Kent’s top 4 pubs with rooms easily reached from London

They’re a great choice for an autumnal weekend getaway and a good base for country walks or meanders through coastal towns.

Not only do they have oodles of charm, many have great kitchens attached serving hearty and warming pub meals.

The Good Food Guide recently put together their favourite UK pubs with accommodation attached, and four of them are based in Kent – less than two hours drive from London. Here they are.

Anglea’s of Margate, Margate

Right in the heart of Kent coast’s most buzzing town, this understated green Michelin starred bistro specialises in fish and seafood. It also has three rooms that overlook the harbour, each with an en-suite shower room and created in the same ethos as the bistro was – to be a sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible.

What the Good Food Guide said: There’s a general air of warm-heartedness and good humour at Lee Coad’s and Charlotte Forsdike’s sought-after restaurant. It comes across as a genuine local, refreshingly free of affectation and resolutely faithful to its seaside location, with ethically sourced fish as the main event.

Address: 21 The Parade, Margate CT9 1EX

Website: angelasofmargate.com

The West House, Biddenden 

Find this 15th century weaver’s cottage on the edge of High Weald Area of National Beauty. Cosy, quaint and exuding English country charm, the restaurant is lead by chef/patron Graham Garrett and prepare a modern British menu lead by the seasons and from local produce. Airy Scandi-styled rooms come with dinner the night before and a breakfast hamper delivered to your door in the morning.

What the Good Food Guide said: Graham Garrett’s delightfully laid-back restaurant with rooms certainly has formidable staying power – it celebrated its 20th birthday in 2022. The 16th-century weaver’s cottage is fittingly discreet from the outside, warm, understated and beautifully timbered within, with affable service and a choice of fixed-price menus.

Address: 28 High Street, Biddenden, Ashford TN27 8AH

Website: thewesthouserestaurant.co.uk

The Sportsman, Whitstable

Another great choice for lovers of coastal towns and seafood, The Sportsman in Whitstable whips up a five-course tasting menu that is both seasonal and local. Oysters, cured trout and game and prune terrine are on the menu as are dishes such as roast monkfish, roast saddle of lamb and roast celeriac with stewed apple. The pub has four cabins out the back, each with a king bed, fully equipped kitchen and lounge and shower room. An overnight stay here also includes breakfast provisions which you can cook in the cabin.

What the Good Food Guide said: Overlooking the Kent marshes, a short drive along the coast west of Whitstable, this unremarkable roadside pub may seem an unlikely spot for such a famous restaurant. Welcoming, confident and buzzing with atmosphere, the interior hasn’t changed a great deal – well-spaced scrubbed tables, bare-boarded floors, a light, airy vibe – and neither has the obsession with provenance.

Address: Faversham Road, Seasalter, Whitstable CT5 4BP

Website: thesportsmanseasalter.co.uk

The Rose, Deal

Found in another one of Kent’s charming seaside towns, The Rose is a short walk to the beach and the pier, nestled amongst shops and things to look at in the town’s conservation area. The restaurant serves up elegant European dishes, think slow-roasted hate tartine, whipped cod’s roe and pan-fried duck breast. The pub’s eight rooms have eclectic style, dressed in colours and patterns to a contemporary vintage effect. Guests who stay overnight can try out the pub’s tandem bike free of charge.

What the Good Food Guide said: From the moment you walk in until the moment you leave, you feel relaxed and happy, the decor is fantastic, and the service is perfect: attentive but not over-bearing. Welcome to the Rose – a great dining pub pursuing smart technique and quality ingredients in an atmosphere of scuffed wood floors, vintage furniture, modern art and fashionable colours.

Address: 91 High Street, Deal CT14 6ED

Website: therosedeal.com