insideKENT Magazine Issue 76 - July 2018 | Page 105

FOOD+DRINK
RESTAURANTS WITH A View cont.
Castle View Restaurant // Maidstone
The Castle View Restaurant at Leeds Castle
has the most unique view; it looks directly out
into the ‘loveliest castle in the world’. It is a
beautiful thing to look at, but then, at the Castle
View Restaurant (so aptly named), everyone
is beautiful; the restaurant itself is oak beamed
and relaxed, and you can enjoy a light lunch
or a wide range of cakes and pastries in the
day time or a full evening meal by night. There
are also chef’s special to try, so no two meals
at the Castle View need be the same, and all
ingredients are seasonal and local.
Leeds Castle, Maidstone ME17 1PL
www.leeds-castle.com/Visit/
Castle+View+Restaurant
Café du Soleil // Canterbury
The fact that Café du Soleil has a lovely
position right by the River Stour in Canterbury
and therefore has gorgeous views across it is
just one of the many reasons to enjoy a meal
here. The building that now houses the Café
du Soleil was once a wool store in the 18th
century, and its history has always been of
great importance, so much so that English
Heritage gave the owners a grant to restore it
– you can see reclaimed building material
from the 14th-century city wall used in the
building process.
This quaint restaurant (there is even a
bridge across the river to access it) serves food
that is influenced by Provence, Italy and even
the Pacific Rim, and the fusion that this creates
is an exciting and flavoursome one. Where
possible, and where recipes allow, the food is
cooked in the onsite wood burning oven,
giving it a unique and vibrant taste.
5 Pound Lane, Canterbury CT2 8AA
www.cafedusoleil.co.uk
Cullins Yard // Dover
From its enviable position, it’s possible to
watch the sun set behind Kent’s most famous
landmark, the White Cliffs of Dover. That’s a
view that it is impossible to replicate, so it’s
no wonder that Cullins Yard is on our list.
You’ll find Cullins Yard in what was once an
old shipyard in Dover Marina that has now
been rather beautifully converted. The
restaurant itself really sets a scene, specialising
in World War II memorabilia and some
gorgeous sculptures – come here to learn
about history, to enjoy art and to eat well.
Everything at Cullins Yard is cooked fresh
to order using ingredients that are supplied
each day by the butchers and fishmongers
who are all part of the Cullins Yard story. There
are plenty of vegetarian options as well, so
every taste is clearly catered for.
11 Cambridge Road, Dover CT17 9BY
www.cullinsyard.co.uk
Posillipo // Faversham
Faversham is a special place to while away a
lunch hour or even a whole day, and if you
can combine a trip there with eating at Posilipo
then you’ll make it even better. This authentic
Neapolitan restaurant provides superb home-
cooked meals in a cosy, intimate setting. There
is an extensive wine list to top things off with,
and of course, we must not forget the views.
In the summer, the outdoor eating area is
opened up and the views over Faversham
creek really are impressive. This is the kind of
place where you could easily enjoy a long,
leisurely lunch and you’ll certainly be reluctant
to leave at the end.
Provender Mill, Belvedere Road,
Faversham ME13 7LD
www.posillipo.co.uk
The Ferry House Inn // Harty
The Ferry House Inn in the tiny hamlet of
Harty on the Isle of Sheppey is a 15th-century
inn that has been thoroughly updated without
losing any of its considerable charm. As well
as excellent ‘pub grub’, there is a fine dining
menu and, to make everything even better,
the pub’s owners farm their own beef, shoot
their own game and even grow their own
vegetables and herbs in the kitchen