wed–Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Gastro Pub
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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