Duke of Cumberland

We had a Birthday Meal here and the food was fantastic. The Bill was decent for what we got, and the Staff were friendly and attentive. The one thing we’d change is having a Drinks Menu on the Table. Without one, we each had to go to the Bar to find out what was available. Still, it was a great experience and we’ll return.

Room 5 was very large, comfortable, and nicely decorated. The bathroom was huge, with a lovely bath and a separate large shower, and the toiletries were extremely nice. The room also had excellent tea and coffee facilities: kettle, plenty of drinks including herbal teas and oat milk, plus a pod coffee machine better than many we’ve had in hotels. There was also a carafe of water and a complimentary bottle of Whitstable Pale Ale. Breakfast was excellent in a stunning room, and though we didn’t go into the pub, it looked very nice. The room could have been cleaner. The bathroom bin hadn’t been emptied, and we opened it to find a previous guest’s toothbrush. That’s a niggle we could overlook. Noise is harder to ignore, though, and might put us off returning unless we knew another room was quieter. This top-floor room faced the back street, and the single-glazed windows, bus stop outside, and goods vehicles passing made it very noisy. It was quiet enough between about midnight and 6am. Secondary glazing would make a big difference. The staff were friendly and helpful. It was easy to find, a few minutes’ walk from Queen Street Car Park. You can only pay for parking until 21:00, then need to set a reminder to buy overnight parking from 21:00-07:30 for £2, and again at 07:30. You can do it with the Ringo app.

We didn’t stay here, but wish we had. Our hotel wasn’t as nice, and the rooms here looked very comfortable. We had an excellent meal in a very nice pub. The food was well prepared and arrived nice and hot. We came in just after a group of about seven with a small toddler who was screeching while the parents did nothing to stop it. The hostess seated us in the bar, and we later realised it was for our own good. The family caused quite a disturbance, and several other guests got fed up with the noise and asked to move to the bar to finish dinner. Our service was outstanding, and the bar was very comfortable. We’d come back when we’re in town, and would definitely stay here if we needed an overnight room.

Our first meal in the UK was here, right after arriving from Canada, and it set an incredibly high bar. The Fish and Chips were delicious, the setting was beautiful and high-end, and the staff were exceptionally personable. The head maître d’ took time to talk through our food sensitivities and made sure an excellent meal was prepared to suit us. A perfect introduction to dining in Whitstable. Highly recommend!