FOOD + DRINK
CULINARY CANTERBURY CONT .
The quintessential village of Bridge is home to yet another dining treasure , The Bridge Arms . Having gained their first Michelin star in February 2022 , the magnificent duo responsible for this esteemed culinary accolade is husband and wife team , Daniel and Natasha Smith . After taking on the nearby Fordwich Arms , which gained a Michelin star within a year of opening , the pair fell in love with Bridge and added The Bridge Arms to their repertoire , gaining their second Michelin star just 10 months after opening . The menu concept created by the combined creative imagination of Daniel and Natasha uses seasonal ingredients with the desire to support local suppliers while highlighting the best of British produce . With two Michelin stars under their belt in astonishing time , Natasha and Daniel are nothing short of hospitality and culinary geniuses . Expect menus that are produce-driven and focused on seasonality and provenance with food cooked over charcoal and produced from a local Kentish woodland .
THE BRIDGE ARMS
It is Canterbury and the city ’ s surrounding countryside that Kent has much to thank for its Garden of England status . As well as enchanting orchards that become ladened with the likes of cherries , apples and pears at harvest time , this fertile land is full of sunny , south-facing slopes perfect for growing vines . Many vineyards have utilised this land and the ancient practice of harvesting grapes , creating some of the best British wines . One such example is Simpsons Wine Estate in the pretty village of Barham . Visitors to Simpsons can enjoy tours of the vines before returning to the winery . Here , tastings take place in a glass tasting room ; a chic space in which all the goings-on of the state-of-the-art winery below can be witnessed . Plush velvet seats , a neat and sophisticated bar and even a fun steel slide that shoots back down into the winery complete this ultimate tasting haven .
On the other side of Canterbury is Chartham Vineyard , which welcomes guests on Saturdays from 10.30am to 5pm for wine sales , tastings , events and the occasional art show . Well behaved dogs on leads can join you for a walk around the vineyard , which is guaranteed to be a glorious sight , especially during the summer months . For those that are keener to try Kent ’ s famous cider over its wines , Canterbury has yet more options . Woolton Farm in Bekesbourne is the awardwinning cider producer of Kentish Pip , which has just reopened for the 2023 summer season . The hub of Woolton Farm , its barn houses a bar , café , shop and events space in an original Kentish tithe barn dating back to the 14th century . Set in its own fruit garden with outdoor seating and kitchen , the vineyard , cidery and a host of accommodation options are a short walk away . Here , guests can enjoy pizza from the outdoor kitchen with its brand new pizza ovens installed to cook up freshly hand-stretched sourdough pizzas in minutes . A new programme of pop-up dining experiences will feature food and wine matched courses from pairing experts Ramekins & Wine , plus one-off feasting evenings with guest chefs and their much-loved tours and tastings of the vineyard and cidery .
SIMPSONS WINE ESTATE
WOOLTON FARM
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