I’m trying to think of the words to describe the seaside town of Deal on England’s Kent coast and I keep coming back to the word charming. The pastel-coloured seafront buildings and narrow streets with their quaint terraced houses have hardly changed and remain unspoilt. It’s small enough that you only need to wander up and down the beach, or back and forth along the High Street, to find your bearings and see any sites worth seeing (including vintage shops and delicious delis), before retreating back to your stay of choice. I love the simplicity of a weekend away in Deal – blustery walks by the sea, fish and chips out of the paper, newspapers by the fireside, and a glass of red in a cosy pub.
Here I’m sharing a little address book of my favourite finds in Deal.
Deal travel guide
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK
Deal is an understated destination, where you’re just as likely to be found eating fish and chips out of the paper on the beach as eating small plates in a fancy restaurant. My favourite places in Deal are cosy, quaint and intimate, whether it’s playing board games and sipping a cocktail by the fire at The Rose or warming up with a coffee from a little beach hut by the sea.
– Deal Deli – @deal_deli – A charming Italian delicatessen serving up the best coffee I tasted in Deal. I’ll be coming back again for their aperitivo bar, which will be opening soon at the back of the shop.
– Hut 55 Deal – hut55.co.uk – A takeaway cafe serving coffee, sausage rolls and cake out of a wooden hut right on the beach – the perfect pit stop if you’re making the walk from Deal to Walmer or Kingsdown.
– Deal Pier Kitchen – dealpierkitchen.com – Head here early and grab one of their cinnamon buns before they go (sadly I didn’t think much of their coffee…). Failing that shelter from the blustery winds with brunch and a view of the sea.
– The Rose – therosedeal.com – A cosy restaurant and hotel that the ‘down from Londoners’ flock to for good food, reasonably priced but stylish rooms, and cocktails by the fireside.
– The Blue Pelican – thebluepelican.co.uk – The Rose’s sister restaurant on the seafront, offering Japanese-inspired small plates and natural wines in the style of a Japanese Izakaya.
Further afield
– Zetland Arms – zetlandarms.co.uk – A charming coastal pub nestled behind the beach huts of Kingsdown beach, an hour’s walk from central Deal, past the pretty houses and fishermen boats.
– Updown – updownfarmhouse.com – A 17th century old farmstead just outside Deal, with six beautiful bedrooms, a conservatory restaurant and 7 acres of garden and woodland to explore.
WHERE TO SHOP
Deal has plenty of little, independent shops to mooch about in, full of antiques and unique homewares. If you’re heading there for the weekend, I’d recommend starting with a trip to the thriving Saturday market, where you’ll find vintage stalls, fresh produce and beautiful flowers. Then wander down the High Street, hopping from shop to shop. Even the charity shops are worth a poke about in.
– Barkened – barkened.com – This little independent shop offers considered, well-designed goods for the home and our canine friends. Their own products are made in their workshop in Deal and using small, family-run manufacturers across the British Isles.
– Mileage – mileagevintage.co.uk – I bought a gorgeous vintage lamp from this home store, housed in an old Edwardian stables on the High Street.
– Will and Yates – willandyates.com – A stylish art gallery and interior shop selling original paintings, beautiful ceramics and vintage finds.
– Dunlin & Diver – dunlindiver.co.uk – Try going into this shop and not being tempted by a basket, a marbled bowl or a wooden spoon!
WHAT TO DO
A visit to Deal isn’t so much about doing something, than learning the art of not doing anything. Sometimes all you want from a weekend getaway is a walk along the beach, a nice pub and a cosy place to stay.
– Walk along the shingle beach from Deal to the small village of Kingsdown, passing quaint little beach huts, fishermen boats and picturesque houses. It will take about an hour and you can refuel or warm up at the Zetland Arms (mentioned above).
– Stroll along Deal pier and get a different perspective of the pastel-coloured town.
– If you have little ones (or even big ones or older ones!), pay a visit to Walmer Castle and Gardens, a Tudor fortress turned country house built on the orders of Henry VIII to defend England’s southern shores. There’s a family play trail through the woods as well as a kitchen garden and cafe.
WHERE TO STAY
– The Rose – therosedeal.com – In this former pub you’ll find eight charming bedrooms decorated with bold pops of colour and vintage furniture. Every stay includes breakfast, a brandy nightcap, and guests are free to use their tandem to get around town. From £145-220 for a medium room.
– Updown – updownfarmhouse.com – Cosy up in this old farmhouse and treat it as a home away from home; help yourself to a fully stocked honesty bar or lounge in the library with books and games. They offer a package that includes dinner, bed and breakfast on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, from £265 for two.
– Ollerton – keeperscottages.co.uk – A thoughtfully decorated Georgian house with four bedrooms right in the heart of Deal. Read my review here.
I hope you enjoyed my Deal travel guide – let me know if you’re planning an escape there yourself.
