The Whitstable Oyster Festival
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Ah, the oyster. Some lemon, a few drops of Tabasco and down the hatch it goes. Just a short trip away you can get England's finest, festival-style, for one week (and regular-style the rest of the year).
The Whitstable Oyster Festival starts tomorrow (21 July) and runs for nine days. It opens with a parade, and every day is filled with events - a food & produce fair, a comedy night, a kids' pearl dive, theatre performances and belly dancing lessons (though we're not sure how that's related).
An excellent reason to visit Whitstable (a mere 75 minutes away on a fast train), but actually, Whitstable is a lovely spot any time of the year, even for a day-trip.
Eat
The Whitstable Company Oyster Fishery Company is on the beach and filled with locals and visitors in for lunch and dinner. Everything is good (including the oysters).
The Crab & Winkle on South Quay is smaller and isn't on the beach, but has a warm, bustling atmosphere, and a great range of food. Very popular with the locals (and our source).
Wheelers Oyster Bar is the 'famous pink place' where you can sit at the counter or in the tiny back room and down a dozen, forgetting what year it is.
Drink
Visit the Old Neptune on the beach is the perfect stop after your beach walk. Their beer garden overlooks the water, and their food is good too.
Shop
Harbour Market is open Fri-Sun in South Quay, and is filled with local producers, artists and designers. You can get a preview of some things for sale online.
On the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month is the Whitstable Farmers Market at St. Mary's Hall.
Sleep
Stay at the Hotel Continental, Whitstable's art deco beach hotel. It's somewhat basic, but not at all bad as a landing place.
Or sleep in a rented beach hut!
So then, do you chew or swallow?
An excellent reason to visit Whitstable (a mere 75 minutes away on a fast train), but actually, Whitstable is a lovely spot any time of the year, even for a day-trip.
Eat
The Whitstable Company Oyster Fishery Company is on the beach and filled with locals and visitors in for lunch and dinner. Everything is good (including the oysters).
The Crab & Winkle on South Quay is smaller and isn't on the beach, but has a warm, bustling atmosphere, and a great range of food. Very popular with the locals (and our source).
Wheelers Oyster Bar is the 'famous pink place' where you can sit at the counter or in the tiny back room and down a dozen, forgetting what year it is.
Drink
Visit the Old Neptune on the beach is the perfect stop after your beach walk. Their beer garden overlooks the water, and their food is good too.
Shop
Harbour Market is open Fri-Sun in South Quay, and is filled with local producers, artists and designers. You can get a preview of some things for sale online.
On the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month is the Whitstable Farmers Market at St. Mary's Hall.
Sleep
Stay at the Hotel Continental, Whitstable's art deco beach hotel. It's somewhat basic, but not at all bad as a landing place.
Or sleep in a rented beach hut!
So then, do you chew or swallow?
