The Coastguard Restaurant

Someone from this business manages this listing.

1,066 reviews

#2 of 4 Restaurants in St Margaret's Bay££ - £££, Bar, British, Pub

+44 1304 853051+ Add website

Hours

Sun

11:30 - 17:00

Mon

11:30 - 21:00

Tue

11:30 - 21:00

Wed

11:30 - 21:00

Thu

11:30 - 21:00

Fri

11:30 - 21:00

Sat

11:30 - 21:00

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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.

Ratings and reviews

4.0

1,066 reviews

#2 of 4 Restaurants in St Margaret's Bay

Travellers' Choice 2023

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Food and ambience

Local cuisine, Bar, British, Pub, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options

“... some had traditional roasts, one the fish of the day, another the burger….”

“My partner had a burger and I had a mixture of starters and snacks.”

Special Occasion Dining, View, Bar Scene

“Reasonably priced beers (£15/3).”

“Excellent beach bar - But you will be charged £2.00 roaming fee as your phone...”

Location and contact

Bay Hill, St Margaret's Bay, Dover CT15 6DY England

+44 1304 853051

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Is this restaurant on the water, or waterfront?

Yes

Unsure

Details

Manage this business?

About

An historic seaside pub and restaurant in St Margaret’s Bay, near Dover, The Coastguard invites you to dive in to superb food and drink while enjoying an epic view over the waves. Britain’s nearest pub to France, the Coastguard has kept watch on the sea-front for more than 300 years - and a recent refurbishment means you can take in those spectacular bay views in style.

PRICE RANGE

£5.00 – £22.00

CUISINES

Bar, British, Pub

Special Diets

Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks

FEATURES

Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Free off-street parking, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music, Waterfront, Dog Friendly

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4.0

1,066 reviews

Excellent

599

Very good

214

Average

108

Poor

Terrible

loopylou70

26 contributions

Disappointed

Aug 2020 • family

I had big expectations of this restaurant and being local thought I would give it a go, but I must say I was very disappointed. The service was very bad, given there was four waitresses we had to wait for accoutrements and when my daughters soup arrived we had to ask for a spoon, response was a slight giggle and oh OK I will get one. The weather wasn't great so we asked for the heater to be turned on the response was it doesn't work!?. After we had our meal we thought we would have another drink and asked if we could go into the bar with our dog, as this is a dog friendly bar, we were told we couldn't as there wasn't enough room due to distancing measures, fair enough one would say but when another party arrived with a dog literally five minutes after our request and they ask the same as me and are allowed in straight away it was then we decided to skip desserts and pay the bill and go. I must say it was probably the quickest we have ever been out for a meal, but if there is no ambience and service is poor throw im an overpriced meal I would rather eat at their competitors down the road who did actually once own this pub. We will not return.

Written 29 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.

KateSBSR

Thank you for reviewing us, we are very sorry to read how disappointed you were though. All reviews are discussed with the team and used for additional training, were appropriate. We have spoken to the front of house team about the accoutrements and ensuring all tables receive the items they need, thank you for making us aware of this issue. With regards to the party you saw go into the bar after you asked, they had actually booked a table inside, which is why we could let them in, which meant we unfortunately didn't have space for your party. Apologies if this wasn't made clear to you at the time, it is frustrating on our behalf as if you had of been told I am sure you would have been understanding and have possibly stayed for desserts. We do hope you might give us another try at some point, once again we are very sorry you were disappointed.

Written 7 September 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

KevinBMullins77

6 contributions

Every box ticked and so much more

Jul 2020 • none

Due to Covid this was our first outing in over 4 months, we were still shielding and nervous about how social distancing would be managed and adhered to. Charlotte was understanding from the first email query and continued to be both reassuring and prompt in the continued email exchanges leading up to our booking. Although still anxious as we drove to the restaurant, as it felt very odd to be testing the waters again, we were immediately calmed and full of gratitude when we were led to our table, specifically placed outside and away from others, upon our arrival. There is no value or number of stars you can place on the customer service, thoughtfulness and kindness of Charlotte and her team in accommodating us in this way. The venue and setting for those who have not been there before is incredible and one which truly needs to be seen to be fully appreciated. The food and staff are always exceptional. We drove home, bellies full of great eating, with a renewed sense of confidence and an eternal sense of thanks for the staff of this wonderful gem of a restaurant.

Written 19 July 2020

KateSBSR

What a really lovely review, thank you. We have shared it with the whole team, they were really pleased. We hope to see you again soon. Take care and thank you again.

