+44 1227 710454+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
12:00 - 18:00
Mon
12:00 - 15:0017:00 - 21:00
Tue
12:00 - 15:0017:00 - 21:00
Wed
12:00 - 15:0017:00 - 21:00
Thu
12:00 - 15:0017:00 - 21:00
Fri
12:00 - 15:0017:00 - 21:00
Sat
12:00 - 15:0017:00 - 21:00
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Bar, British, Pub, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
Special Occasion Dining, Groups, Bar Scene, Business meetings
Does this restaurant offer free wifi?
Details
CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Validated Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service
Contribute
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
145 reviews
Excellent
113
Very good
25
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
2
maggiegregory
Chatham124 contributions
May 2024 • friends
Fourteen of us ate lunch here after a visit to Wildwood. It is a really nice pub with friendly welcoming staff. The food is excellent. We all ordered on the day but didn’t have to wait very long and all the dishes arrived at the same time. Everything was perfectly cooked and looked appetising. Portions were generous but most of us managed a dessert as well and we were very happy with them too. Highly recommended!
Written 29 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaz K
3 contributions
Jun 2024 • couples
Went for Sunday lunch and it was the best roast I have had in a long time. Everything was perfect. The plate was hot, the food was hot! Proper homemade roasties, yorkie puds, flavorsome gravy, it was fabulous. My partner had the homemade steak and ale pie and I taste tested it and it was delicious. Puddings were lovely too. Definitely found my new favourite food stop! Highly recommend
Written 1 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cate B
1 contribution
Apr 2022 • none
After weeks of searching online for a pub or restaurant with 5 stars for food hygiene and with a covered outdoors area, I decided on the Golden Lion just outside Canterbury. We were celebrating our son’s 21st birthday and needed a venue that my husband, who is extremely clinically vulnerable would feel safe attending. The level of service by the landlords to make us comfortable on a rainy day outside was truly outstanding. The food was excellent: we had a variety of starters including garlic bread and prawn cocktail, all very tasty followed by the recommendation of steak and ale pie, which was of a very high quality and absolutely delicious. My son had the lasagne and really enjoyed it. Some of us managed the traditional puddings with custard, namely bread and butter pudding and apple and plum crumble. We will certainly be visiting this pub again when we return to the Canterbury area. Absolutely wonderful.
Written 7 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tonyn1953
Canterbury66 contributions
Jan 2024 • friends
Visited the Golden Lion, for an evening meal with friends, we were made very welcome and shown to our table straight away. The staff were polite and very friendly. There was a good choice variety of choices on the menu, plus a couple of specials avaiable. Our drinks orders were taken, and given time to look at the menu. I choice the Lamb shank, which came with vegetables. The meat just fell of the bone and was delicious with the minted gravy. Others in the group. All the meal were well presented with ample portions. The meals were freshly cooked to order. The dessert were also of the same high standard. Will certainly be returning in the very near future
Written 18 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BPSuper_12
Canterbury12 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
The Golden Lion have gone to great trouble to make your visit as safe as possible, with one way traffic, reduced seating with good social distancing and ventilation of the restaurant. Lots of outside seating with about half these tables under cover of gazebos or giant umbrellas. Staff using masks and visors and frequent cleaning of furniture taking place.
Our walking group of about 8 members use it regularly and have never been disappointed. Today was no exception and we lunched from the over 60's menu which offers great value at £9.45 for a main with desert to follow for another £3.50, if you've still got room!
The standard of food was excellent and served in generous portions .
Plenty of car parking in a newly resurfaced car park.
Colin and Amanda and their team are very welcoming and accommodating.
Thanks again for looking after us so well.
Written 27 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony cole
Kent2 contributions
Feb 2022 • couples
What a great find , was made to feel very welcome as soon as we walked through the door .
The food was excellent and reasonably priced and a great choice on the menu just wish I had room for desert as they looked amazing .
We stayed in our motorhome overnight in there carpark as part of Brit stops and came back for a second night to try something different on there menu and was not disappointed .
Thankyou golden lion , we’re definitely be back .
Written 3 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Smudger1234
Canterbury36 contributions
Feb 2020 • family
5 of us Went to the golden lion for Sunday lunch which was excellent all round ,choice of three roasts lamb chicken and beef and a vegetarian nut roast . Four of us went for beef and one had the nut roast , all were served piping hot generous portions and excellent value at £11 .95 or 2 courses at £16.95 . There’s also a great choose of puddings , which we also excellent.
