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Reviews of The Grove Ferry Inn

3 out of 5
The Grove Ferry Inn
Grove Ferry Rd, Upstreet, Canterbury, England

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 30 out of 64 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 26 out of 64 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 7 out of 64 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 64 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 64 reviews" "

8.2/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Adrienne

Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely stay!
Had a lovely stay, very friendly staff and welcoming. John and Jane where great hosts, breakfast is huge, made to order and very tasty. Room where very comfortable.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

6/10 Okay

Phil

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Nice location next to the river. Evening meal service not great, waited nearly an hour just to get a drink then starter and main came out at more or less the same time. Restaurant was not busy (half full) and had plenty of staff on so i dont know why we had to ask to be served. Lovely breakfast.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

Susan

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

Paul

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great stay
Lovely area a good location for surrounding areas to visit. Staff were friendly nothing too much trouble very attentive. Would definitely recommend visiting and would stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very welcoming and wonderful location
Wonderful visit. Will stay again
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Richard

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
What a lovely warm welcome we received from the young team at Grove Ferry Inn. We were welcomed with a big smile and once we were checked in at the bar our host offered to carry our bags to our room and actually showed us to the door, didn't leave us searching corridors for our room - nice touch! We stayed in Gin & Tonic and the room was clean and spacious and beautifully decorated. we were very comfy! We were too late for dinner sadly, as caught up in traffic, however we were given local recommendations and had a lovely meal at Bill's in Canterbury. Breakfast was served up until 11am so we sauntered down at 9am and enjoyed a hearty big breakfast with copious amounts of tea and juice. Special shout out to the young waitress who was so helpful and polite - couldn't do enough for us. A 5*hotel the Grove Ferry is not and in areas could maybe do with a little upgrading, but if you are looking for a lovely setting, with 5 star staff then you won't be disappointed. We would definitely book again, excellent value for money.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

Brian

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service, amenities
Quiet location. Convenient for north Kent coastal towns. Adjacent to wildlife preservation area and river.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

Bob

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

C

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful location
Beautiful location. Friendly staff and great service.Wonderful food. Good value for money. Would stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Room comfort
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disappointing
The hotel/pub was very busy as it’s located next to a river, check in was at the bar, there was one bar staff and a queue of about 8 people waiting to order drinks. We queued for about 20 minutes just for 2 glasses of wine. The bar staff were very friendly. The room needed cleaning, the floor was dirty and there was a large mirror which was covered in dust. The bathroom was clean but windows were covered in mould and there was mould around bath and shower tiles. I think the whole place needs a revamp. The hotel sits right next to a river and also a train line, trains begin about 6am.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

4/10 Poor

Chris

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Dislike the electrical unit that is clearly faulty as it sounds like it is going to blow up and making a constant whirling noise throughout the night, tried contacting the owners By phone, number closed By text, mailbox full Emailed just to show I was still awake
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Clifford

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice and peaceful very relaxing
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Georgina

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

6/10 Okay

ELIZABETH

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
VERY DISAPPOINTING
Location of the hotel was lovely and the staff were very friendly and helpful but we were surprised to find that food wasn't served after 5pm on a Sunday when website said food til 8 everyday. The overall feeling was that it was not as clean as we would expect. The bedside tables in the rooms were sticky and rubbish wasn't removed from the room after the first night stay. The plumbing was awful. Toilet didn't flush properly and the shower was little more than a dribble. Lighting in the bathroom was very poor. There was no plug near a mirror so very difficult to do one's hair. Bed was comfortable. Breakfast was ok but fried eggs were overcooked.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Margaret

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Loved our 1 night stay. Staff very friendly and accommodating. We had nice room overlooking the river which was lovely. Breakfast great good portions. Only small niggle mattress was a bit uncomfortable but other than that great place and would definitely stay again! Thank you 😊
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Eileen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The Grove Ferry Inn.
Wonderful location by the river. There are hourly electric boat trips running but it would be an idea to prebook if you are interested in doing. Excellent cooked breakfast was included in our rate. Very close to Canterbury city.
From our balcony
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jennie

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Graeme

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Matthew

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great overnight stop just outside Whitstable
Clean and comfortable room above a lovely pub in a beautiful riverside setting. Staff were all attentive and the vegan full English breakfast was a great bonus!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

nancy

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Ok for one night
We felt a lot more could have been made as this inn is located next to a river. Not allowed to use the front door in the portico shown in the photo and this was covered in notices of all types showing mixed messages. In the end we had to walk right to the end of the building, through the garden and in the back way. The garden was busy with diners when we arrived and we think that this is where the inn makes its business. Our bedroom was ok - clean; the bed was comfortable; lashings of hot water from the easy to use shower in the ensuite. However, the room was filled with nick-knacks which rather took up a lot of space on what little shelving there was so our stuff had to stay on the floor. Also, while the bedroom could clearly accommodate one, there was no wardrobe but a few wire coat hangers on a mobile unit. We were told that breakfast would be served from 8 a.m; apart from ourselves there was just one other couple at a table the next morning and they seem to have been waiting a long time. In the end, the lady had to chase up theirs as she had an appointment. Food still didn't arrive for quite a while and she left after only a couple of mouthfuls leaving her partner to eat alone. Ours arrived and was ok although coffee appeared long before the food. We began to think that the "hotel" side of the business was secondary.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Hannah

