Costa

FORGET the Costa del Sol – the hot new place to be is the Costa del Kent.

As the Sun’s unofficial Kent expert (having made the move from London to the seaside county during Covid), it’s fair to say it’s my new favourite place for a staycation.

Having lived in both Folkestone and Margate, the beauty of Kent is not just its beaches, but how easy it is to explore thanks to a vast rail network and roads connecting them all.

But how to do you know which ones to visit? Well, there are six major seaside towns that are the most popular, but which to pick depends on what you love.

Are you more of a traditional beach town fan with sticks of rock and fairground rides, or do you love a fancy wine bar and boutique stores selling fancy trinkets?

I’ve ranked the six most popular resorts on the Costa del Kent – and how to pick the right one or you.

FULL OF FLAVOUR

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SANDS GREAT

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6. Ramsgate

Coming lowest in my list is Ramsgate – that’s not to say that it is a bad place to visit, but I feel it ranks the lowest in comparison to the others.

On arrival, the train station dumps you in the middle of a housing estate, so you have to get a bus to the seafront. Not a great first impression.

It also doesn’t have the prettiest seafront, with the marina overlooked by chains such as Travelodge and boarded up shops.

But while not the prettiest, this doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a visit.

History buffs will love the Ramsgate Tunnels, with guided tours of the WWII shelters.

It has a great drink scene – for coffee, try Giants, and for wine, try Noa Rooftop – and pop into the shops and cafes found in the bridge arches.

And of course it is home to the world’s biggest Wetherspoons, Victoria Pavilion with is both right on the beach and has a rooftop bar.

While short of any boutique hotels, you can grab a cheap £35 stay at the Travelodge which is a short walk from the beach.

5. Whitstable

Whitstable is one of Kent’s more established seaside towns – I think of it as the St Ives of Kent.

It has all the trimmings you’d expect – oyster shops, fancy charity stores and pricey art galleries – but I like my places with a bit more edge, hence its lower ranking.

It is also relatively small, so you can expect it to be very busy in the summer months as tourists flock to it by train (don’t even try and find a car parking space).

But its is beautifully traditional, where you can take the kids to go crabbing in the harbour, or grab some fresh lobster from The Lobster Shack.

Kids will definitely love Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium which has some very unusual flavours….

Pub lovers will need to go to The Old Neptune, where the beer garden is on the beach, or you can go to the recently-opened Keller for fantastic wine.

Otherwise its a place to simply wander the high street and peruse the shops, nearly all locally run.

I stayed at The Marine Hotel which has sea-view rooms that feel just like a retro B&B but more chic (and expect to see wedding parties downstairs, it’s a popular spot).

4. Margate

You might be surprised to see Margate not in the no.1 spot, having sung its praises for many years after living there for nearly two years.

Yet having since explored the rest of the county, its nickname the Shoreditch on Sea has almost worked too well in making it popular, with so many fancy wine bars and cafes that even I, an ex-Londoner, now feel out of place.

But if you can step outside of this, the food and drink scene here really is one of the best.

Two must-visit pubs are the Rose in June and George & Heart, which are both traditional but modern when it comes to the food and vibe.

And I adore Lilie’s Margate which serves some of the best tapas, and the Italian at Bottega Caruso which was even praised by Madonna (yes really).

Of course if you want some fine dining, you’re spoilt for choice, from the pier-front Sargasso to elevated Brit cuisine of The Wellington, and of course it has the famous Turner Contemporary for art along with the Carl Freedman Gallery.

And there are still inklings of the town’s retro seaside days – the historic Dreamland theme park which feels like stepping back in time; the cheesy arcades that blare loud music; the vintage beach fairgrounds that pop up every summer.

While it can feel slightly performative when it comes to the cool factor, there is little that can compare to stepping out of the train station and seeing that glorious rich yellow sand, begging you to come and sit back and relax.

3. Deal

Deal might be small, but she is mighty when it comes to being one of Kent’s best seaside towns.

Due to her size, she is more suited to a day trip – anymore than a few days and you might find yourself a bit bored.

But head straight to the brutalist pier to get a sense of the place, walking past fisherman catching for the day, followed by lunch at Deal Pier Kitchen at the end.

If Chat GPT spat out a seaside town, Deal it is, complete with rustic old pubs that locals have been going to for decades, as well as your classic chippies, ice cream parlours and arcades.

But it has element of cool – at the end of the High Street is fancy stores selling chic interiors, pup treats and curated gifts.

Restaurants like The Blue Pelican have been raved about for its fresh fish, or grab a Caribbean inspired roast dinner at The Port Arms.