Written 16 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
julie-ann W
Herne Bay19 contributions
May 2021 • none
had lunch today at this lovely pub. Staff very friendly, food delicious. I had the liver and bacon and its was cooked perfectly with fluffy mash lots of tasty onion gravy and a nice variety of well cooked veg on the side...couldnt fault it. Highly recommend
Written 15 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RichardBartlett65
Herne Bay55 contributions
Nov 2022 • couples
This was our second visit recently, we had some friends down from Norfolk, and as we had tried the food on offer the previous week decided to take our friends here .We had a great meal, and the service was excellent, so we were not disappointed. We shall certainly be back and would definitely recommend the Golden Lion to anybody looking for a high quality eatery .
Written 29 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy G
3 contributions
Aug 2020 • family
Upon arrival, was shown to tables backing onto each other as we are a group of 7.
Was disappointed with this arrangement so asked to be sat with tables next to each other with a social distance in between, this was accommodated to our satisfaction.
When the landlady walked away into the kitchen, she muttered under her breath "it's not OUR rules" in a sarcastic way.
This was totally uncalled for as we had found a solution.
This rudeness totally ruined our birthday celebration.
We also chose rib eye steak from the menu at £18.50, the waitress informed us they only had sirloin.
This was fine for us, until we got the bill and had been charged for Rib eye!!!
Will definitely not be returning to this very dated and tired looking pub for drinks or food.
There was absolutely no need to be rude, worst attitude by a landlady I have ever experienced.
Written 15 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ColinR952
It was a disappointment to read your review and we are sorry you felt this way.
As a business trying to contend with new ways of operating whilst ensuring the safety of our valuable customers and staff is our number one priority.
The market price of sirloin is currently the same as rib eye and as stated in your review the alteration was explained fully to you.
As a country pub offering freshly home cooked food and hospitality we strive to deliver a lovely experience, it's unfortunate you didn't feel this was the case !
Written 17 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Helen Q
Gillingham55 contributions
May 2023 • friends
We were a large party and there was a mix-up over our order, so some waited rather a long time for their meals. However the food was very good, as usual. I had liver and bacon which was excellent, but the fruit crumble, although tasty, was presented in rather a mess and not at all crumbly. The lamb shank ordered by friends was huge and soon demolished. Over all, very good.
Written 24 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harringtons
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • none
Visited this wonderful pub today with family for a sunday roast, you never expect one to be as good as your own but to my amazement it was. Having eaten out at several venues over the last couple of months I have to say this was the BEST for food, value, atmosphere and service. A truly excellent traditional pub which can be hard to find these days, keep up the good work....we'll be back x
Written 5 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colin R
Thank you for your kind words
Colin @ the golden lion
Written 6 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rachel T
Whitstable21 contributions
Sept 2020 • none
We had reserved a table on their covered decked area and it was very reassuring to see when we arrived that all the tables were well spaced out. The staff were very welcoming and wearing face coverings (which again was reassuring), so all in all a very well run Covid-19 safe and clean set up which made the meal all that much more enjoyable in the current times. We both had a very nice meal, my partners steak and ale pie was homemade and looked very good. I had the fish and chips, and the chips particularly were lovely and one of the few places I can say they know how to cook the peas (so often in places they are bullets - these were perfect!) A lovely Monday lunch experience - keep up the good work we will be back.
Written 14 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew W
Copenhagen20 contributions
Sept 2021 • family
Delicious quality food made by the landlord chef.
We had breaded brie as a starter, steak or duck, followed by profiteroles.
Excellent service, smiling and friendly waitress.
Ability to chop and change on the orders was no problem.
Highly recommended.
Written 10 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jas 4 dns
3 contributions
Jun 2021 • couples
What a result ,whilst touring around Kent in our motorhome we found in our ole faithful Britstop book(lists all the pubs that ll let you stay overnight)thankfully Colin had subscribed to this year's addition which is how we met,THE GOLDEN LION, we thoroughly enjoyed our time ,great people,great food ,lovely relaxed atmosphere set in peaceful surroundings and as we were staying the night it was only right to indulge in a few beers.we will definitely return . Regards David and julie stevens. Watford
Written 5 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Showing results 1-15 of 145
Best nearby
We rank these hotels, restaurants, and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Best nearby hotels
See all Best nearby restaurants
See all Is This Your Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Free Listing