Visit us today
- Mon – Wed
- 12:00 – 23:00
- Thu – Sat
- 12:00 – 00:00
- Sunday
- 12:00 – 23:00
The Dolphin's Beer Garden
Our beer garden is the largest in Canterbury, hosting fun games, an annual beer festival, and much more. The sun-trap garden is the perfect place to be to enjoy the sunshine with your loved ones- with space for 250 people. Make the most of the evening as well with our ambient lights and covers for a peaceful atmosphere. Bring your four-legged friends along to our dog-friendly pub. We are also bike-friendly and on a popular cycle route.
Guest Ales
🍻 The Festive Plucker: A Plucky Brew's Tale
Want a hoppy festive ale, perfectly warming, bursting with citrus aromas and the perfect beer to celebrate the festivities? Then forget heavy, sticky Christmas pudding beers, the Festive Plucker by Kent's own Wantsum Brewery is the nimble reindeer of winter ales! This 4.0% ABV Pale Ale is the cheeky, hop-forward brew that doesn't own a single novelty jumper. It bursts with bright, unapologetic American hop magic, delivering a flavour profile that's a refreshing blast of citrus and zest think biting into a crisp orange right after shovelling snow. With a wonderfully snappy and clean bitter finish, it's the perfect beer for when you want to be festive without tasting like a potpourri basket. It’s light enough for a full session, but bold enough to stop your Uncle Barry from stealing your pint. A plucky hero for the winter season!
Join us in our wide range of events from Beer Festivals, New Year's Eve, Halloween and Live Music.
The History of the Dolphin
The Origins
The Dolphin is a long-established pub in Canterbury with a traceable lineage dating back to the 1820s. It is now a classic institution with real ale, modest prices and a large garden- with a deck that covers a majority of the previous Bat and Trap pitch that the ladies' team found success on in 1966, beating the mens team.
Location and Tradition
The historical records indicate that the location of the building, whilst previously in the same name, had moved throughout Canterbury, and that the current location on St Radigun's Street has only been from the early 1820s.
It has remained as a public house, under many landlords, since that time, with adaptations made to modernise, whilst also preserving the tradition and history of the establishment.
The Now
The current owner of the Dolphin purchased the lease just before the COVID outbreak, and renovated during the subsequent lockdown. The owner then purchased the Dolphin in 2025, making it a free house for the first time since the 1920s.
Directions
We are Located next to St Radiguns Car Park. a 5 minute walk from the cathedral.