The Clarendon Royal Hotel

We now serve breakfast & brunch to non hotel guests Monday-Saturday 9-12:00....

We launch our new menus today!! Here's a copy of our new restaurant & bar menu below.... To celebrate we're offering a 50% discount to the first 100 people to book via this link!! https://www.simpleerb.com/7907/the-claren don-royal-hotel/…

Our River Terrace has been transformed for a wedding today. Is there a better place to get married??? Over looking the Thames on a private terrace...

Pork belly looks especially good today, be a shame when its taken off the menu in a few weeks. Still the replacement pork dish is something special.....

One of todays starters, very summery. Seared tuna, avocado, chilli & lime.

Zingy creamy lemon tart or a lovely fresh fruit platter, ideal for this summers day! #fruit #lemontart #summer #restaurant #function #privatedining #gravesend #kent #foodie

This Saturday night, going to be a busy one!!

Think someone was hungry last night, our biggest request so far. A behemoth of a burger; beef patty, ham hock, bacon, double cheese, fried egg, crispy onions, lettuce, tomato, red onion, Clarendon burger relish & coleslaw. It barely even fit through the pass!!

'Costa del Gravesend' another scortcher today, tuesday is looking like it might drop to an icey feeling 23/24c, then back up to the glorious 30c's by the weekend!

*****Like and share this event for your chance to win a free party pack; including bottle of Absolute Vodka or Bombay Sapphire gin + mixers***** something to get the night started!!
We welcome Jonny Nelson, Danny Young and The Graffiti Kings Radio along with your usual curator and host Justin Penney for another roadblock night at The Clarendon Royal Hotel

A lot of hard work in this heat, raising The Decimas mast and sails.

The Decima raising its mast

We've been busy 'Barrell Aging' some libations, after 8 weeks mellowing with Woodford reserve staves. Our Barrell Aged Whisper is ready to serve!! #SonOfAGun #sweetvermouth #woodfordreserve #cocktail

We welcome 'The Decima' to our river terrace moorings....
The Decima is a Thames Sailing Barge built in 1899, she is 85ft long 19ft 6inches wide and weighs 70 odd tons, she is on the historic ships register.
This weekend she will be winching her main mast back up so she can be viewed in all her glory which will be quite a spectacle with two men up front on the main winch and the skipper running round making sure the lines all go up smoothly and don’t get snagged up. Followin...g this the top mast and mizzen mast will be raised. It is amazing the transformation the mast being raised makes, it essentially transforms the old ship from a tangle of lines and a few old poles to one of the Thames finest historic treasures.
Longer term it is hoped any lessons learned from this visit and interest and support shown from Councillors and the public may help the case for making the Clarendon Wharves historic ship friendly extending the offer and interest of Gravesend, I already have a waiting list so there is no shortage of ships or interest.
It is hoped the Decima will be returning to Gravesend in August for the Waterfront Weekend.
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Chefs been busy today, poaching and 'dressing' a whole salmon. Thats going to be some centre piece!!

CELEBRATE SUMMER WEARING YOUR HOTTEST SHIRTS & DRESSES
BBQ & OUTSIDE BARS DRINKS DEALS FOR ALL 'HAWAIIANS'... PRIZES FOR THE BEST ATTIRE
JOIN US ALL AT THE CLARENDON FOR OUR SUMMER PARTY
3RD - 5TH AUGUST 2018
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Its going to be another scorcher out there today...

Tasty pair of Braised beef rib sliders going out....

Calling all ladies who lunch, or gents. Complimentary glass of fizz with 2 courses from our bar or restaurant menu, book on the link below or via our website!!

Would like to say a huge thank you to The Clarendon for a lovely venue for my 'pre-wedding' bridal shower & get together last night. Staff were so helpful & we had so much food for everyone! Thank you for everything and I will be recommending to everyone xxx

We just stayed in the Ionian suite it was so comfortable. Had a very enjoyable stay. Thank you

We had a really warm welcome very nice table looking out at the Thames the staff were absolutely fantastic and so was the food could not fault anything would well recommend Sunday lunch but don't forget to book because the word has got around how good it is and everyone wants to go there I would definitely go back

We booked here Christmas day as we fancied a day off and have family that live locally. We couldn't decide who was going to cook so looked locally and found this venue.

We arrived and the place was buzzing with everyone in full Christmas spirit and was welcomed with a smile and warm greeting.



