The Dering Arms

A warm welcome awaits you, with award winning food, the finest wines and ‘home from home’ guest bedrooms.

Award winning
cuisine.

Come for the dinner, stay for the breakfast.

Dining

Food Menus

Drinks

Drinks Menus

The relaxed atmosphere and attentive staff make for a wonderful visit whatever the occasion.

With two cosy bars, a restaurant, events room and spacious garden,
The Dering Arms is the perfect place for a family party, wedding, or romantic dinner. 

We take reservations over the phone so please give us a call.

 

Make a booking

Events & Celebrations

We hold classic car meetings every second Sunday of the month and have live music acts throughout the year. We also offer tailor-made weddings and family events to ensure your special occasion is the best it can be. The Dering Arms not only offers a great location with history and character but also award-winning cuisine that makes for a wonderful meal at the heart of the celebration!

Find out more

Bed & Breakfast

The Dering Arms is ideally located for an overnight stay if you’re visiting the castles and country houses of Kent and East Sussex, or if you’re travelling to or from the Continent. Just 100 yards from Pluckley station, you can hop onto a train to London or Ashford International and pick up Eurostar, or drive to Folkestone, board Eurotunnel and be in France in no time. The Dering Arms, friendly, comfortable and convenient!

Find out more

Based on 199 reviews.
Kerry
Kerry
2021-08-05
Great Food We had lunch and an evening meal which was delicious l, it was totally outstanding. The wine menu is so vast and very reasonable priced. The landlord was so very helpful and we can’t wait to return. If you want great seafood/ fish you must pay a visit.
Catherine little
Catherine little
2021-07-13
Fabulous Just been for lunch at this beautiful restaurant, great atmosphere, great service even the owner was serving us 😊 and really tasty tapas. Will be back again soon 😊
Mrs Baird
Mrs Baird
2021-05-25
Fabulous Food This is my 'go to' restaurant. So blessed to live here. Consistently superb dining, meal after meal, year after year. Having been fortunate to eat out all over, I still rate the Dering as one of the best. Although the Landlord knows us well, he still takes the time to make us special. Professional as always. He knows his wines and responded to my request for a recommendation with gusto.... not the expensive on the list (as some other establishment might try to sell), but what he knew I'd like. Words aren't enough. You MUST try. Thank you Jim and team.
Mark H
Mark H
2021-05-12
Great Local Pub Offering The Best Sea Food Outside London My self and family have been using the Dering Arms since the 1980's we have always found James and his staff most accommodating and prepared to go above & beyond in delivering a 5 star service. I am now fortunate enough to have moved within walking distance of the Pub and always look forward to popping by for a drink and catching up with local friends. Sunday Lunch time's has become quite an Institution especially on classic car days. James over the years has attracted many foreign visitors who now return annually. If you are reading this review you would understand how shocked and dismayed I was to read a review posted by 'teddiebear870' leveling highly personnel accusations about James which are totally unfounded, untrue and without merit what makes it worse the said person with hold their name I would agree with James that best they don't use the pub in future as they are not welcome by the locals.
DJSKHH4270
DJSKHH4270
2021-04-25
A True Country Pub Experience Great food and setting and the service was impeccable. An absolute pleasure to visit. We are so glad that this will soon be our local.
Joanne M
Joanne M
2020-12-10
Good seafood Quiet pub that is very well positioned for Plucklwy train station. Affordable and very tasty mussels. Nice wine and generous quantity.
John
John
2020-11-15
Superb dinner Fantastic choice of fish dishes available. Other good choices on the menu too but we all chose fish. Each dish was first class. Great wine selection too. Service was excellent and the atmosphere was charming in this beautiful old building. Will certainly come back again.
Winkypot
Winkypot
2020-09-19
Fantastic Fish! Family supper for five tonight. No Enid Blyton but some fantastic fish; Prawns, Skate Wing, Dover sole and the best Tuna steak ever. The omega-3 benefit may have been eroded by the garlic butter but such is life. A great traditional pub (inc Landord) with nothing remotely artificial.

Contact us

  • Phone: 01233 840 371
  • Address:
  • The Dering Arms
  • The Grove, Pluckley
  • Kent, TN27 0RR

Location

The Dering Arms is located in the small village of Pluckley, near Ashford. It’s easily accessible from the M20 (junction 9) and is one of those perfect places to stop for a meal or stay the night before heading down to the Channel Tunnel. It’s just a stone’s throw (literally!) from Pluckley Station, which sits on the main railway line from Ramsgate to London.

The inn is also within easy driving distance of Leeds Castle, Sissinghurst Castle, and the city of Canterbury, making it an ideal countryside retreat to unwind and recharge.

Guest Notes

Please note that we are unable to provide a vegan menu or vegan substitutions. Regrettably, we also cannot accommodate dogs or children under the age of 12.

Opening times

Tuesday – Saturday
11.30am – 3.30pm
6.00pm – 11.00pm
Food served between 12.00pm – 2.00pm
Food served between 6.30pm – 8.00pm

Sunday
11.30pm – 3.30pm
Food served between 12.00pm – 2.00pm

Please note:
We are closed on Sunday evening and all-day Monday. We are also not open on Bank Holidays.

 

Reservations

Get in touch to book a table, your next event or to enquire about Bed & Breakfast! Unfortunately online and email booking is not available at this time and so we ask that you phone us on 01233 840 371 instead.

At busy times, walk in’s may be turned away and so we strongly recommend you make a reservation in advance. Please also note that our Tapas Menu is only available through pre-arrangement in order to provide your party with suitable service and seating. As such, please specify if you would like this menu at the time of booking.

Join us on Christmas Day 2025!

Enjoy a generous festive lunch for just £110 per person.
See our specially curated menu below, by pre order only.

To make your reservation please call 01233 840 371

*Adults only*

View Menu

This will close in 21 seconds