insideKENT Magazine Issue 96 - March 2020 | Page 33

TOWNSPOTLIGHT
SPOTLIGHT ON
MAIDSTONE
FREDERIC'S CAFÉ
THE BOATHOUSE
Shopping & Dining:
Kent’s County Town of Maidstone is a thriving town with an excellent selection
of shops in the broad streets and squares. It provides some of the best of Kent
produce in contemporary restaurants and pavement cafés. From Week Street,
the main pedestrianised shopping street, you can wander into Fremlin Walk,
a stylish open-air shopping centre where you will find many well-known high
street brands. The Mall Chequers is a spacious indoor shopping centre with
a great variety of quality stores. Maidstone also boasts one of the largest selections
of independent retailers in the country. There is an eclectic mix of businesses
from jewellers to kitchenware, gifts to ladieswear that can be found in the many
ancient streets. Wander through the Royal Star Arcade, or down historic Bank
Street, Gabriel's Hill, or Market Buildings, or find some unique shops in Pudding
Lane or Union Street.
There are some great restaurants in Maidstone producing dishes from around
the world with fresh local produce. Head to Earl Street in the town centre where
you will find all the well-known restaurant names; Zizzi's, Côte Brasserie,
Wildwood, Café Rouge, Prezzo, Nando's and Wagamama. There are
other wonderful authentic restaurants close by such as Frederic's Café, a bistro
with a sumptuous range of dishes and an extensive selection of wines, gins
and cheeses. Family owned La Taberna provides a rich selection of tapas,
whilst La Villetta has great Italian cooking.
Maidstone’s diverse community accounts for the authentic international cuisine
that you will find around and throughout the area. Fancy the fabulous taste of
the Mediterranean? Head to Artemis for the best of Greek cuisine or Vesuvius
for some fantastic original Italian food. The Gurkha’s soldiers have been based
in Maidstone for a number of years and a couple of Nepalese restaurants have
since been developed. These are completely authentic and offer an exceptional
range of quality dishes. The popular Gem of Kent in the lower High Street is
perfect for Turkish mezze.
For those seeking a more rural location, enjoy stunning riverside views, delicious
food and a great range of drinks at The Boathouse. The stylish pub boasts a
unique location on the River Medway, just a few minutes from the quaint village
of Yalding. Its contemporary waterside restaurant and al fresco dining area offer
the perfect destination for everything from a quick bite to eat to family dining,
working lunches and private parties. Fresh, hand-stretched, stone-baked pizzas
are a speciality, available to eat in or takeaway, along with a delicious menu of
pub classics. There is an extensive range of drinks on offer, including beer and
cider on draught and in bottle, a choice selection of premium wines, spirits and
cocktails, and delicious coolers and smoothies. Freshly ground Eros Fairtrade
coffee is also available to drink in or take away. The Boathouse is also dog
friendly, with four legged friends welcome in the bar area and outside.
33