Pearsons Arms

01227 272005

The Horsebridge
Sea Wall
Whitstable
CT5 1BT

Opening Times:

Pub opening hours - 12 until 12 seven days a week
Food - Lunch 12 - 3pm (Closed for lunch Tuesdays)
Food - Evening 6-30 - 10pm Wed to Sat
Food - Sunday lunch 12 - 6pm
CLOSED on MONDAYS for Food

Dreadful

I found the food awful and the service even worse. My food was overcooked and tasteless. I felt like I had wasted my money because it was not cheap. I shall not be going again as I wanted someone to cook me Sunday lunch for a change but not as bad as that. The service was very poor. The wait for the food was long and so not worth it. I shall stick with the tried and tested in future. I don't know who the celebrity chef is supposed to be but he needs to go back to cookery school,

By Maunders13 at 18:01 on 13/03/12

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Distinctive character, real ales, fine wines and good wholesome food combine to create the ideal pub environment at The Pearson's Arms.

17 Reviews of Pearsons Arms

Dreadful

I found the food awful and the service even worse. My food was overcooked and tasteless. I felt like I had wasted my money because it was not cheap. I shall not be going again as I wanted someone to cook me Sunday lunch for a change but not as bad as that. The service was very poor. The wait for the food was long and so not worth it. I shall stick with the tried and tested in future. I don't know who the celebrity chef is supposed to be but he needs to go back to cookery school,

By Maunders13 at 18:01 on 13/03/12
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New Pearsons - love it

Went there for cheer up lunch for a friend yesterday and we both loved it. Lunch menu of 2 courses for £12.95 terrific value, food great and service friendly and attentive but not too attentive. Couldn't fault the place and we will both be going again. It was nearly full at lunchtime on Tuesday which speaks for itself. Best the Pearsons has been in years and I can remember when you could have lobster for £4 there!

By mitziebitz at 15:42 on 14/09/11
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Turned into a dog

Rubbish. Simple. Poor service, poor food (pub food or gastro) and the stafff make you wait for ever.

By Business Communications at 17:50 on 08/09/11
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A poor response

I have just posted the response from Richard Phillips which was disappointing. I also communicated with the manager of his other restaurants and he pointed out to me that Pearsons did not aspire to fine dining (unlike the others establishments he owns but doesn't necessarily cook in) but good pub grub. That would explain why the belly pork for instance (served small dried out and burnt) would not taste as good as if it was served in a proper restaurant (double the size, succulent and crispy). It does not explain the price however...nor does it explain the chefs name over the door which helps lend one to believe that maybe there are aspirations for a fine dining experience. All i ask is that the food I am served and pay good money for...tastes nice whether it is under the umbrella title of pub or otherwise...but it seems there is a difference so for all you foodies out there...be warned. Our bill which came to over £90 and did not include wine, coffee or desert was pretty pricey for pub grub especially poor pub grub at that.
Oh and the complimentary glass of wine (which obviously makes a really bad evening worth it) were two glasses of cheap Cava...not offered to the gentleman in the party at all (someone is telling porkies here) and not drunk by the ladies either...so there you have it!

By alfiebaxter at 20:00 on 11/04/11
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Pearsons.

Thank you for your email dated 1st March, and apologies for the delay in my response.
I am very sorry to hear your comments and would like to send my sincere apologies for making your evening less than enjoyable.
At Pearsons, we pride ourselves on the standard of food and levels of service we have become known for; it is upsetting for me to hear that on this occasion, we have not lived up to our usual high standards.
We do have two sittings on our busiest evenings and I’m sure you can appreciate that sometimes if guests arrive later than expected, this can sometimes cause a delay on tables which is out of our control. I am also of the understanding that the Restaurant Manager offered a complimentary drink to all members of the party to apologise for the later table, but the gentlemen declined.
I am surprised to hear your comments as we have not any other complaints of this nature however we are grateful for your feedback, as it makes us stronger.
With regards to the food comments you made, I will address the issues with both my Head Chef and the Manager and I apologise that your meal was less than perfect.

By alfiebaxter at 19:47 on 11/04/11
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Awful

That's all I've got to say.

By tillydancer at 19:13 on 03/04/11
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Not very good

I visited Pearsons on 5/2/11. I had been trying to get a table for a while. I thought it was going to be good but how wrong I was. It was very busy and I thought we must have ordered the wrong food because ours wasn't very nice...we ate it though because it was late by the time we got our table (seems they have a habit of doing that) We thought it was cooked like they were in a hurry and didn't have time to do it properly. It surprised me because I thought it was going to be good. There are lots of nice places to eat in Whitstable but Pearsons isn't one of them...probably because its just a pub really

By joncclark at 18:20 on 02/03/11
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Very disappointed.

Went to the Pearsons Arms on 12/02/2011. Seven of us were booked in at 9pm but didnt get seated until 9.50pm. It was very busy. Two of our party were perched on the end of our square table on a little round table which was lower than the rest of us, it was that or wait till a proper table was available but we were all starving by then.
We did without a starter and ordered 5 rump steaks, a belly of pork and fish. The fish was fine and the belly was rather a small portion for the price. Vegetables are extra so mashed potatoes were ordered to go with the belly. The steaks all had one thing in common in that they were tough. Mine was uneatable and two went back and were changed. I didnt bother as it had put me off. I just ate the thrice fried chips which were a little bit uncooked in the centre The steaks were all cooked medium to medium rare.
We all went without puddings as time was getting on by now.
The ladies cloakroom was in a bit of a state, no loo roll and fittings hanging off the wall.
I have to say that the beer was excellent and a good selection of wine was available. Also the staff were coping well even though the restaurant was very overcrowded. I will only go in for a drink now. I am sure the restaurant will carry on being busy but not with locals.

By cag201 at 14:00 on 02/03/11
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Not the place to go

I thought Richard Phillips was supposed to be a serious chef but it looks like he only visits Pearsons now and again which could explain why the food is so bad and the service awful...felt like I was being rushed off the table to accommodate others (when I finally got my table that was). I think the enterprise is about fast turn over rather than quality of food and service. Will I be going back...no way!

By olliematt at 23:00 on 01/03/11
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VERY DISAPPOINTED TOO

I too ate at the Pearsons Arms this weekend and also went with high hopes. Anyone who knows me will know that i am not one to complain but we booked in advance a table for 8.30 upstairs and by the time our table was actually ready we didn't get to eat our main until 10.15, It really wasn't good enough all round, looks fabulous, but poor food, poor service, and as for the ladies toilets? I know exactly what your talking about.... really not good enough Richard Phillips!

By Ambrose Jones Dog Emporium & Grooming Salon. at 18:20 on 28/02/11
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