Christmas music was playing and everyone was happy to just be together. All of a sudden blackout! At first I thought father Christmas was going to pop out of somewhere but after a few moments the way the staff were running around it was obvious that we had a problem with power.



I offered a few quid for the meter messing around but the manager said it's not just us. I then took a walk up the road to see many local businesses in total darkness.



I walked into the bar and everyone was just getting on with the day and drinking at the bar. I thought the beer is still cold I'll have a few drinks with the family. We stayed for a few hours and had some snacks hoping that the power would come back on but it didn't.

I feel for the hotel because they couldn't do anything and they stayed open serving what they could and to be honest we had had a great time. We take power for granted and flick a switch and expect a light to come on.

I also had a tab running but couldn't pay it as the tills went down. I remembered what we had and I had cash so we were able to pay our way. The staff refused to take it so I left it on the bar.

The hotel has taken a huge loss on a big day through no fault of there own.

I had a chat with the manager and he looked a broken man. I honestly thought he was going to break down and he couldn't stop apologising and shaking my hand.



This is a funny story we will be able to look back on in years to come and say remember Xmas 2017.



I read the negative comment as I see a post on Kent online and thought I had to leave a comment saying it wasn't as bad as the blogger made out.



It's happened and a refund was offered what more do you want? It won't put me off going back and all in all it was a great day.



Don't really like Turkey anyway.

Staff are extremely helpful . Chef has produced a fabulous new menu that is amazing. Food is fantastic the steak was. Cooked to perfection and the raspberry sorbet is to die for.

Would definitely recommend coming here.

My wife & I had a Pre Birthday, Birthday meal here. The staff were exceptional, very friendly and made us feel most welcome. The food was excellent, great quality and very well presented. I feel we will be visiting again, and soon.

It was a very warm welcome and the staff went the extra mile for us! The advice on where to eat and drink was spot on, thank you. The glam deco is wonderful and the views from our balcony over the Thames were an extra bonus, would definitely stay here again. Highly recommended, thank you �

Had the most amazing meal here last night with my husband, having eaten here previously & finding it mediocre at best I was pretty sceptical about eating here again, however with the news of a new menu and chef I decided to take a gamble!

Really pleased the gamble paid off! Being a bit of a foodie I can be extremely critical but I honestly couldn’t fault the food, service or atmosphere... very friendly staff and a manager willing to bend over backwards to accommodate. Thank you for a fantastic evening you will be seeing us again

Fantastic customer service, great food, and a a whole new twist on tequila shots! Thank you for a great evening.

Great night at the Christmas party last night.

My compliments to the chef and the waiting staff, who even had the names of everyone and what dish they were having when bringing us our food - mightily impressive.



Our party of 12 had a fab time and the food was gorgeous!!



My only slight complaint is to the DJ

- and it is personal preference -

the music was billed as 'Kisstory' and was the main reason we booked that night.

It was more like a wedding until last thing in the evening, when the Kisstory music finally got played for an hour.

Wham, Whitney Houston and grease lightning is not Kisstory Mr DJ �



However, most people were up dancing in the end and we still had a really fun night - so thank you to you all! Im sure we will be back.



Oh and Ps. thank you for the 'pie' it was lovely �

We were visiting family and friends after moving away.

Hotel is beautifully positioned on the Thames has a lot of character was being painted in the common areas whilst there and reception and stairwell were looking nice.

Fantastic staff everyone was very helpful and was offered a later checkout which in some hotels you would pay for.

Bar was good as was breakfast.



We did ask for a different room because there was broken floor tiles in wet room wasn't very clean in tiles.

One other point a good carpet shampoo wouldn't do any harm in all 3 rooms we stayed in.

Would recommend and visit again.

To be perfectly honest, I would stay at this hotel again as a matter of convenience more than anything. The staff was friendly, the room was very tidy & welcoming, and the bar was absolutely enjoyable - fantastic even; however, there are a few things that put me off.



1. There was no telephone to be found in the room, despite there being a directory. As an international traveler with often questionable cell phone service, a phone in the room would have been useful.



2. The shower had no curtain, instead it had more of a half glass door that did not adequately prevent water from going all over the floor.



