Herne Bay news
Herne Bay news, newest first, from Canterbury Live: planning, roads, schools, business and what's on in Herne Bay, with every story linked to its source.
Top story
Canterbury Parking Charges Would Be Frozen in 2027/28
Canterbury City Council plans no parking price rises in 2027/28, a bigger resident discount and free Sundays at seafront car parks. Consultation comes first.
More stories
Council
Herne Bay Land Train Could Return With £70,000 in the Budget
Canterbury City Council's draft budget sets aside £70,000 to buy a land train for Herne Bay. It lists about £3.6m for the town's schemes in 2027/28.
Council
Dogs Could Be Banned From Five More Sites Around Canterbury
A new order would ban dogs from five more play and sports areas in Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay, and relax Barham green. Cabinet decides on 7 December.
Christmas
Christmas Shopping in Canterbury: 19 Stops From Burgate to the Seaside
We checked 19 shops and markets in Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay, from Wrapped! to Madame Oiseau, for opening hours. Updated November 2026.
Elections
Canterbury Elections 6 May 2027: Polling Stations Proposed
Canterbury City Council elections are on 6 May 2027, on 24 new wards with 40 councillors. Comment on the proposed polling stations by 9am on 24 November.
Children
Soft Play and Rainy-Day Places Near Canterbury
9 places for soft play and wet days near Canterbury, from £5 soft play at Kingsmead to the free Beaney, with prices and opening hours. Checked October 2026.
Family
Days Out Near Canterbury With Children, Checked October 2026
12 days out near Canterbury with children, from Howletts and Wildwood to Dover Castle, with winter hours, prices and house rules. Checked October 2026.
Food hygiene
Herne Bay Bandstand Cafe Rated 1 for Food Hygiene
Makcari's at Herne Bay's Central Bandstand was rated 1 in September, the district's lowest. Two cafes and a pub got 2s. All 75 September ratings.
Planning
Sturry Road Student Block Refused Against Officers' Advice
Councillors refused 402 student rooms on the old Invicta Motors site in Sturry Road on 13 October. Retirement flats by Canterbury West were approved.
Parks
Canterbury Playgrounds and Parks for Children
13 Canterbury district playgrounds with ages, rebuilds, parking and dog rules, from Dane John Gardens to Reculver Country Park. Checked October 2026.
Walks
Walks Near Canterbury: 10 Routes From Bison Woods to the Sea
These 10 walks near Canterbury run from the Crab and Winkle Way to Stodmarsh, with distances, surfaces, parking and dog rules. Checked October 2026.
Food & Drink
Cafes in Canterbury: 11 Worth the Walk, From Burgate to Reculver
We checked 11 Canterbury, Whitstable and village cafes, from Tiny Tim's Tearoom to HatHats in Reculver, for hours and hygiene ratings. Updated October 2026.
Herne Bay
Herne Bay Roadworks: Road Closures and Traffic Orders Near Herne Bay
Herne Bay roadworks: A2990 Thanet Way (now, until 27 Nov) and every other traffic order within 3 km, checked each morning with the council's notice linked.
Herne Bay
Herne Bay Weather: 7-Day Forecast and Today's Hourly Outlook
Herne Bay weather today: light rain, 9°C by day and 6°C overnight, with a 99% chance of rain and winds up to 13 mph. Seven-day forecast, updated every morning.
Food & Drink
Canterbury Pubs: The Best Pubs and Where to Drink
We list 18 pubs in Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and villages, from The Parrot to The Hampton Inn, with hours and hygiene ratings. Checked October 2026.
Herne Bay
Herne Bay Memorial Park Play Area Reopens After Rebuild
Herne Bay's Memorial Park play area is open again after a £300,000 rebuild, with a wheelchair swing, seesaw and sensory zone. Three more play areas are next.
Council
Canterbury Place Panels: Residents Can Apply by 2 November
Residents can now apply to sit on new panels shaping Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay town centres. Send a CV and 750 words by 2 November; posts are unpaid.
Council
Canterbury Town Centre Action Plan: 40 Projects by 2028
A sauna for Herne Bay seafront, a wet fish stall at Whitstable Harbour and a youth hub: the 40 town centre projects Cabinet backed on 5 October, with dates.
