To mark the milestone of Margaret’s 15th birthday,
we journeyed to the seaside and stayed overnight in Deal, Kent.
Read on to discover what we found and loved during our time there.
The Rose
91 High St, Deal CT14 6ED
Only a short walk away from Deal’s seafront lies The Rose, a historic landmark of the town’s high street, which is now fully restored to a colourfully, characterful hotel, bar and restaurant – it was the perfect place to call our home for the night’s stay.
The Rose’s modern yet homely design radiates a creative spirit. Extra artistic touches, including independent magazines and vinyl records in the bedrooms (Rod Stewart’s Greatest Hits!!) make you feel completely immersed in your stay.
We had a wonderful time staying here and catching up with one another over cocktails and a delicious food menu to celebrate all things Margaret.
Fish and Chips
Sea View, 69 Beach St, Deal CT14 6HY
Our first stop in town was a true seaside classic: Fish and Chips. Having spent the train journey focused on a game of Monopoly Deal (the name being purely a coincidence), we had forgotten to eat and this was the perfect way to cure our hunger!
With the sun thankfully making an appearance, the team sat along the beachfront with vinegar-drenched chips, beer-battered cod and a sweet taste from a fizzy drink, taking in the calming view of lapping waves and Deal’s picturesque pier.
Life Drawing
http://www.deallifedrawing.co.uk/
We were delighted to participate in a life drawing workshop, which was soundtracked by 80s classics. The team demonstrated their creative flair through four and fifteen minute drawing sessions.
Thank you to Deal Life Drawing Group for hosting us.
Mileage Vintage
Mileage, 156 High St, Deal CT14 6BG
It’s no secret that Deal’s high street has an abundance of wonderful charity and vintage shops (amongst restaurants, bars, galleries, lifestyle stores…) and one of our favourites was Mileage vintage.
The team wandered the streets, exploring each treasure trove and later loved comparing their winning finds and heartbreak losses (an Austin Powers-esque pink babydoll dress could unfortunately not be justified).
Smugglers Records
Smugglers Records, 9 King St, Deal CT14 6HX
Smuggles Records is an independent record label, record shop and bar, as well as running its own festival. We could spend hours here, searching through all the different music genres and finding a delicious craft beer to accompany.
The Sicilian
The Sicilian, 2 Stanhope Rd, Deal CT14 6AB
We sadly didn’t have time to eat at The Sicilian, but we did have time to stop in front to marvel at its striking yellow, green and red shopfront. Recommended by one of our close friends who lives in the area, this restaurant is family-run and has great food for great value.
Find The Abandoned Cinema - The Regent
Deal Seafront
On a walk back from the charity shops we stumbled across The Regent, an iconic building within Deal’s landscape. The building has been empty for a number of years, however there is hope that it will one day reopen as a cinema. In the meantime, we were really taken by the artistic exterior, especially the unique hand painted front doors depicting lively scenes of the town’s landscape and people.
Walk to Zetland Arms
Wellington Parade, Kingsdown, Deal CT14 8AF
Before returning to Big Smoke, the team wrapped up warm and walked along the seafront until we reached the Zetland Arms Pub in Kingsdown. Set against an idyllic backdrop of cliffs overlooking the expansive sea, the Zetland Arms serves a fresh, traditional menu in an easy-going environment decorated with nautical artwork.
With our bellies full of delicious food and an accompanying shandy, our trip came to an end with a final dash to catch the trains home.
