Classic 1930s building opposite the ancient town hall in England's smallest town and overlooking the River Stour. The large bar has a lovely open fireplace, a long bar and bar stools, and there is a separate oak-panelled dining room.
It became a gastropub when it changed hands in January 2018, and after only 9 months, it has been awarded one Michelin star. But it is still a pub, and the beers are reasonably priced. More prestigious awards are being collected.
There is a pleasant riverside garden. The Stour Valley Walk is nearby, and boat trips on the river leave from outside the pub.
Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest
Listed status: Not listed
Attractively set beside the Great Stour river, this is a fine, well-designed 1930s pub, faced with narrow red bricks and having a symmetrical frontage facing the Fordwich’s old town hall. Curiously the public rooms are smaller than one would expect for a pub of this size. The public bar is long and narrow and runs parallel to the street. The two doors into it surely indicate that once it had a partition. The servery has a panelled counter and simple back-fitting. At the rear left is a dining room with high-quality panelling. A corridor from the public bar to the river terrace has very low original panelling. Note the old brass penny-in-the-slot devices in both the gents’ and ladies' toilets. Three original fireplaces.
This Pub serves 2 changing beers and 0 regular beers.
Fordwich Arms, Fordwich
Changing beers typically include: Shepherd Neame - Master Brew , Timothy Taylor - Landlord
Source: Regional