The Rose Hotel is the coolest place in town, with whimsical rooms above a moody restaurant with a menu to match.

Explore its history in Deal Castle and you’ve ticked all the boxes for the ultimate seaside escape.

2. Folkestone

My beautiful hometown of Folkestone came in a close second, only because, as a local, I am its harshest critic.

It’s popularity has come with downsides – in that I mean huge construction works going on that has caused chaos on the roads in town, as well as seen some awful building plans that if, given the go-ahead, will ruin the beachfront.

But outside of that, I am ready to sing its praises. Come to the beachfront for the Harbour Arms, full of shipping containers selling food and gifts right by a huge TV screen for films and sports events.

Head down the pier and catch some live music at the weekend (best listened to from the top of the converted red The Solstice Bus bar, or the The Lighthouse Champagne Bar).

There is the Sea Scrub Sauna, the largest beach sauna in the UK; Boardroom for darts and shuffleboard or the just-reopened Lower Leas Coastal Park, the biggest free park in Kent.

When it comes to impressing out of towners, I always take them to Pomus for a rotating menu of small plates and wine, followed by a cocktail at Gaia and an ice cream at Herbert’s Gelato (try the malted milk).

And that’s all before perusing the multicoloured shops down the Creative Quarter, all independent sellers.

I feel Folkestone has the mix of fashionable new establishments along with the conventional English seaside resort – so with that, almost comes out on top.

1. Broadstairs

For me, Broadstairs has the best of both traditional and the emerging trendy spots which takes it to the top of the list.

It’s been named everything from the best seaside commuter town and best places to live to one of the best for a day trip.

Head straight to the beach and see boats coming in for the day, traditional beach huts and stripy deck chairs.

Then go drop some pennies at the arcade before a towering ice cream from the retro Morelli’s Gelato.

But weave down the pretty streets and you will feel inklings of ‘cool before the crowds know it’s cool’

Bar Ingo is my favourite restaurant in Kent, offering Basque small plates with some of the friendliest staff (and in this year’s OpenTable Top 100), and I can never leave Arrowsmiths without picking up a few gifts for myself.

You can also explore its history via Charles Dickens, exploring his home and namesake pub after he spent some time there.

But come for Viking Bay, a rare sandy beach in Kent, with some fish and from The Mermaid or even a surf lesson or two and embrace the seaside town life.

Make sure to stay at Smith’s Townhouse – having only opened last year, its one of the coolest in town without the price tag (with some of the best coffee in town too).

And what really takes her to the top is her being all weather – being just as beautiful in summer as she is in autumn and winter.

See you there?

Need to know

The Costa Concordia disaster is one of the biggest maritime disasters since the Titanic, and the captain of the luxury cruise ship was at the centre of the tragedy

Everything you need to know about Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino

1. Netflix’s Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea delves into the harrowing 2012 Costa Concordia disaster that claimed 32 lives. The film features never-before-seen footage and survivor accounts from the luxury cruise ship that struck a rock near Giglio Island on 13 January 2012.
2. More than 4,000 passengers and crew were plunged into their worst nightmare as the vessel took on water and began to tilt. Captain Francesco Schettino delayed over an hour before ordering passengers to abandon ship and failed to provide authorities with accurate information.
3. The media branded him “Captain Coward” after footage emerged showing he had abandoned the bridge and boarded a lifeboat himself. Schettino told the court he had ordered the ship off course to please the vessel’s head waiter, whose family hailed from Giglio. Prosecutors alleged he steered too close to the island to show off to a dancer accompanying him at the helm.
4. Schettino was ultimately convicted of manslaughter and abandoning ship, and was sentenced in February 2015 to 16 years behind bars. He began serving his term in 2017 at Rome’s Rebibbia prison.
5. The term consisted of ten years for manslaughter, five years for causing the shipwreck, and one year for abandoning passengers, to be served consecutively. Having exhausted every avenue of appeal and with his conviction upheld, he began his sentence in 2017.
6. Schettino is not due for full release until 2033, according to Maritime Executive.

READ THE FULL STORY: Costa Concordia Captain Francesco Schettino sentence explained and year of release

IF a Spanish holiday is on the cards for you this summer, you’re about to have a lot more options.

Wizz Air is launching new flights routes from the UK to three cities in Spain.

From October, passengers will be able to fly with the budget airline from London Luton to Malaga, Granada and Astrurias.

Malaga flights will be four times a week, from October 25, while Granada flights will be twice a week from October 27.

Launching the same day will be flights to Asturias, operating three times a week.

They’re super cheap too, starting from £17.99.

