Whitstable - faded chic?

Our friends Al and Liz came over today and after lunch we went to Whitstable for the afternoon, mainly to have a cup of tea and a slice of teacake on the beach. Before that treat we walked around the harbour and a little way along the seafront to take in the chic charm of this town which seems to be one of the in places to live at the moment.

Oysters were everywhere as were boats of all shapes, sizes and functions. Old fishemen's huts had been renovated and were available to stay in from £75 per night.

As it was a lovely sunny day the place was quite busy with traders doing a brisk business in "fruits de mer". Eating places varied from shacks and stalls to upmarket dining experiences cheek by jowl with fishmongers, pungent fishing gear and great piles of whelk and oyster shells.

For a long time we've been meaning to take the stove out and have a cup of tea by the sea and this time we did it. The little trangia stove merrily boiled the water very quickly while we sat watching the tide come in and enjoying that cake. A lovely, warm end of summer day.

See our last visit to Whistable in July 2013