slow food 19 Ferry House Inn, Sheppey Gorgeous little pub serving local food, including game shot at the local estate. Site of ferry that once linked to the mainland. Harty Ferry Road (ME12 4BQ, ,, 01795 510214). 51.3549, 0.8911 h 20 Bluey’s Fish Stall, Oare Wet fish stall run by Barry (known locally as Bluey) and his daughter. Sells the catch from Bluey’s own boat, ‘Louise’. Arrive early on Fridays and Saturdays. On the road into Oare from Faversham, turn ,, R down the dirt track immediately before The Castle Inn (ME13 0PY) and then take first L. 07970 896143. 51.3298, 0.8799 s 21 Flynn’s Bee Farm Tea Room Rambling place with grassy garden and a pond. Taste an array of honeys in the little shop, hear tales of how the farm began, and enjoy a honey cream tea. Double J Farm, Elmley Road, Sheppey, ME12 ,, 3SS (well signposted past a garage, down a very bumpy road), 01795 874935. 51.4074, 0.8156 s
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22 Leigh-on-Sea Cockle Sheds Try everything from freshly landed cockles and shrimp, to oysters and smoked fish from these 19th-century seafront shacks. Buy a pint from the Crooked Billet (opposite) and eat by the water – or mud, depending on the tides. High Street, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 2ER. ,, 51.5408, 0.6481 sk
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23 Monkshill Farm Shop & café Perched atop a hill by a field of geese. Shop sells local foods, including Monkshill’s own meat. Café is basic, with lovely views out to sea. Run by the Royal School for Deaf Children. Monkshill Road, Waterham, ME13 9EH, ,, 01227 750211. 51.3264, 0.9661 qs
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24 The Alma, Painter’s Forstal Traditional rural pub with meat locally sourced from Brogdale Butchers. Good selection of real ales. Garden plays host to Bat and Trap interpub games on Sunday evenings. ME13 0DU, 01795 533835. ,, 51.2947, 0.8556 sa
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Thames Estuary
25 The Three Tuns, Lower Halstow Award-winning, traditional village pub with a constantly changing seasonal menu, serving a great selection of real ale from local microbreweries. The Street, Lower Halstow, ME9 7DY, ,, 01795 842840. 51.3739, 0.6697 as 26 The Old Neptune, Whitstable Right on the beach, the Old Neptune retains a wonderful sense of the seafaring past and is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Rebuilt from reclaimed timbers after a storm in 1897, it was the setting for the closure of the film Venus, which earned Peter O’Toole his last Oscar nomination. Island Wall, Marine Terrace, CT5 1EJ, ,, 01227 272262. 51.3589, 1.0201 ba 27 The Bell, Horndon Proper ‘pubby’ pub with wide range of ales. High Road, Horndon-on-the-Hill, SS17 8LD, ,, 01375 642463. 51.5235, 0.4061 a 28 The Dove, Dargate Bright, cosy country pub with a changing menu that reflects the seasons and local fare. Plumpudding Lane, ME13 9HB, ,, 01227 751360. 51.3150, 0.9842 as 29 The Honey Pot, Shoreham Sweet little village cafe. Very popular, so service can be a bit slow, but the cakes are well worth the wait. 4 High Street, TN14 7TD. ,, 51.3336, 0.1778 sk 30 The Ship Inn, Conyer Warm up by the fire in winter, or gaze across Conyer Creek to the marshes from the garden in summer. Own-baked bread and food from local suppliers. Set on the Saxon Shore Way, near National Cycle Route 1. The Quay, ME9 9HR, 01795 520881. ,, 51.3481, 0.8151 ascz 31 Shipwright’s Arms, Hollowshore Historic pub on the Saxon Shore Way, adjacent to a working boatyard, serving local fish and real ales. Apparantly haunted by the ghosts of smugglers, pirates, sailors and fishermen – the corner seat by the small fire may feel cold, even on a hot summer’s day...