The new owner was a regular guest and admirer of the restaurant and business will continue as usual
Chef patron Matt Sworder opened The Corner House on Dover Street in 2016.(Image: Fleurets)
A new owner has been found for an award-winning restaurant in Canterbury which has served the city for a decade.
The Corner House was placed on the market in October 2025 with leisure property specialists Fleurets overseeing the freehold sale.
Chef patron Matt Sworder opened The Corner House on Dover Street in 2016, transforming the former Flying Horse pub into an esteemed establishment with rooms which focused on “simple British, locally inspired food done well”. Matt acquired the Grade II-listed property in 2015 and in the years that followed, The Corner House earned a number of impressive accolades, including two Taste of Kent Restaurant of the Year awards as well as a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award in 2023.
The Canterbury restaurant became the sole home of The Corner House following the closure of its original Minster site in 2022 as a result of the hardships of a lengthy pandemic and multiple lockdowns.
Now a new chapter for the highly regarded establishment has begun as the property has been sold off of a guide price of £995,000 to a private local purchaser.
The new owner is described as a regular guest and admirer of the restaurant. Following the sale, all operations continue as normal at The Corner House and all staff have retained their roles under the new ownership.
Reflecting on the sale, Matt Sworder said: “Building The Corner House with my team to what it is today has been an absolute privilege. I purchased the Flying Horse from Enterprise Inns 11 years ago with my parents.
“The building required big love, and I am super proud of our teams’ accomplishments. I believe staff and teamwork are the most important ingredients in a restaurant and I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank my team both front and back of house, many of which have put up with me for over a decade. Big Love, always!”
The Corner House remains open to guests and bookings at the restaurant continue as usual. Simon Bland, Senior Associate at Fleurets added: “It’s been a privilege to assist Matt with the sale of The Corner House, especially having sold the property to the Sworder family in the first place, some 11 years ago.
“The transformation and restoration of a lovely old building and the creation of such a brilliant business is a testament to their talent and commitment. I am genuinely delighted its story is to continue and I wish The Corner House team all the best.”
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