Written 22 July 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Char and Stoian

Faversham24 contributions

Will definitely go again!

Aug 2020 • couples

Very friendly, attentive, busy staff, fantastic service, good food, we was prewarned by the front of house staff that food could take up to 35 minutes but it did arrive quicker than that. This place is very covid safe. If you want a table inside the restaurant definitely call to book. We didn't pre-book and they found us a table very quickly on the terrace which had Beautiful views across the channel. On a warm sunny day expect the restaurant car park to be full as it seems quite a popular place. Be warned if the restaurant car park is full and you have to park in the adjacent car park it is pay and display that car parking pay machine only takes coins and we did see a traffic warden whilst there so best not chance it!

Written 24 August 2020

KateSBSR

Thank you for your review. Hope to see you again soon.

Written 7 September 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

exploretheworld247

2 contributions

Will not be returning!

Aug 2020 • none

Having had poor experiences previously we thought we'd give The Coastguard another chance and with The Eat Out to Help Out scheme could have been the perfect opportunity. BIG mistake! We only ordered mains (a party of 4) and waited 1 hour and 15mins for three steaks and a burger which was massively disappointing to say the least. If this wasn't bad enough: 1. There was a huge number of staff (including two managers) all of which ignored giving us an update on our wait and gave no offer of more drinks (when we all had empty glasses!). 2. The burger was served in two slices on slightly toasted white bread! No burger bun in sight. What chef thinks serving a burger in cheap kingsmill is acceptable? 3. When asked if they have some salad dressing the young waitress came back with olive oil and balsamic and a response of "this is the best we can do" - Wow that's amazing customer service right there! Such as a shame as location is amazing but even with the discount it was not worth the wait and poor experience. I'd recommend not waisting your hard earned cash!

Written 19 August 2020

Lorrainequiche

United Kingdom10 contributions

Will not return

Aug 2020 • family

Booked a table 4 days in advance and had to give card details to secure a booking, this is to charge you if you cancel. When we arrived we had a warm and friendly welcome from the Manager, a great start thats where it ended. We were sat at the table with no drinks order and no menus. Eventually, the waitress arrived and gave us 2 menus to share. We asked for a bottle of wine and the waitress returned to tell us she could give us the remaining bottle as it had been opened. We waited over 30 minutes for 3 burgers and fish & chips. When the food arrived, the chips were over cooked and cold, onion rings and fish batter were oily and tasted as through the cooking oil was old. The waitress did not check we were OK or ask if we wanted further drinks, there was not many tables at the time. Lots of staff present at the time. A beautiful location, such a shame it could have been so much better.

Written 27 August 2020

RH88

2 contributions

Poor table service

Aug 2020 • family

Booked a table on the internet several days prior to our visit which was easily done. On our arrival we were greeted at the steps and shown to our table and given a menu to choose from. We waited nearly 40 minutes to be asked if we required any drinks and the waitress had little/no knowledge of the type of beers they had on offer. It also seemed like they had very little knowledge of the food on offer as well. As we asked if the peas on the children’s menu were garden or mushy. I find this a must when table service is in place for the drinks and a reduced menu for the food. To add to this our order came wrong to our children’s expense, after finishing the mains we were offered a dessert menu in which we accepted and after another 30 minutes we paid and left as we were not asked for our order. The waitress service was poor/terrible in which simple staff training could have resulted in a better experience and if they had been more on the ball we would have had at least another round of drinks and desserts! Sharpen up or lose out!

Written 9 August 2020

KateSBSR

Thank you for you review. I am really sorry to hear about the errors in our service though. We have had to recently recruit quite a few new members to our team, as the summer has been exceptionally busy. We need to ensure we are keeping on top of the training, for all our new members of team and I'm sorry that we didn't on this occasion. Thank you for making us aware of your experience and we will certainly be taking note from it. We do hope you will give us another try at some point...

Written 13 August 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Paul Y

44 contributions

Great Fish and Extensive Menu

Oct 2020 • none

You are within a few metres of the English Channel and as you sit and watch the cross Channel ferries you can enjoy the fresh fish of the day or one of the many dishes from the extensive menu. The Coastguard is located right down in The Bay at the bottom of a fairly steep, winding and sometimes narrow road but it is all made worthwhile by the friendly staff and clean surroundings. Always book in advance, especially on a Sunday as the roast is very popular, but when possible ask for a window seat in "The Crow's Nest" upstairs as the views across the Channel are even better Prices are in the medium range.