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

brendon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Hidden Gem
Stayed for a midweek wedding near canterbury, and was a beautiful retreat by the river! Newly redecorated, the room was very clean and spacious, and the breakfast was delicious! The wider property was very well kept with ample space, and with riverboat trips running throughout the day I feel this would be a popular venue at weekends... the staff and owners can be proud of their efforts, a lovely stay.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Perfect stay! Lovely room with a stunning view of the river. Great staff members and overall a truly relaxing setting.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Karl

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Good stay
Everything was perfect except the bed had seen it's day. Not very comfortable. Location is excellent!!!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Julie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

gareth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Keith

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A fantastic place with the most friendly & wonderful staff, you could possibly want. Everything about our stay, was impeccable,from the parking, area, our clean bright, themed room to the lovely staff. We are definitely visiting again. Thankyou- Grove Ferry Inn!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good location with great staff
Great location for a drive into Margate/Ramsgate. Fantastic staff and great food and drink. Only downside, which is personal for light sleepers, is that the curtains are thin and the room was bright enough to wake me at 5am.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved the location and friendly atmosphere
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Gavin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful room, lovely setting, fantastic food and wonderful staff!
Stayed 1 night in May 2021

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
The room was a nice size, the English breakfast was awesome. The staff were incredibly nice and accommodating. Unfortunately we found the cleanliness of the bathroom to be lacking, old toothpaste splashes on the back of the sink, and dirty smudge marks on the bath tile. There was a leak from the back of the sink, so the floor was constantly wet. Housekeeping was not the best, no one replenished our room on the second morning, and the third morning we were left with 4 conditioners and no shampoo or bar soap. The WiFi, was poor, could not really watch television.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mr Stephen R J

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
May mini-break
Lovely friendly riverside inn. The staff make this place. Keep doing what you're doing!
Stayed 1 night in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

8/10 Good

Craig

Liked: Staff & service
Excellent staff and food.
All staff are fantastic in their professional approach and level of attention. The current owners are undertaking refurbishment of the entire property, what they have done so far will make this a hotel one we will certainly return to. The food including breakfast, pizza and main meals were plentiful and of good quality.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020

8/10 Good

Mr Mark

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
It was fine. A lovely spacious room. Garden was in a state of reconstruction. A good breakfast, if a little slow. Overall it was good.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2020

8/10 Good

Bill

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Country views
It was amazing.They made us feel very welcome and all the staff are friendly.The food was to die for and the vegan breakfast.Are room we had a Balcony and the river view. Sitting on the balcony 6.30 in the morning with a cup of tea. And the bed comfy.wished we had booked two nights.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Alan

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Family Road Trip
Friendly and engaging staff. Food excellent and service very attentive. Very nice location by the river (we had to dodge rain showers) and was lovely to sit out. Room was a spacious triple and freshly decorated. Tea/coffee and a wardrobe would have been welcomed but plenty of room to spread out. Overall we were very happy and would happily return.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Helen

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fantasic stay
Really great stay. The staff and owners really keen to make our stay good.the location was beautiful right on the river good for watching the world go by. Loved having a balcony. The bedrooms were recently decorated but a little more attention to detail in the cleaning and cushions nd bed linen could be better quality must have matress and pillow protectors.. Breakfast really well cooked and good quality. It is clear the owners are working really hard to improve the hotel and bar in some areas
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2020

8/10 Good

Helen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very good stay
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Steven

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Pleasant and quaint
It was perfectly placed, a great setting and the service was brilliant. We enjoyed the food and the entertainment but we were well looked after and felt we were truly on a holiday far from home
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020
Response from Grove Ferry Inn on 26 Jul 2020
Thank you very much for your review we are so glad you enjoyed your stay and hope you will visit us again kindest regards John and Jaine Hinsley

10/10 Excellent

Keith, Brussels

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I was very late arriving but the owner gave me his number and he got up to let me in, the breakfast the next day was exceptional and overall my stay was excellent
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2020
Response from Grove Ferry Inn on 26 Jul 2020
Thank you very much for your review hopefully we will see you again kindest regards John and Jaine Hinsley

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020
Response from Grove Ferry on 31 Jan 2020
Hello thank you very much for your positive review, we really appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you at the Grove Ferry inn again soon.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019

8/10 Good

Greg

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

6/10 Okay

Mark

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Didn’t realise that check in only up to 8pm, but looking at details it does state this, they were helpful and arranged for someone to be there for me when I arrived later in the evening. Bar was already shut when I arrived at 9.45pm, room was nice and spacious, comfy bed, window didn’t open and too hot could do with a fan in there or the window to be able to open. Only serve breakfast from 8.30am (bit late) could only get cereal and a drink as chef hadn’t turned up.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2019