Whitstable news
Whitstable news, newest first, from Canterbury Live: planning, roads, schools, business and what's on in Whitstable, with every story linked to its source.
Top story
Christmas Day in Canterbury: 11 Pubs and Hotels That Will Do the Cooking
Eleven pubs and hotels around Canterbury and Whitstable open on Christmas Day 2026, from £54.99 at the Three Tuns to £165 at the Pig. Updated November 2026.
More stories
Council
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.
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.
Christmas
Where to Buy a Christmas Tree Near Canterbury 2026
We checked 4 places selling real Christmas trees near Canterbury, from Meadow Grange in Blean to farm-cut trees from Brogdale. 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.
Food & Drink
Afternoon Tea in Canterbury: Six Places for Scones, From £24.95 a Head
Six places for afternoon tea in Canterbury and Whitstable, from £24.95 a head at Tiny Tim's, with serving times and booking rules. Checked October 2026.
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.
Food & Drink
Sunday Roast in Canterbury: 11 Places Worth Booking, From Pub to Michelin
11 Canterbury Sunday roasts with prices, serving times and hygiene ratings, from The Parrot in the city to The Fordwich Arms. Checked October 2026.
Whitstable
Whitstable Roadworks: Road Closures and Traffic Orders Near Whitstable
Whitstable roadworks: Harwich Street (from 23 Nov) and every other traffic order within 3 km, checked each morning with the council's notice linked.
Whitstable
Whitstable Weather: 7-Day Forecast and Today's Hourly Outlook
Whitstable weather today: light rain, 9°C by day and 6°C overnight, with a 96% chance of rain and winds up to 13 mph. Seven-day forecast, updated every morning.
Food & Drink
Canterbury's Best Restaurants: 14 Tables From the Goods Shed to the Sea
We checked 14 Canterbury area restaurants, from The Goods Shed to Michelin-starred The Sportsman, for prices, hours and hygiene ratings. Updated October 2026.
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.
Whitstable
Farm & Harper Whitstable in Liquidation: Who to Contact
The company behind Farm & Harper on Whitstable High Street went into creditors' voluntary liquidation on 13 October. What the notices say and who to contact.
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.
Whitstable
Whitstable Yacht Cormorant Finishes the Rolex Middle Sea Race
Cormorant crossed the line in Malta early on 22 October after 4 days 14 hours at sea, completing the 606-mile race round Sicily. Her provisional class place.
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.
Whitstable
Whitstable's Old Prezzo to Reopen as Jimmy Beez Restaurant
Plans would reopen the empty former Prezzo in the listed Bear and Key, 1-3 High Street, Whitstable, as a restaurant called Jimmy Beez. Comments by 13 November.
Food hygiene
Whitstable Tesco Cafe Hygiene Rating Goes From 2 to 5
The Tesco cafe at Whitstable, rated 2 in August, was re-rated 5 on 30 September. Plus the latest Canterbury district 5s and early September's lower scores.
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.
Transport
Pean Hill Reopening Thursday 22 October, SGN Says
SGN expects to reopen Pean Hill on Thursday 22 October: the new gas main is in and the road is being resurfaced. Shuttle bus times from Blean until then.
Whitstable
Whitstable Harbour Quay Rebuild Starts: 85m of 1962 Wall
Work has started on 85 metres of Whitstable Harbour's east quay, where the 1962 steel piles have corroded through. The Environment Agency is paying £1,597,000.
Council
Chestfield and Swalecliffe: Parish Set to Triple to 8,369
Chestfield's electorate would go from 2,766 to 8,369 in a merger with Swalecliffe its parish council did not ask for. Stage 2 dates are not yet set.
Whitstable
Whitstable RNLI: Two Volunteers Qualify on £500,000 Tractor
Emily Francis and Liam Masters have passed out as launch vehicle operators at Whitstable RNLI, driving the tractor that puts the lifeboat into the sea.
Canterbury
Canterbury Nursery Ofsted: Turned Round in 100 Days
Jo Jo's on Nunnery Fields had two urgent improvement grades in January. Inspectors returned 100 days later and found none. Four district report cards in full.
Whitstable
Whitstable Roadworks: Harbour Street One Way Flips 21 Sept
Sea Street shuts and Harbour Street runs one way northbound from 21 September to 9 October for sewer repairs. Every changed street, turn ban and bus stop.
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.
Food hygiene
Canterbury hygiene ratings: all 30 in August scored 5
All 30 Canterbury district food hygiene inspections rated in August 2026 scored the top mark of 5, from Whitstable Harbour huts to a Herne village pub.
Planning
Whitstable Lidl Plan Draws 91 Objections, Decision 20 Oct
Lidl wants a 2,184 sq m store and 127 parking spaces on protected open space off Thanet Way. Its own figures say Aldi loses most, not the town centre.
Whitstable
Toby Carvery Signs Approved at Long Reach Tavern, Whitstable
Canterbury granted seven Toby Carvery signs at the Thanet Way restaurant on 6 August. The register shows no change of use was needed, and nobody objected.
Sport
Whitstable Yacht Club Topper Sailor Takes 6th in the World
Ralph Hadley finished 6th of 134 at the Topper World Championships in Brittany, then 9th in the Gold Fleet at the Nationals. Three Whitstable sailors competed.
Business
The Plough Swalecliffe: pub company enters liquidation
The Plough Swalecliffe Ltd went into creditors' voluntary liquidation on 29 July 2026. Who the liquidators are, and how creditors claim a deposit or voucher.
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.
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.