FOOD + DRINK
THE BEST OF KENT ’ S CHRISTMAS TIPPLES CONT .
TOP SPOTS FOR COCKTAILS
Canterbury
Cathedral city Canterbury is full of destination dining spots perfect for indulging in a festive cocktail . New and already highly acclaimed herd . (@ herd . canterbury ) is the epitome of sophistication and has one of the most ingenious and extensive cocktail menus in the city . With inventive names such as the ‘ resting b face ’ with amaretto , lemon , sugar , foaming bitters and orange , and also cocktails that celebrate the best of Kent such as the ‘ toffee ’, which uses Maidstone Distillery ’ s Sharps Toffee Liqueur combined with Kahlua and Do Good Coffee espresso . Historic yet trendy hotel , The Falstaff (@ thefalstaff ), is another Canterbury gem with a brilliant cocktail bar complete with wonderfully unique and quirky drinks menus including the Lionel Richie Collection - a collection of 16 drinks designed around Lional Richie ’ s cover artwork and the Dirty Dancing cocktail menu inspired by the iconic film .
Rochester herd .’ S ROMAN BRAMBLE
Historic Rochester is also home to some brilliant bars that know exactly how to celebrate the best of Kent ’ s crafted drinks . The Mixologist (@ themixologistrochester ) is a fabulous cocktail bar that is passionate about being creative when it comes to cocktails including the way they are presented and of course , the way they taste . The Mixologist have already thought about Christmas and have a fantastic Christmas cocktail menu which will be available throughout the month of December . Booking is advisable through their Instagram or Facebook pages . The George Vaults ( www . georgevaults . com ) ‘ get the best out of the very best ingredients and let the quality speak for itself ’ when it comes to their sophisticated cocktail menu . For ultimate sparkle opt for the Blue Vaults , comprised of Blueberry Whitley Neill Gin , blueberry syrup , fresh lime juice , prosecco and touch of glittery surprise .
Royal Tunbridge Wells
The Royal Georgian spa town of Tunbridge Wells is no stranger to a cocktail either . Chapel Place ( www . chapelplacetw . com ) is a stunning decorative bar in a compact but neat setting that serves an incredible 120 different varieties of gin . These include local gins such as Pipehouse , Bathtub and Chapel Down , all waiting to be made into gorgeous gin-based cocktails or simple yet supreme G & Ts . Described as a ‘ secret cocktail bar ’ the Vale Vault ( www . thebedfordtw . co . uk / vale-vault ) is a hidden gem located underneath The Bedford Pub , specialising in a high-end range of spirits supplied by Master of Malt in High Brooms . The Vale Vault provides a bespoke menu of different cocktails , some classic , some creative , all amazing !
The design is largely tailored toward an industrial theme with a hint of speakeasy thrown in for good measure , so glittering festive parties are guaranteed .
THE MIXOLOGIST
122