Food & Drink
There are a number of excellent and innovative vineyards nearby in Kent and East Sussex. These are some of our favourites, from major producers to small family-run estates.
Chapel Down
Chapel Down in Tenterden is one of the best known English producers making world-class sparkling and still wines together with an award-winning range of Curious beers and cider as well as gin. The Swan restaurant at its vineyard in Tenterden specialises in modern British cuisine.
Biddenden Vineyard
Biddenden is a traditional third-generation family owned fruit farm and vineyard. The first vines were planted here in 1969. Its Gribble Bridge wines, Ortega and range of ciders and mead offer a great introduction to English wine.
Gusbourne
Gusbourne combines the best of old-world tradition with new-world winemaking techniques. Its Brut Reserve and Blanc de Blancs are considered among the best English sparkling wines.
Woodchurch
Woodchurch is a small family vineyard established in 2009 producing award winning English sparkling wine. Its chardonnay-dominated Classic Cuvee and a Rose and Blanc de Blancs have been particularly well received.
Hush Heath Winery
Hush Heath Estate near Sissinghurst produces the very successful Balfour Brut Rose and English Bacchus wines which were first planted in 2002. It has an excellent visitor centre.
Tillingham Wines
Tillingham is a newly established natural and biodynamic wine producer in Peasmarsh. It’s already getting rave reviews for its break through Pet Natch and qvevri wines.
Harbourne Vineyard
This very small family owned and run vineyard and winery in High Halden uses traditional methods and minimum intervention to produce handmade wines. It has a small shop on the Smallhythe Road towards Wittersham.
If you’d rather not drive, Wine Tours of Kent run trips to a number of the main vineyards and breweries. Details are at www.winetoursofkent.co.uk
You could also try:
Old Dairy Brewery
Old Dairy is a microbrewery located just behind Tenterden Town Station. It brews everything from a range of award winning traditional English beers through to modern artisan and speciality beers such as its Cattle Shed craft beer.
Nightingale Farm Shop
Gibbet Oak Farm is an established family run fruit and vegetable farm. The farm shop on the Appledore Road just outside Tenterden sells farm produce as well as local wine and beer and the wonderful Nightingale Cider made from its own apples.
Best places to Eat
There are so many great places to eat nearby that it’s worth exploring off the beaten track. Somehow though we keep heading back to these:
The Fish Hut, Dungeness
A gem on the shingle at Dungeness. The original shack selling today’s catch now has an added kitchen in a refurbished shipping container as well as outside tables and benches. In season it’s open for lunch (think lobster rolls, generous helpings of battered and grilled fish and delicious deep-fried potatoes) Wednesday to Sunday, weather and catch permitting.
The Standard Inn, Rye
Rye has lots of fabulous cafés, bars and restaurants, and yet we usually gravitate to the Standard Inn for its wonderful atmospheric interior and its delicious menu of local fish, scallops and wicked pies.
The Star, Rolvenden
It’s hard to beat The Star for a warm welcome and the chance to chat with locals. It’s a great place to watch Premier League matches, gaze across open fields from its garden, sup local real ale, and eat pub food just like it should be.
Del’s Fish Bar
Sometimes a traditional takeaway fish and chips is the only thing that will hit the spot. When the craving hits we head to Del’s Fish Bar on the Ashford Road in St Michael’s. It’s two minutes from Potts Farm so everything will still be piping hot when you get back home, and it’s the best for miles.
Silcocks Farm Shop Café
This café serves great value organic produce from the farm and offers one of the tastiest Full English Breakfasts you’ll find anywhere. It’s a short walk from Potts Farm along Grange Road and has outside tables in a lovely old farmyard setting.
www.silcocksfarm-organics.co.uk
Pubs and Restaurants in Tenterden
Tenterden’s High Street has a great range of tea shops, cafes, restaurants and traditional pubs. They are all worth trying but these are particularly popular:
The Woolpack
The Woolpack is a beautiful 15th Century pub between St Mildred’s Church and the Town Hall. It’s run by Hush Heath so has local cider, beer and wines and a good selection of pub food.
The White Lion
This traditional wood-beamed pub is one of the five ancient inns of Tenterden. It has live bands most Fridays and Saturdays and its pizzas are excellent.
This Ancient Boro
This atmospheric and sociable micro-pub combines a traditional alehouse and tapas bar. It serves a great and regularly varied selection of local ales and ciders.
Montalbano
Montalbano is a busy family-run Italian restaurant with good atmosphere and generous portions. Also check out the Bottega behind the restaurant for breakfast and gelato.
www.montalbanorestaurant.co.uk
The Swan at Chapel Down
The Swan offers family-friendly fine dining using locally and regionally-sourced produce and the award-winning Chapel Down range of wine, beer, and gin.