3. I feel that the hotel could really benefit from a laundry service (self or paid) of some sort. I spoke to the front desk to inquire about such service, and the gentleman told me there were a washer and dryer in my room... after a careful look around I said that there was no washer or dryer to be found. He asked my room number, and upon giving it to him he advised that only suites have a washer and dryer (this would have been helpful to know prior). To be fair, this is disclosed on the website under the 2 bedrooms suite tab... which for our circumstances, I would not have thought to check.



4. Breakfast... I apologize for sounding petty, but this was probably the most irritating aspect of our stay. The first morning we ordered the cured ham, and eggs Florentine.. the server came back a few minutes later to let us know that they were out of ham, and out of spinach, so we would both have to order something else off an already limited menu.



The next morning we went down for breakfast and the server (while extremely apologetic) informed us that the chef was very ill and that we would not be able to order off the menu... our breakfast choices were limited to toast, cereal, and fruit. Having worked in the hotel industry in prior years, I was a little perplexed that a back up is not planned for this situation, and why the chef was still in the kitchen if they were so ill. I don't fault the chef at all, as sickness is sometimes unavoidable.. it's the poor planning that I found irritating.



To the hotel's credit where it is due, they did offer to refund the breakfast portion of our bill for that morning, but the amount and when I will receive the credit remains to be seen.



To the hotel management and staff - you have a gem of a property here. I first stayed 20 years ago with my family, and as a child remembered it to be a magical place. I know it has changed hands since, but you have such a lovely prospect in your hands. I would not write this hotel off, and hope to give it another chance in the future. Please consider this review simply as honest feedback, and constructive criticism.

Not the best of places to get to. But to be fair there was an accident and with the one way system a nightmare.

The staff have lovely very helpful. Our room is not very big but functional and clean.

Evening meal was very good and good choices. Very good portions a bit big for me but you certainly won't go hungry.

Breakfast is a buffet little choice of cereal, no pastries but a very good choice of cooked food all cooked fresh to order.

Basic hotel, reception staff seemed only half interested. Room was clean but with no style and a bit worn. Food in the restaurant was good for evening meal. Breakfast service was slow with only 3 people to serve. No one was at reception when it came to booking out.

Hotel was probably very good in its day.

It’s served its purpose for me, therefore I would probably use it again but it’s not somewhere I would take my wife.

Very disappointed with the Christmas roast. Food cold and uncooked. Sent it back and it was returned still cold but with warm gravy poured over it. No condiments for dinner. Manager rude to guests who complained. Cold draught blowing through the doors. Wouldn't go again

I organised our works Christmas do here for the ‘Cabaret night’.

What a fabulous location & venue.

Great DJ & facilities.

The food,however was DIABOLICAL.

For £40 p/p we were served still frozen Yorkshire puddings,pigs in blankets & stuffing.

After returning the first lot - the second came up exactly the same.

After requesting to see the manager (who offered us a glass of Prossecco as some kind of apology) we declined & most of us left our food.

Starters were ok.

Puddings,I was told were very nice.

Cheese boards were very sparse. No butter for the couple of biscuits thrown on the plate with 3 tiny portions of cheese...

My party of 18 will NOT be returning next year.

I hope the management will contact me with some kind of compensation as the standard just wasn’t good enough.

I was very disappointed with my recent experience with the Clarendon Hotel. My Nans wake was held there yesterday. After my families careful planning to make my nans day perfect we were all very disheartened.

We were promised prosecco on arrival to greet guests to toast my late Nan- didnt happen. The spread was appalling. They only catered for 20 and argued with us until we proved our numbers via a confirmation email. The tab was not set up at the bar as promised. More food was made but it wasn’t of a high standard as promised.

The candles on the tables were unlit and the tea and coffe was luke warm.

The staff seemed to have no idea of what was meant to be happening, they also came across abrupt.

We made the best of the situation but I would not recommend this hotel for functions especially wakes.

I do hope no other families experience what we did.

It really was a such a shame.

I came to you for a Christmas party Friday night. The food was horrendous. The stuffing and pigs in blankets were raw and the Yorkshire still had frost on it. Even when we complained nothing was done to resolve this. We was so dissapointed as we came to you last year and had such a good evening. But this year the food was terrible and our evening was ruined by this.

Disgusting behaviour from the manager after a starter was sent back. Aggression, swearing (in front of young children) patronising and undermining. Have honestly never met a bigger cretin in my life. He made a right show and a fool of himself. The whole party left after his embarrassing performance. The restaurant and bar certainly lost out on ££'s. Although I'm sure the manager doesn't care. He wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the box.