Written 27 October 2020

Dagmar S

Canterbury38 contributions

Definitely worth a visit but make a reservation beforehand

Dec 2019 • none

This is a very busy restaurant. So busy in fact that without a reservation we only found seats at the top on a row of bar stools over-looking the bay. The view is amazing! We had ordered two soups (carrot and coriander) which were far too spicy. The waitress apologised and explained the trainee chef had accidentally added too much pepper. We were then offered an alternative from the menu without any extra charge. Very tasty!

Written 2 January 2020

KateSBSR

Thank you for your review. Very sorry to hear about the soup. I am pleased that our front of house team were able to help you though. I do hope you will give us another try. Best wishes

Written 29 January 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

iwanttogotomiami

13 contributions

Perfect in every way

Jul 2020 • friends

Six for a socially distanced lunch after a stunning coastal walk from Kingsdown - clear COVID provisions; friendly attentive and professional service from everyone topped off with delicious food. Best fish and chips I have had in years. Would highly recommend.

Written 18 July 2020

KateSBSR

What a great review! Thank you so much!

Written 22 July 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

YangLi111

6 contributions

Great view with good food

Aug 2021 • none

I think this is the only restaurant/shop in St Margaret's Bay. The view is stunning with the sea and the white cliff. The food is not bad either. Much to our surprise the beef burger and the fish finger sandwich are well made even if you judge by a proper restaurant standard rather than a restaurant on popular tourist site standard. It is not the cheapest restaurant that we have been to however the qualities of food and service justify the price. The service is a bit slow (30 minutes between ordering and being served with food) given there are not many tables of customers at the time. Nobody is sitting inside and I suppose that is due to the covid rules are still being followed post the lockdowns

Written 24 August 2021

Charlotte H

Thank you for taking the time to share you experience with others. Hope to see you soon!

Written 12 September 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Debs

Deal4 contributions

Disappointing...

Jun 2021 • couples

Absolutely beautiful location.. Unfortunately we must have picked the wrong day to go.. The portions of vegetables were too small for us... we did ask for some more vegetables but found the meals over priced for what we had to eat.. and the meals came out with vegetables missing from what was on the menu description ....we ended up getting fish and chips shortly after because we were hungry.. Maybe we should have chosen burgers.. But we won't be going back there again for meals..

Written 6 June 2021

Charlotte H

I'm so sorry to read this review. This is not the standard of service we are aiming for. Please be assured this review will be raised in our weekly team meeting. Once again, we are very sorry.

Written 16 July 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Thomas H

68 contributions

Good food, reasonable prices

Mar 2020 • none

On a recent visit to Kent we ate at the Coastguard restaurant & were so pleased we made a point of returning for a 2nd dinner. Both times we had fish & chips; the fish was very fresh, cooked to perfection & plentiful. The wait staff was very pleasant & helpful. Being right on the Channel with a great view of the white cliffs made for very pleasant dining. Parking was ample, free & right on their grounds. I’d recommend.

Written 23 March 2020

davidchaffe

Dartford80 contributions

Specials

Aug 2021 • family

Food was good , we were told what specials were on this evening, the only thing special about the special was the price. Double the price of a main and the only difference was a fillet steak instead of rump. They are not on a board the waiters just tell you what’s on but you don’t know the price.. thought specials were supposed to be a special deal not a sneaky rip off

Written 28 August 2021

Charlotte H

Thank you for your review. Apologies about the Chef's specials confusion on this occasion ! Hope you enjoyed your stop over and we see you again soon.

Written 12 September 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Leanda B

Gillingham19 contributions

Perfect Valentines

Feb 2020 • couples

We had the most fabulous evening at The Coastguard, the four course meal was delicious and the service from Kelly and the team excellent. A trip to St Margaret’s isn’t complete without a lunch or an evening meal here and we always feel so welcome. A little gem by the sea.

Written 18 February 2020

Michele H

Bexleyheath3 contributions

Coastguard Resturant

Sept 2020 • none

Really do have to say the food was excellent. The staff were friendly and welcoming, we were introduced to our waitress by name and she provided an excellent service. Their rigid covid practice was clearly expained to us, in fact it felt like we had a small induction highlighting the location of sanitising stations and rules for using the toilet facilities before we were shown to our table, names and telephone numbers were taken for track and trace, they really could not have done more.... It was a lovely day so we ate outside and after every customer finished their meal and left the table it was totally sanitised even the seats...I'd have absolutely no concerns eating in this resturant. .Thank you coastguard for a lovely lunch will definiately return

Written 12 September 2020

KateSBSR

Thank you so much, what a great review. We look forward to seeing you again.

Written 17 September 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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