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Yvonne Moynihan, Managing Director at Wizz Air UK, said: “Spain has always been one of the UK’s favourite holiday destinations, and we’re excited to be expanding our Spanish network with three more fantastic routes from London Luton Airport.”

Simon Harley, Interim Aviation Director at London Luton Airport, added: “The addition of Málaga, Granada and Asturias to our departure boards means even more choice for passengers and follows the hugely successful launch of Wizz services to Bilbao, Barcelona and Seville earlier this year.”

Malaga is one of Spain’s sunniest cities, with 3,000 hours of sunshine a year.

The Sun’s Assistant Consumer Editor Lana Clements recently visited, and said: “Even if you’re not one for lying in the sun, a few days can easily be spent exploring the city’s excellent shopping scene or its old town with Roman ruins and Renaissance architecture flanking the streets.”

Granada is known for its amazing tapas culture, as well as its Moorish architecture due to its proximity to Morocco.

Otherwise Asturias is often overlooked as a destination by Brits, but is often nicknamed Costa Verde for its huge green natural landscapes.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel said the delay to their World Cup warm-up game with Costa Rica gave them a “little taste of what can happen” – but will that prove to be an understatement?

The match was due to start at 21:00 BST in Orlando, Florida, but heavy rain and thunderstorms pushed it back an hour to 22:00 BST.

Weather delays have been a major talking point in the build-up to this year’s World Cup, with several matches in last year’s Fifa Club World Cup in the United States impacted by thunderstorms.

This was not the first tournament warm-up game to suffer delays caused by storms either – and many fans are concerned it could become a theme throughout the World Cup.

“We were aware of that before – now we experience it,” Tuchel told ITV before the game. “It’s no problem.

“It should not be an excuse to lose our mood or patience or to lose our hunger to play the game.

“No problem at all. We realised it when we were still at the hotel so it was easy. We just said half an hour later in the bus and let’s go.”

Fans who had already arrived at Inter&Co Stadium were told to evacuate from the stands and retreat to a safe position on the concourses to avoid lightning strikes.

Thunderstorms in the US are not uncommon, but when it comes to them impacting matches, Fifa has no power to make its own rules and must adhere to the advice of local authorities.

Recommendations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are used and they say if any lightning strike is detected within eight miles of a stadium, the game has to be stopped.

A mandatory 30-minute countdown begins and each time there is a lightning strike inside the distance, the countdown clock resets to 30 minutes.

If a full 30 minutes has elapsed, the supporters can go back to their seats and players will have a short warm-up.

A HISTORIC lido with stunning sea views is reopening today, just in time for the good weather.

Located on the edge of a scenic area dubbed the UK’s Costa del Sol, this pool is the perfect place to cool off in the summer sun.

Dating back to the 1930s, Brightlingsea in Essex is one of the last remaining lidos in the area.

The site boasts an Olympic-size outdoor pool, along with a heated toddler pool as well as sun loungers, changing rooms, and a cafe.

Summer sessions will run from 7am until 5pm, with the first three hours allotted for relaxed lane swimming.

Aquacise and “little dipper” sessions for younger swimmers are also available.

MAKE A SPLASH

All the UK lidos opening this bank holiday weekend as temps set to hit 28C

MAKE A SPLASH

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The lido first opened in 1932 as a tidal salt pool, eventually converting to freshwater in the 1970s.

Nowadays, the popular site is run by volunteers who saved it from closure in 2017.

General entry costs £7.50 for adults and £5.50 for children aged two to 18 and seniors over 65.

Toddlers under the age of two can enter for free.

Cheaper rates are available for lane swimming, quiet sessions, and aquacise, with more information available on the lido’s website.

The site will be open from 7.30am until 7.15pm until Monday, August 31.

Brightlingsea is much quieter than its neighbouring towns such as Clacton but is still known for its shingle beach.

The area is perhaps most recognisable for its line of colourful beach huts on the promenade.

One visitor described the area as “very unspoilt, family oriented, beautiful beach. Traditional town back in the 50’s.”

Brightlingsea is on the UK’s Sunshine Coast, which one person said is like “going back in time to seaside holiday of the past.”

Another visitor told The Sun: “I was on the Sunshine Coast of Essex, which is often compared to Spain thanks to it being one of the sunniest, driest spots in the country.

“What I really loved about exploring the Essex seaside is the sheer variety of experiences on one relatively small stretch of coast, bookended by Brightlingsea in the south and Harwich in the north.”

Whether Mira Costa has the best high school volleyball team in America is open to debate, but the Mustangs left little doubt they are No. 1 in the Southern Section on Friday night, sweeping Loyola 25-21, 25-22, 25-22 at Cerritos College to repeat as Division 1 champions.

