Margate is a part of The Countrywide Great Tour route this summer. We reveal some of the best restaurants and places to stay in the Kent seaside town
The Countrywide Great Tour begins on 4 July 2015 and takes place over 64 days visiting various coastal locations across the UK. Cyclists will begin to arrive in Margate on the afternoon of 9 August after a ride along the coast from Chatham.
If you’re taking part yourself or supporting a friend or family member in the tour, there’s plenty on offer around Margate. The traditional seaside town is known for its sandy beaches and chilled out café culture. Plus, its home to some delicious food and drink and relaxing places to stay.
Where to eat
The freshly prepared Thai food on offer at Yama’s receives rave reviews on Trip Advisor. The menu offers a range of tasty sounding Thai food from green curry to pad Thai noodles – or if you don’t fancy being too adventurous it even offers an all day breakfast! Yama’s has a ‘bring your own booze’ policy, so don’t forget to grab your favourite bottle of wine on the way there.
Relatively new to the Margate restaurant scene, Secret Spices opened in April 2015 and has become a popular curry house in the town. Offering traditional Indian cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere – we hear the dhansak is worth a try!
Describing itself as modern European cuisine with a hint of the Caribbean, Mullins Brasserie serves up its fresh inspired menu from a converted old butchers shop in Margate’s Market Place. Don’t miss the rustic Bajan fishcakes served with peppered mayonnaise and the traditional West Indian goat curry.
Where to stay
The Sands Hotel and Restaurant
Overlooking the Margate Sands, this boutique hotel is flanked by a contemporary 2 AA Rosette restaurant and bar. The 20 rooms have king size beds with Egyptian cotton linen throughout, plus the hotel has its own ice cream parlour and rooftop terrace – perfect for soaking up the last of the evening sun after a long days cycling.
With a focus on design the interior of the Crescent Victoria is all misty greys with bright pops of colour – a perfect compliment to the hotel’s sea view backdrop. The en-suite rooms are complete with flat screen TVs, feather duvets and comfy double beds. Plus, the alfresco courtyard dining area is perfect for indulging in one of the Crescent’s afternoon teas with a glass of champagne.
The Reading Rooms is a luxury boutique bed and breakfast in a recently restored, Grade II listed Georgian town house in Margate’s Hawley Square. Each of the three bedrooms has king-sized beds, crisp white linen and roll top baths – with breakfast served to your room each morning.
What to do
From its location on Margate seafront, Turner Contemporary aims to help people discover ‘different ways of seeing, thinking and learning’ about art. The gallery has regular exhibitions and celebrates Turner’s connection to the town of Margate.
Dreamland reopens in June 2015 after an extensive reimagining of what is considered to be the oldest surviving amusement park in Britain. Expect to find retro inspired rides along side modern fairground favourites – all a stones throw from Margate’s famous sandy beach.
Do you want to take part in the Great tour? To enter, head over to the Countrywide Great Tour website.
