Margate

THE seaside town of Brighton isn’t exactly off the radar – but it could be become a new hub for tourists.

In terms of its artsy scene, the coastal city has been said to potentially ‘rival Margate‘ with a new attraction.

With buildings covered in beautiful murals, handmade trinkets being sold at markets and the fact that it’s home to many creatives, it’s surprising that Brighton doesn’t have an art gallery.

But that could be set to change as a development plan has revealed one could open on the seafront.

This isn’t too dissimilar to Margate in Kent which is home to the world-class Turner Contemporary.

The Black Rock area in Brighton next to Brighton Marina is set to be developed – while there are no official plans, it could become a gallery.

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According to Time Out, the local council are in talks with a major London art institution. 

That isn’t the only part of Brighton getting a new look – another part of the town’s redesign is on the seafront.

The council are looking to update the King’s Road paddling pool and play area.

The local council are currently looking for proposals that must have a “high-quality family play area and paddling pool that will remain free for residents and visitors to enjoy.”

The hope is that the existing pool, play area as well as surrounding facilities will be upgraded and modernised.

Speaking of pools, Brighton just a few years ago opened a seafront lido called Sea Lanes which sits right by the seafront on Madeira Drive.

The 50metre swimming pool has six lanes and is heated to 19C year-round.

On the day sessions are £11.90 per adult and £7.60 for concessions.

Thanks to several businesses being open on-site, Sea Lanes is a great spot to grab a drink and bite to eat.

One such place is a cafe called Fika, which boasts about serving “an epic brunch and damn good coffee“.

Think re-fuelling smoothies and enormous breakfast and brunch sandwiches.

There’s barbecue restaurant Wood x Coal, which “captures the essence of Brighton and Hove’s spirited soul” by serving “smoky flavours with modern culinary twists”.

Among its best loved options are its pizzas, which are served overlooking to beach.

Bison Beer meanwhile is a local craft beer company and has two bars, with 14 different draft beer options as well as spirits, wine and cocktails.

Another part of Brighton set to be upgraded is its historic arches along the King’s Road.

The seafront arches are home to independent shops and beachfront cafes – and are set to undergo a £22million investment.

Later this year, the nearby Grade II listed Madeira Terrace will reopen  following a £750,000 revamp

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.

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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.

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I WAS born in Southend-on-Sea with candy floss and chip grease running through my veins, so I have a real soft spot for an English seaside resort.

And with its blonde sandy beaches, vintage ice-cream parlours and shellfish stalls, the Kent coastal town of Ramsgate does not disappoint.

Cockles aside, my partner and I have come for the weekend to check out one of its quirkiest attractions, This Museum Is (Not) Obsolete, which is part studio, part science lab and part techno time capsule.

It’s owned and run by Sam Battle, AKA Look Mum No Computer, who represented Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest this month.

Now back in Ramsgate proudly brandishing his ONE point, Sam’s museum houses his vast collection of eccentric inventions, retro computers, analogue synthesisers and other audio oddities that hum, squeak and beep.

It’s brilliant and bonkers in equal measure.

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Staring up at the flashing 1,000 Oscillator Megadrone, I’m assured the museum is very hands-on and you can touch and play with almost everything.

Fans travel from across the country to see Sam’s creations, including a Raleigh Chopper/synthesiser, a flame-throwing Henry Hoover and my favourite, the Furby organ — a fully functioning instrument ­power­ed by rows of the singing fluffy toys.

After an hour happily geeking out, we wander down to the harbour — the only one in the UK still officially granted royal status.

There, primary-coloured fishing boats bob alongside shiny yachts, while cafe-bars and vintage bike shops hide under the arches nearby.

Ramsgate can be a little gritty in parts — there’s no shortage of vape and betting shops — but that’s part of its charm.

And like its coastal neighbours, Broadstairs, Deal and Margate, it’s attracting more and more artists, musicians and independent businesses each year.

A short stroll from the harbour is Addington Street, the town’s indie quarter. It has a hip artsy vibe with renovated Victorian villas, vintage blue street signs and shops such as Vinyl Head Records and No.36 by SP, which sells fancy homewares.

We stop for a pint at the Queen Charlotte, a cute little pub filled with retro curios; think fringed lamps, a ship-shaped cocktail bar and a ­vintage record player from where music by The Carpenters flows.

But Ramsgate isn’t just about kitsch pubs and fantastical Furby organs.

Beneath the town is a network of tunnels that stretch for two and a half miles.

Originally a tunnel railway that connected the town to neighbouring Broadstairs, it was expanded in 1939 to serve as an air-raid shelter for Ramsgate residents.

On the 90-minute guided tour through the dimly lit tunnels, I learn of Ramsgate’s remarkable resilience and community during the war.

We’re staying at The House at Ramsgate, a chichi boutique hotel (formerly Albion House) on the seafront.

From our sea-view room, we can see the world’s largest Wetherspoons, The Royal Victoria Pavilion, which spans 11,000 sq ft in a prime spot on the beach.

Instead we relax with a cocktail in the quieter lounge at the hotel followed by a dinner of locally caught crab cakes and ribeye steak.

After breakfast, Sunday is spent blowing out the cobwebs walking the coastal path to Broadstairs.

The scenic two-mile route links the sandy beaches along the coast.

A few years ahead of Ramsgate in its gentrification, Broadstairs feels like its more polished sister.

We find a farmers’ market in the gardens of Bleak House, where Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield, and stop for a drink at the Royal Albion, his old watering hole, before wandering back to Ramsgate.

One thing’s for sure, whether you are into funky retro tech or sunny seaside strolls — or even a bit of both — Ramsgate is well worth a visit this summer.