Famous for its oysters, which have been collected since at least the Roman times, the seaside town of Whitstable is on the north coast of Kent, west of Herne Bay. Every year the town revives an ancient holy festival dating from the Norman times with its annual Whitstable Oyster Festival in July - a week-long programme combining food and drink with music, competitions and a parade. New additions to the festival for 2015 are The Shuck, a showcase restaurant, bar and performance venue, and The Oyster Bed, a family campsite overlooking the bay.
As you would expect, Whitstable is home to some stunning stretch of beaches as well as some fantastic seafood eateries, bakeries and pubs. Highlights include The Crab & Winkle Restaurant overlooking the working harbour, The Royal Native Oyster Stores, based in the old oyster stores on the beach, and The Old Neptune, located on the shingle beach, and an ideal place to watch the sun set.
It’s worth taking a wander down to Whitstable’s working harbour where food producers, artists and independent retailers trade from their own individual timber fisherman’s huts on the quayside in the Whitstable Harbour Village. It is thought that more than 40 independent businesses have graduated from the village to set up galleries, shops and restaurants in East Kent.
