KENTSTAYCATION
suite with a modern four-poster and ensuite shower room, while the third contains two sets of bespoke, built-in full-size bunks- a considered layout for a family break, two couples travelling with children, grandparents joining parents and grandchildren, or four friends who want enough communal space to spend time together without living on top of one another. Being entirely on one level also makes the house feel refreshingly straightforward for a mixed-age group.
Then there is Tankerton itself, which is a smart choice- Whitstable may well be better known, but Tankerton gives you more room to breathe. Little Beach House sits around a 10-minute walk from the shingle and those eponymous colourful slopes, with local shops and pubs close enough to make leaving the car at‘ home’ entirely realistic. Follow the promenade west and Whitstable gradually takes over- working harbour, weatherboarded buildings, independent shops, oysters( naturally), pubs and an independent creativity that has made the town one of Kent’ s most recognisable coastal names.
Regularly ranked among the UK’ s best seaside towns, praised for its concentration of independent shops, restaurants, pubs and galleries in a compact centre, what feels really interesting right now is the way Whitstable is embracing new ideas without sanding away the character that made people love it in the first place. Recently opened, Keller- an intimate wine bar and restaurant from Michelin-starred Fordwich Arms chef-owner Daniel Smith and sommelier Elliott Ashton-Konig, with charcoalcooked small plates and a strong showing of English wine- is a case in point. Also nearby, Sea Scrub Sauna brings a different kind of modern coastal ritual to the harbour, pairing a wood-fired sauna with cold plunges and sea views.
All of this matters because Little Beach House shares the same personality. It is chic but not showy, design-conscious but relaxed and cool without trying too hard. There are also thoughtful details everywhere such as oversized ceiling fans in the bedrooms, hair straighteners as well as dryers, an extremely well-kitted-out kitchen, an enclosed garden for dogs, local art and full-size bunks that do not feel like an afterthought- none of which distract from the simple pleasure of having enough space to settle in properly; you could definitely stay here for a week.
Perhaps that is its greatest success. Lots of coastal houses are sold on summer- sunshine, doors open, barbecue lit, beach bag packed- and Little Beach House does all of that beautifully. But, it also understands the particular appeal of a Kentish coastal stay in winter, when the sea turns pewter, the wind picks up and coming home to a hot tub, a deep bath and a seriously comfortable sofa feels less like a compromise and more like the whole point of the trip.
bloomstays. com / property / little-beach-house bloom. stays www. insidekent. co. uk • 51