Business
New Canterbury Companies: 122 Registered in September
122 new firms registered in the Canterbury district in September, up from 84 in August. Herne Bay more than doubled; five are community interest companies.
Remembrance
Remembrance in Canterbury: Armistice Day and the 2027 Date
Remembrance Sunday was on 8 November. On Wednesday 11 November the Cathedral holds a Bell Ceremony at 11am. Next year's Sunday is 14 November 2027.
Herne Bay
Herne Bay King's Hall Toilets Move 350m: Cabinet Approves
Approved 5 October: the King's Hall public toilets move 350m east to the East Cliff beach huts, with an accessible toilet and baby change. Cabinet voted 7-0.
Food hygiene
Canterbury Food Hygiene: Late August Ratings Add Two 2s
Ratings below 5 reach the register weeks late. August's full list now has two 2s, at a Herne Bay grill and a Whitstable Tesco cafe, plus eight 3s.
Herne Bay
Herne Bay East Cliff Mural Tagged Within a Fortnight
The £12,000 artwork was finished on 7 September and tagged by the weekend of 20 September. Cleaning it off cost taxpayers a few hundred pounds.
Environment
Canterbury Biodiversity Grants: £5,500 for Kingston's Adders
Four district groups share £9,264, led by £5,500 for adder habitat at Kingston. Herne Bay scouts and two house martin projects are also funded.
Herne Bay
King's Hall Herne Bay: 1980s Toilet Blocks Cleared to Go
The 1980s toilet lobbies hiding the King's Hall's 1904 front can be demolished, after a 7 September ruling. What the £2m Herne Bay revamp does, and when.
Herne Bay
Herne Bay Wins £270,000 for Three Play Area Rebuilds
Government money will rebuild the Central Parade seafront, Collins Road and Honeysuckle Way play areas. Herne Bay was picked on child poverty and playground shortage. Tenders go out this autumn.
Herne Bay
Canterbury Christmas Lights Switch-On: Friday 13 November
Canterbury switches on Friday 13 November, 5pm to 8pm, with lights at 6pm, 6.30pm and 7pm and free Park and Ride from 2pm. Herne Bay is 22 November.
Council
Herne Bay and Tankerton Dog Beach Ban Ends 30 September
Dogs are barred from both beaches until 30 September under an order that expires next May. Every lead-only and dog-free site listed, plus how to respond by 1 October.
Herne Bay
Herne Bay Memorial Park play area closes 24 August
Work on a £300,000 fully accessible playground starts on Monday 24 August, closing the King's Road play area until early October. What is being built and why.
Food hygiene
Canterbury district food hygiene ratings, July 2026: 33 top scores and a clean sweep for the city centre, with one Herne Bay butcher below the top mark
34 Canterbury district food hygiene inspections were rated in July 2026. 33 scored the top mark of 5, from Burgate restaurants to the Herne Bay pier huts. Broadway Butchers in Herne Bay was the only business rated below the top, with a 3.
Bins
Canterbury Christmas Bin Collections: 2026 Dates Not Out Yet
Canterbury City Council publishes its Christmas bin dates in mid-December. Here is the 2025/26 pattern, the garden waste pause and how to get rid of the tree.
Schools
Canterbury School Term Dates 2026/27: Half Term Varies
Most Canterbury district schools are back on Monday 2 November; Simon Langton Girls' and Herne Bay High return on 9 November. Christmas break from 18 December.
Trains
Canterbury Christmas Trains 2026: No Trains 25 and 26 Dec
No trains on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. Last Christmas Eve the final trains left London at 20.34 for Canterbury West and 21.10 for Canterbury East.
Recycling
Canterbury Tip Opening Times: 8am to 4.30pm, Book a Slot
Herne Bay tip on Westbrook Lane and Canterbury tip on Vauxhall Road open 8am to 4.30pm Mon to Sat, 9am to 4pm Sun. Booking is free but compulsory: how to book.
Half Term
October Half Term Canterbury 2026: Dates and What's On
Kent schools break 26 to 30 October, several local schools a week earlier. The Festival, a £6 Tudor trail at the Beaney, Cathedral crafts and two Marlowe shows.