I think that the British seaside is a wonderful place to be at this time of year and after spending the Christmas week in Deal in Kent, I have completely fallen for the place. I booked a cottage (I highly recommend Keepers Cottages) which was very fortunately in the Middle Street district which I now know is the place to be. There is Georgian gorgeousness about the buildings and the streets between the sea front and the high street are charming but still have a lovely rawness about them. Interestingly, there are a number of delectable shops and restaurants that seem to have sprung up recently and would be just at home in the trendy bits of East London as on the Kent coast.
A house on the High Street
These are the sort of houses you find between the sea front and the High Street in the Middle Street conservation area.
I think Farrow and Ball arrived in Deal before I did – I bet that is Pelt.
Lovely interiors, art and gift shop Dunlin and Diver on the High Street selling Thornback and Peel (which I thoroughly approve of!) and other fab things
Hoxton Store opened just before Christmas and completely gorgeous
Super stylish shop with something for everyone stylish – and a tiny (stylish) art gallery at the back. Taylor-Jones and Son
Great wine bar and wine merchant – run by a French man, need I say more.
Very inviting pub in Middle Street
The two restaurants I can recommend are 81 Beach Street which is excellent (don’t be fooled by the website which isn’t excellent but you can successfully book through) and Dunkerleys which has great food and a somewhat, erm, Faulty Towers inspired approach to service and the two that top of my list when I go back are Victuals and Co and The Dining Club based on local recommendation and by pressing my face against the window when they were closed.
I was sorry to leave this delightful town but visiting again soon is on my list of resolutions. Happy New Year to you all.
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Reblogged this on Antipathti and commented:
Somebody blogged about my home town! It never fails to amuse me that the ramshackle place has become a fashionable haunt for Londoners. Ed Miliband was down for Christmas apparently!
Splendid take on Deal – I live in Deal by the way and know Louise!
Yes I am so glad you have discovered Deal .I disuverd it. In 1964 and bought a cottage to spend weekends away from London . I have had several since , I still live in Middle street it has never changed ,I very rarely go to my place in London .As a Londener I love London but Deal takes a lot of beating as you proceed through life .
Paul George .
Deal is a gem of a town. So glad you loved it. Many years ago we nearly bought a house in Deal until we discovered our neurotic hound wouldn’t walk on the pebble beach. We bought a cottage in Broadstairs (sandy beach) and then said hound decided he didn’t like walking through sea-water, even tiny little puddles on the beach. He did eventually get over his water fear, but only after several years of coaxing him with pieces of rare beef, cheering and clapping as if he was running across a marathon finishing line rather than just dipping a paw in half-an-inch of salt-water.
The hound sounds fabulous! X
Deal is a lovely town, spread the word people don’t know what they’re missing
Deal is Deal and NOT to be likened to London! (which I know well as lived there during my younger years). We don’t want it to become “trendy”, there are too many incomers seeking out like minds who only want to mix with certain types, ignoring the “real” people of the town.
Hey there, Deal is a lovely little town with loads of character. I was born there and have lived there all my life. We welcome newcomers and the idea of the town becoming trendy. It’s also the setting of some great novels. Check them out. http://bygonekent.org.uk/book/boy-who-led-them
Deal Resident: Surely a little Metropolitan input can co-exist amicably alongside the more traditional and much-loved Deal? There are coastal towns withering and dying who would love to attract the type of investment and new business Deal enjoys.
There is an oft-quoted line from The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa roughly translated as: “If we want everything to remain as it is, everything must change.” In other words, to preserve what is best about the old order one must accept the new.
Rejoice that you live in such a wonderful town and embrace the newcomers, even Londoners!
Born and bred there. It’s the best kept secret so….shhhhh. : o )
Fed up with the Rat Race that working in London had become for us,after looking at various other coastal Towns we settled in Deal 18 months ago and if anything love Deal and Walmer even more.
We had looked at other Coastal Towns, but nowhere was as friendly, or as unique as Deal.It’s no accident that it won the Daily Telegraph 2014 “High Street of the year” award and was also their Number one choice in the “Top 20 Coastal Towns” in October. Great Restaurants, welcoming Pubs,a brutalist Pier, fresh fish straight from the boats and great walks. I could go on, but I’m sure you get the idea that Deal is a great place to visit and a lovely place to live. As a local Estate Summed it up perfectly when comparing another seaside resort to Deal “Deal is a town by the Sea, not a Seaside resort”.
And by the way don’t worry Deal Residents view is not typical, we are a really friendly Town.
[…] rather fell in love with the wonderful seaside town of Deal when I visited at Christmas time and I am already looking forward to planning a return trip. This […]