THE ADVERTISER - BOUTIQUE HOTEL & RESTAURANT REVIEW A FAVERSHAM TREAURE .....


T ravel Editor David Powell visits


TheFavershamCreekHotelandtheRed SailsRestaurant


InmytravelsI’vesleptinmorethanafew largefour-posterbedsovertheyears,but theoneintheQueenMatildaroomnow definitelyholdstherecord.Thisfour-poster is7footsquare,7foothighandverycomfy!


 Faversham is the oldest market town in Kent. Located on awinding creek there are lots of places to visit, as I was to discover on my recent short break. This bustling town has beautifully preserved medieval streets, hundreds of listed buildings and the meandering creek, once full of commercial sailing barges, is a lively scene of leisure and pleasure craft. There’s an array of independent shops to explore and the traditionalmarket is held on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday in the centre of town. With lots of places to visit including Chart GunpowderMills (Favershamwas the centre of the country’s explosive industry for 400 years), The ShepherdNeame Visitor Centrewhere an expert guide takes you on a tour through this busy working brewery, Maknade Fine Food Hall and much much more. Call into the visitor information centre, part of the Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre in Preston Street for more information or the Faversham Creek Hotel where I stayed has information to hand.


 In 2014,David Selves, alongwith hiswife Tracy, purchased the building, which dates back to 1723 and lovingly transformed it into a beautiful boutique hotel. My wife and I checked in late afternoon and were warmlywelcomed byDavid and Tracy.Wewere to chat laterwith them in the comfortable bar and lounge area like old friends, but for nowan- other David, David Lowe (there were a few David’s there that night!) the General Manager took our bags and showed us to our room – QueenMatilda. In keepingwith Faversham’s colourful past all the rooms have been named after famous people or businesses. The Queen Matilda room is ‘the jewel in the crown’, a premier room with views over theHenry PayCourtyard. Aside fromthe fabulous four- poster there’s a raised feature bath in the room, plus a large en-suite. After unpacking and relaxing for a while, the decadent notion of a soak in the bathwith a glass of champagne took hold.No time unfortunately on this occasion – dinner booked in the awardwinning Red Sails Restau- rant and pre dinner drinks of course with our hosts. in the dinner menu and the extensive wine list!


The lounge and bar are warm and welcoming. David and Tracy have invested much time in creating a ‘home from home’ atmosphere along with special touches like fresh flowers, tasteful decoration and very unusual wallpaper in the rest rooms – worth seeing! The bar is well stocked offering a large selection ofwines, gin,whisky and champagne, as well as locally sourced cider and cocktails. There’s an opportunity to join one of the drinks clubs and taste thewide range of gins,whisky and bottled craft beer.


 The Red Sails Restaurant is an integral part of the hotel andwith 36 covers each dining table is named after a Thames barge with a Faversham connection from whose sails the restaurant take’s its name. Now to be honest I can’t remember the name ofmy table – Iwas too engrossedHead chef Scott Pendry leads the kitchen and the front-of-house ismanaged by the experienced Food and Beverage Manager, Fabio Armenti. This really is a beautiful and relaxing restaurant with fabulous food. The food philos- ophy is great ingredients, locally sourced where possible, and where the plate is a canvas and the chefs use their talents and skills to create dishes of great texture and taste with exciting visual effect. This was recognised last year by the Red Sails Restaurant receiving its first AA Rosette. Overlooking the Henry Pay courtyard, which offers both sun and shade, outside dining is offered in summer.


This is exceptional fine dining and both my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal and the first class service that came with it. All the Red Sails Restaurantmenus are available to viewon theirwebsite – frombar snacks to lunch, dinner of course, tastingmenus and delicious afternoon tea.Click and drool:-


Queen Matilda Room PAGE20 MAIDSTONE&MIDKENTADVERTISER


The Comfortable Lounge


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