Review The Zetland Arms - Kingsdown

Beautiful location and options to eat on the beach or in the restaurant. Obviously the menu is slightly more sophisticated indoors but in essence the restaurant means in the pub. We had a lovely relaxing and tasty meal. Staff are attentive and friendly,prices reasonable and the premises just quirky enough to be interesting and comfortable. Definitely worth a visit.

Lovely pub on the beach with good food and a decent range of beers and wines. Staff are friendly and helpful. Great view from the bench tables outside the pub.

A beautiful pub located on the Kingsdown coast, perfect spot to eat or grab a drink after a lovely walk down the beach. Very friendly service, checking up to ask if everything is good. The ambience is just perfect, if you imagine now what an old coastal pub would be like, you'll still be pleasantly surprised by the interior of the Zetland Arms. As for food, I had the locally caught beer battered cod. Usually when I eat battered fish, the batter ends up overwhelming or too rich, but here, it's a beautiful balance that allows you to enjoy the absolute most of your meal. Definite spot to return to!

Ordered 2 adult meals and 3 children's meals and sat outside in the sunshine. Staff were very friendly, food came very quickly and was delicious. Beautiful location on the beach. Will definitely be coming back again :)

Such a great place to eat. Right on the sea front and with additional tables outside we watched the spitfires soaring over the white cliffs.

Right on the beach, wonderful view, and a lovely pint, what's not to love. Only had a yummy sausage roll from bar so can't comment, giving benefit of doubt.

My food selection was a solid 4 ⭐️ sorry I missed the photo of the starter and seasonal beer. The fire was a welcome addition as day bitter cold.

A truly unique pub, in a wonderfully unique location. On the beach in the picturesque village of Kingsdown, a short walk from Kingsdown Holiday Village, this beautiful old, perfectly kept, traditional pub sells a wide variety of beers, wine etc. as well as really tasty pub food. The food is a notch above your average pub grub, so for this reason, I would recommend booking, as it is very popular. Try the fish and chips. We love sitting out the front watching the sea but equally love the small, well protected garden at the rear, when the wind gets up.

We visited on a warm late summer evening and given it was a weekend the place was buzzing. Still, we secured a nice table outside and ate from the beach menu - a mixture of seafood and pub favourites. Food was well cooked and tasty but the burger was a little bland. Beer was excellent and the staff were very friendly and efficient. Will revisit later in the year to sample the "indoor" menu which has received good reviews from locals we have spoken to.

Great pub! Very friendly and good for groups with indoors and outdoors seating. The fish was delicious plus good beers and ciders, vegetarian options too

Lovely atmosphere...VERY BUSY..roast beef was delicious as was pudding. Will definitely visit again when in the area. I love how they welcome dogs too xx

Amazing location, good beer and hearty meals. Really is worth a visit!

Nice small pub. Simple interior, very cosy. Small car park outside, and is directly on the beach. Great for walks. Dogs allowed inside, though water bowels remain outside. Good selection of traditional pub food. My husband and I both had a pie with veg and potatoes and a drink which cost £36. Food and service was good. Lots of booked tables.we did not book. Arrived at 12.30 on a Friday and was fitted in.

We went here twice during a brief break away. It was a lovely atmosphere in a great location on the seafront. We were staying at the holiday park, which was a few minutes walk. The food was lovely and the staff very friendly.

My first time back since the new owners have taken over, my previous visit was 2 star! Happy to say I had a wonderful dinner at the bar, the menu has been hugely improved, it’s dog friendly, amazing Guinness and 10/10 service.

Re - editing this review as the Zetland have had a change in management - we wanted to see the change for ourselves. It has gone from rude service to fantastic and welcoming and they have really turned the place around. The decor is now lovely and tasteful, staff are polite and welcoming. Good veggie and vegan options ( could always be more ) The cauliflower soup is probably the best soup I’ve ever had in my life and I really recommend trying it. Thanks for turning a lovely pub in a great location around. It’s now a nice place to visit and you do it justice.

This is a hidden treasure to me .. i am astounded I never knew of it . I had Ribeye tonight and I have to say the best I've eaten . This food is cooked with love and passion, and the quality of the food was all in the taste . what more can you want if it's all cook to excellence.. Now for the atmosphere, it was quiz night and our table was in the middle and we were the only ones not in the quiz and I loved it . We were welcomed like we lived there . This is a pub that has true locals and offers the same hospitality as if you were a local . The locals made you feel local and welcomed . There are not many pubs like this . The staff .. brilliant.. can relate to all wave lengths and ages I guess. This pub is a must and shows true local spirit .. I had a successful free house that served excellent food .. I know a good pub when I find one . I also believe they see your dogs as family and they to are welcome which is the icing on the cake . Such well behaved dogs my I add.

Relaxed atmosphere in a family-friendly pub. There were plenty of helpful and attentive staff. The food we had was plentiful and excellent, my steak being cooked the way I like. The only slight downside is that the pub is tied to Shepherd Neame so sells only their beer, which is not my favourite and difficult to get away from in Kent.

This was our first visit but definitely not our last there is a good selection of draught beers Als and ciders .We had the steak burger and chips my wife had a chicken ham and leek pie both were a good portion and very nice.Well worth a visit .

Had a delicious lunch here again yesterday, food beautifully cooked and presented. I had the beer battered cod and was the best I have had! My friend had the sea bass, which she loved! Lovely friendly staff and great atmosphere.

Ate here 2 nights running as it is such a lovely place. Wonderful setting. Staff really friendly but bit overworked (we never got our tap water and gave up waiting for sweet menu). Food fantastic. My brother in law had the skate both nights saying it was the best ever. Pies tastes homemade. You will need to book as it gets booked up. If you can't get in pop into The Rising Sun next door. It is owned by same people. Menu not so extensive but a good alternative

Cozy, traditional, pub. I didn't sample the food, but a nice place to sit and drink beer in front of an open fire. An exceptional view outside.

The Zealand Arms gets a thumbs up from me and the family it was very busy as you would expect on a warm sunny bank holiday Monday lots of staff on doing there utmost to get you served as quickly as possible we waited no more than 30 minuets for our delicious food to arrive 6 adults 1 little person and everyone enjoyed what they ordered will definitely be going back .... A lovely afternoon was had by all

Lovely pub in great location- friendly efficient staff- decent beer- menu a bit basic but well cooked all the same. Big benefit- only 1 hour walk home 🤡

Great pub, friendly, good atmosphere, lovely food and plenty of it - worth buying a property in Kingsdown just to be near the pub!!

We have often been to the Zetland Arms during the past 2.1/2 years since moving to Kent. Tonight the food was great BUT the 2 of us were placed in a corner next to a large table of golfers. They were obviously drunk as they were VERY loud and no I am not being a killjoy. We couldn't even have a conversation. Totally ruined the evening and the staff should have been aware. When my husband went to pay...we couldn't sit through dessert and coffee, he mentioned it and the reply he got was "oh you should have said something"!!!!! Not happy. All customers should be happy and looked after not just a table of old, pissed golfers.

Fabulous food, great service. Thoroughly recommend The Zetland Arms

Fantastic little find. Great food nice beers and a generous wine selection. The prawns in garlic and lime chilli were to die for. Soo good went back the next day for few Thatchers in the sun. If your in the vicinity pop in

Lovely walk from deal to the zetland arms, weather was great for a cooling drink sat outside on one of the many table and chairs on this wonderful beach front location , good service friendly staff excellent menu . Can't wait to go again 😊

Traditional old pub in a lovely setting and helpful staff