Dubbed one of Kent’s prettiest seaside destinations, Deal has a colourful history and we’re not just talking about the colourful pastel cottages which greet visitors to the old town.
First mentioned as a village in the Domesday Book as “Addelam” it overlooks the Channel and provides the chance to see France on a clear day. It became a limb of the Cinque Ports in 1278 and one of the busiest ports in England.
Quaint fishermen’s cottages rub shoulders with well-preserved Georgian town houses in the picturesque Middle Street and the narrow lanes were once at the heart of the smuggling trade. Spirits, tobacco, tea and other goods were smuggled from ships and hidden in local houses before being sold. Deal was granted borough and market town status by King William III in 1699 and the Saturday market still operates at Union Road Car Park.
You can find out more about the town at the museum in St George’s Road (dealmuseum.uk) which is in the oldest conservation area in Kent. The volunteer-run museum has been collating, curating and protecting the history of the town and showcases everything from the maritime history and the 18th century smuggling, the commercial and industrial history as well as a Royal Marines display, which has a deep connection with Deal. Entry is free but donations are very welcome.
An established and thriving arts scene includes galleries and exhibitions and one of the key events in the summer is the Deal Festival (dealmusicandarts.com). This year’s theme is French Connections…make a note in your diary for the event between July 4 and 14.
From the charming streets and those views as far as the eye can see, towards Dover in the south and Sandwich to the north, the pebbled beach is one of the stars of the show and it offers the traditional seaside vibe, complemented by the iconic pier, of course.
Deal is actually closer to Calais than London, but via train, London can be reached in under and an hour and a half.
Providing a variety of house styles, from period cottages to new developments, the average family home price, according to Garrington Property Finders (garrington.co.uk) is £577,247 and it was in eighth place in Kent for their Best Places to Live 2024.
Sometimes there’s simply not enough space to express how much a town has to offer, so go and have a wander round and take in the charm of this picture postcard destination.
SHOPPING
A vibrant variety of independents make Deal special. Whippersnappers (whippersnappersonline.com) is the go-to destination for all things adorable and eco-conscious for babies and children aged from birth to eight years. Nestled in the heart of town, the boutique offers a curated selection of top brands including Jellycat, Bob & Blossom, Little Green Radicals, Frugi, Blade & Rose and Janod. From charming clothing and delightful toys to captivating books and thoughtful gifts, there is everything to spark joy in little ones’ lives. Plus, in their mission for sustainability, there is a successful clothing buy-back scheme, promoting circularity and eco-friendly practices. Will and Yates (willandyates.com) on the High Street is an art gallery and interiors shop which brings together original paintings and prints, ceramics, vintage and new decorative pieces. There are the essentials, too. The Black Pig (theblackpigbutchers.com) uses free-range, small Kentish farms for stock and all butchery, sausage making, and bacon curing is done on-site by the team.
EATING AND DRINKING
In addition to the delicious small plates’ menu served every day, Frog and Scott (frogandscott.co.uk) have lots of events. The first Sunday of every month sees a popular live vinyl set from 6pm to 9pm with resident DJ Nosca of Eclectic Beach. It’s a social mix of house, disco and Balearic, and never fails to get everyone up dancing! Once a month it hosts Deal's first and only Wine Club with a different guest speaker each time and customers invited to sample five wines related to a particular theme, area, or grape variety, followed by an optional two course dinner. A quarterly Forager's Experience (one per season), in collaboration with Lucia from The Wild Kitchen, offers around a six-course tasting menu incorporating unusual, fresh and seasonal ingredients the team have foraged locally from the countryside and coastline, alongside a talk from Lucia herself.
The Lane (thelanedeal.co.uk) is a lovely cafe, restaurant and cocktail bar offering a range of food including afternoon teas which change regularly throughout the year and have different themes. With a fully decorated interior to create an exciting experience for everyone that attends, all food is freshly made either in the restaurant or by 'The Lane Bakery'. The website has the latest updates on themes and booking details.
EXPLORING THE TOWN
For those all-important local history lessons, then Deal Castle should be on the list. Built on the orders of King Henry VIII, it is one of England's finest Tudor artillery castles and full of activities, displays and artefacts telling the rich history of the fortress and the people who lived and worked there. Last year’s visitor numbers were up nine per cent on 2022, making it the best year ever. From Deal you can cycle or walk along the coastal path to Walmer Castle, both of which are run by English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk). A unique find is Deal Timeball Tower (dealtimeball.co.uk). At 1pm each day a signal was sent from Greenwich to all timeballs and allowed ships to check the accuracy of their chronometers, essential for navigation. Today, the timeball is programmed to drop every day at 1pm just like it was back in the day. Another must is Ripple Windmill (ripplewindmill.com). Just outside Deal, on the Dover Road, it has stunning views and is fully restored to working order. See the website for open days. Offering an eclectic mix of music, theatre, literary events, art exhibitions and films, The Astor Theatre (theastor.co.uk) has a range of classes and workshops and Kent Museum of the Moving Image (kentmomi.org) explores the deep history of the moving image.
STAYCATION
An early 18th century Georgian Hotel, The Royal Hotel (theroyalhotel.com) is regally positioned on Deal’s seafront. Ticking the box for family holiday or a romantic break, there’s also good food to be had as well as those far-reaching views over the coastline. The hotel combines charming period features with contemporary comfort… perfect for a seaside staycation. Also on the seafront is Number One B&B (numberonebandb.co.uk) which offers stylish and contemporary bed and breakfast in a Victorian villa located in the Middle Street conservation area, which is just off the town’s sweeping seafront. Serving up locally sourced breakfasts and personal touches…all help to make a stay as enjoyable as possible. Nothing beats the great outdoors and staying on a farm to escape the hustle and bustle is just what’s on offer at Solley’s Ice Cream Campsite (solleys.co.uk). The small site includes options such as electric, toilet and shower facilities and pitches for tents as well as caravans and motorhomes. But, most of all, if you love ice cream then this is the place to spend some of your summer…4,500 litres of ice cream are made per day! Oh, and its convenient location makes it the perfect base for exploring the local area.
Three of Deal’s best independent coffee shops
Hut 55.
There’s lots to love about this seaview wooden hut on the beach which serves plenty of food and drink treats. Pre-order picnics and hire bikes, too!
Where: Walmer Beach, Marine Road. CT14 7DN.
Hut55.co.uk
Cakes, pastries, snacks, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free specials can all be found here. There’s a passion for great coffee and dogs are welcome.
Where: 92a High Street. CT14 6EG.
hopeandlane.com
Hog and Bean.
From breakfasts, brunch and lunch, everything is handmade in-house. It’s also one of a few local coffee roasters which roast their own coffee beans making it deliciously special!
Where: 4 Victoria Road. CT14 7AP.
thehogandbean.co.uk
