FOOD + DRINK
The John, Canterbury thejohncanterbury. co. uk
Underground toilets no more, The John is actually complete luxury! This newly opened and renovated bar, found under Kent’ s most historic city, is, would you believe it, Burgate’ s former public toilets. The project to renovate the 1930’ s toilets into a cocktail bar began in 2015, but this year it has reopened under new and exciting management. For a former toilet block, the space now oozes charm and intimacy. It’ s the perfect spot to prop yourself at the bar and enjoy expertly mixed unique cocktails from a menu including the classics, specials and whatever your taste buds might fancy.
Old Dairy Taproom, Tenterden olddairytaproom. com
Housed in an old aircraft hangar, the Old Dairy Taproom is one of the buzziest spots in Tenterden, drawing crowds for its incredible beer lineup and live music events. Once home to a renowned brewery( which sadly closed in 2022), the space has transformed and thrived. Now it boasts a large bar, 14-tap wall, cosy snug, stage, dancing area and plenty of seating. Add in rotating food trucks, regular pop-ups and a packed event calendar and you’ ve got a local gem. Keep an eye on their socials to see what’ s coming up!
The Lazy Shack, Hythe thelazyshack
Lazy but delicious and the best place to get a taste of proper local fare, this quirky little seaside eatery right on the beachfront on Hythe’ s Fisherman’ s Beach is kitted out with all the seaside treasures you could need for the ultimate foodie coastal experience. Grab a seat at a bench outside and tuck into something fishy from the menu; they know how to do local produce right and the lobster and chips or dressed crab is to die for.. They’ re also open for breakfast if you fancy a morning trip for a coffee and bite to eat with some of the best views around.
The Garden Room, Port Lympne aspinallfoundation. org / port-lympne
A striking and memorable experience, eating at The Garden Room at Port Lympne is truly a beautiful experience. Tables sit beneath the glass-framed, greenhouse-like restaurant; reflective surfaces all around bounce light and make it feel bright, light and airy with a unique contemporary twist. Open for lunch, Sunday roast and dinner, choose something from the sophisticated menu filled with light bites, hearty mains and super indulgent desserts. For a special occasion, you can also book fancy afternoon tea amongst the animal reserve, sitting on the Western Terrace and taking in the views. Combine this with a trip to see the animals and experiences don’ t get more one of a kind.
The Pod, The Bulls Head, Pratts Bottom bullsheadprattsbottom. co. uk
This may be a very traditional British pub, however they do offer some very exciting modern commodities including their very popular and highly sought-after dining pods. That’ s right- this takes alfresco dining to a whole new level. Book a private dining pod complete with Bluetooth speakers, heaters and all the luxuries, and be waited on hand and foot. The restaurant menu is available to order from and includes a wide selection of fish, meat and veggie dishes including steak, rack of lamb, salmon, seabass and a tasty portobello mushroom. Their ciabattas and wraps have also made a pretty good name for themselves should you fancy something lighter.
SIP at the Signal Box, Folkestone sipatthesignalbox. co. uk
New for 2025, Perri and Brad took on the venture of SIP in February of this year after their success with Quesbro Hombre, the popular cheese-themed eatery on Folkestone’ s Harbour Arm. For them, a passion project, but also a chance to revive and give life back to what once was the station’ s old signal box. This teeny little micro café is now serving up great coffee from Kentish roasters and delicious treats including sandwiches made with Gilda Bakery’ s famous bread. They even stock irresistible vegan cookies from More Tasty
REAN COWGIRL
THE POD
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