The Old Neptune
Marine Terrace Whitstable CT5 1EJ
Slap bang on the beach, the Neptune features in almost every photo of Whitstable. Originally serving the men of the boat yards, a storm in 1897 washed the wooden beer house away and 'The Old Neptune' was rebuilt using timber reclaimed from the original structure. Now, having aged once again but still holding pride of place on the seafront, this old haunt is a bustling local pub. On sunny days the picnic tables outside are over-run, with a happily mixed bunch of families, locals, hikers and cyclists; dogs are welcome too. Inside it’s atmospheric in a spit-and-sawdust way, and surprisingly small; but there’s decent ale, simple pub grub and pub bands on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.