UCLA-bound Mateo Fuerbringer was ready from the start, ending Loyola’s first three rallies with thunderous kills and the fourth with an emphatic stuff block. Ten points into the match, the 6-foot-4 junior hitter already had five kills and he ended the first set with his 12th as Mira Costa was ahead from start to finish.

“He’s always had the IQ, now you add the power on top of that?” Mira Costa coach Greg Snyder said of his star. “There are no answers. It’s a deadly combination. Mateo has no weaknesses.”

The teams traded leads throughout the second set until the Mustangs created separation late on the serving of Fuerbringer and Enzo Barker before Loyola’s Pax Stetson served into the twine to put Mira Costa up two sets to none.

The third-seeded Cubs took a 17-11 lead in the third set, but Mira Costa got in front 20-19 on Barker’s ace and Fuerbringer sent the green-and-white clad fans into delirium with his right-side smash on match point. He finished with 27 kills while Barker and UC Santa Barbara commit Wyatt Davis each added six. Mater Dei transfer Jake Newman had 38 assists and Dane Del Riego had 15 digs.

Loyola’s Brendan Maffel flings the ball past Mira Costa blocker Miles Crotty during the Southern Section Division 1 boys’ volleyball championship on Friday.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

“I always try to set the tone and Jake gave me great sets,” Fuerbringer said. “They were bombing serves in that third set and got up on us, but we stuck with it and closed it strong. We didn’t want to give them any momentum.”

Mira Costa won its 10th section title and improved to 10-8 in finals. It also won back-to-back titles for the second time in school history, the first coming in Division 2 in 2001 and 2002. Mira Costa is 2-3 in finals against Loyola, having fallen to the Cubs in four sets in 2005 and 2010, prevailing in five sets in 2012 and getting swept in 2024.

Mira Costa has won 10 straight matches (dropping only three sets) since its five-set defeat at Bay League rival Redondo Union on March 26. It avenged that loss in four sets April 20 to earn the top seed.

The teams were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the country when they faced off in a nonleague match March 21 in Manhattan Beach, where the Mustangs rallied from a two-set deficit to win 15-11 in the fifth in a two-and-a-half-hour marathon. That time, Fuerbringer had 37 kills.

“The first time we didn’t come out as strong,” he said. “This time we were ready to play and came out hot.”

In the semifinals six days earlier, Loyola upset No. 2 Redondo Union in five sets, avenging a close loss in the Redondo Varsity Classic final on April 18. Mira Costa swept No. 4 Huntington Beach — its third victory over the Oilers this season.

Mira Costa won the inaugural Division I state championship last spring and will begin its quest for a repeat Tuesday night (regional seedings will be released Sunday afternoon). If it runs the table, Mira Costa would equal its 37-2 record in 2025.

Pepperdine commit JP Wardy had 13 kills and Rafa Milchan added 12 for the Cubs (23-4), but senior captain Blake Fahlbusch, who is headed to USC, was held to nine. Libero Matt Kelly, a Loyola Chicago commit, had 12 digs.

“We know where everyone wants to swing and we know Blake’s their catalyst,” Snyder said. “When they need a kill they usually go to him.”

The teams did not meet in the postseason last year. Mira Costa defeated Huntington Beach to win the section and regional crowns while Loyola fell to the Oilers in the section semifinals and did not play in regionals.

Snyder has guided the Mustangs into the finals in each of his three seasons, winning the last two. He was with the program for 12 years prior, seven as a varsity assistant under Avery Drost.

Loyola’s JP Wardy gets blocked by Mira Costa’s Miles Crotty and Colby Graham during the Mustangs’ win Friday night.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

Loyola, making its 19th appearance in a section final, dropped to 13-6 all-time and 7-6 in 28 seasons under 1984 Cubs alum Michael Boehle.

In the preceding Division 4 final, Sunny Hills beat Royal, 24-26, 25-22, 27-25, 25-23 for its second title since coach Albert Soliguen started the program in 2020.

Owen Filadelfia had 18 kills and eight digs, Christian Lee added 17 kills and 11 digs, Jacob Sueki had 16 digs and Parker Mesnik dished out 47 assists for the Lancers (21-14), who swept Carpinteria in the Division 5 final in 2022 at Long Beach City College.

Grant Herzer had 19 kills, Donald Fleming had 18 and each added nine digs for the Highlanders (16-11), who were seeking their sixth section title in their 11th trip to the finals, having won Division 2-A in 1989 and 1990, 3-A in 1992, Division II in 1994 and Division 3 in 2022.