Review on The Coastguard
Following a £200,000 refurbishment the Coastguard billed as 'the closest English pub to France', and spectacularly situated right by St Margaret's Bay has been given a new lease of life, courtesy of Britain's oldest brewery Shepherd Neame. In summer you can sit outside and gaze across the Straits of Dover towards the French mainland. The views are certainly worth the trip, although there's much more to enjoy here.
Now sporting a new look inspired by maritime heritage, it has a red and white lighthouse-style pub fascia and sign writing, decorated with boat-shaped planters and lifebuoys. An outside bar and barbecue has been installed on the paved terrace with living room style lamps on the tables. Inside, the Coastguard has been completely refurbished and continues the nautical theme, repainted in contemporary colours with a cosy new fireplace welcoming guests in cooler months.
New licensees are Karensa and Tom Miller winners of the New Licensee of the Year Award at the 2014 Shepherd Neame Pub awards, and Wine Pub of the Year at the 2015 awards for the Zetland Arms in Kingsdown, which they have run since 2013. Food is at the heart of the set-up and they have introduced a new menu of light bites and traditional main meals, with fish showing up well due to the coastal location.
The kitchen turns out starters such as calamari served with salad and sweet chilli sauce and breaded chicken with salad and a sundried tomato and garlic mayonnaise. Main courses look to beer battered cod and chips with a choice of garden peas or mushy peas, and from the chargrill there's an 8oz sirloin steak with grilled tomato, mushrooms, chips and salad.
The Coastguard is also featured in: AA Guide
Rate this RestaurantCuisine
Gastro pub / Modern British
Restaurant Opening Times
Breakfast: 10.00am through
Lunch: until
Dinner: 9.00pm (5.00pm Sun)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card
