Coronavirus is devastating families across the country. From The Times: August 31, 1920The oyster season opened on August 4, but it is not until the beginning of September that the public cares to eat oysters, and September 1 is regarded by the trade as It’s my son Freddy’s last day of the holidays, and he has bivalves on his mind. As good as it is, the Royal Oyster Stores, in its striking brick building on the beach, can be something of a tourist draw in oyster season. The Lobster Shack is a beach bar serving a selection of hot and cold seafood, with daily specials, amazing local beers and local wine. 1/2 doz Whitstable Oyster Co Rock Oysters £16. Kent. But oyster-eating in Whitstable dates back even further … Very good C/U of one girl eating an oyster then winking at the camera. Up to Whitstable, on a blustery September day, at the very start of the native oyster season. The Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company, which operates several restaurants and a hotel in Whitstable, can trace its history back to the late 1700s and (according to some reports) as early as the 1400s. First incorporated by an Act of Parliment in 1793 as the "Company of Free Fishers and Dredgers of Whitstable"; the Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company's Oyster Farm covers an area of inter-tidal waters at Whitstable Bay, near the seaside town of Whitstable, Kent, England. We buy or dredge Native oysters from the common ground historically known as … By then no native oysters were grown at all in the area, but were simply shipped in from beds on the south coast, cleaned up and purified. Whitstable Oyster Festival has become the latest major Kent event to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Soak up the vibes. Grilled WOFCo rock oysters ‘Nola’ (garlic butter & parmesan) £12. As it happens, the town's traditional Whitstable Oyster Festival takes place in the off-season for native oysters. By using Tripsavvy, you accept our. The Whitstable Oyster Company, Whitstable: See 1,623 unbiased reviews of The Whitstable Oyster Company, rated 4 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #17 of 110 restaurants in Whitstable. There is no elaborate haute cuisine here. The hand cut chips were very, very good. Or we could take a ninety minute train ride to Whitstable to have some oysters. Disease, war and fashion put paid to the town's oyster fishery in the 1920s, but a revival, led by the current (private) owners of the Whitstable Oyster Company, has made the town's succulent mollusc a valued and desirable commodity again. Pro Tip: When there’s an R in the month, its native oyster season (rock oysters are available all year). The Last of the Sailing Yawls - "The Favourite", Fisherman's Huts Are Now Quirky Hideaways. Our Education Directory has everything you could possibly need! Ferne Arfin is a freelance travel writer who covers the U.K. and Greece for TripSavvy. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), The extension of the lockdown confirmed by the government this afternoon. Outside of the restaurant's scheduled lunch and dinner hours, visitors can enjoy a beer, a plateful of oysters and some bread and butter at wooden trestle tables in the bar. It flourishes in the shallow, coastal waters of the Thames Estuary where fresh and salt water mix and where the microscopic algae oysters eat is plentiful. Now, she sits surrounded by wildflowers in a narrow garden on a street called Island Wall. Harvesting oysters at Whitstable Oyster Company farm from trestle tables 50m offshore. Whitstable’s famous native oysters are at their best from September through to April. Visit their website to find out more. Eat oysters at: The Royal Naval Oyster Stores, owned by the Whitstable Oyster Company who revived the town's fishery after World War II. Built in 1890, she was a working vessel until machined gunned in 1944 during WWII. The property is a stone’s throw from the Saxon Shore Coastal Path. The Whitstable Oyster Company, Whitstable: See 1,601 unbiased reviews of The Whitstable Oyster Company, rated 4 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #20 of 108 restaurants in Whitstable. What's for dinner? Whitstable High Street and many good restaurants are all within a lovely 20 minutes walking along the coast path – but there are also regular buses to Whitstable and Canterbury from a stop near the house. M/S as they pour the oysters out of a … Oysters have been fished from Whitstable Bay since Roman times to date. The Romans loved Whitstable oysters and were sending them home in around 80AD. The town has an oyster festival, but don't expect to eat any natives then - they hold it in July when the oyster season is over and the fishermen have time to celebrate. Probably longer in fact - the Romans in Britain farmed and exported Whitstable oysters to the Imperial Capital 2,000 years ago. "In addition to the government rightly enforcing a prolonged period of social isolation, it would not be right to place any additional strain on the emergency services, who we are lucky enough to have working alongside us at our events. 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You’re reminded of them at every turn. When the sun’s out it’s hard to beat rolling your trousers up and picking your way … Being situated on a no through road, The Oyster Shell benefits from minimal traffic noise, and generally safe streets. With amazing beach views and lots of outdoor seating The Lobster Shack is the perfect summer destination. The oysters from Whitstable received European PGI status protection in 1992. First up, Whitstable Native Oysters: Grown to market size on the seabed, Whitstable Native Oysters are fished further out to sea near Whitstable Bay at the seaside town of Whitstable, Kent, England. Photograph: Tim Stubbings Photography Green’s father, Barrie, … In an enterprising act of recycling, the owners of the Continental Hotel, who also own the Whitstable Oyster Company, have converted a group of cockle farmers' storage sheds into unusual ocean view accommodations (bottom left in the photo above) They're available for a minimum of two night stays. Item title reads- Whitstable. Oystermen are far too busy once the season opens so they celebrate in July. For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here. Whitstable Town centre with its charming architecture, excellent independent pubs, and many craft and artisan food shops is a just a short walk away. It's a tradition that dates from Norman times, when local fisherman held a festival and service of thanksgiving during the closed season for oysters, around the time of the feast day of St. James of Compostella, July 25. Now the pebble beach, near town is lined with a ramshackle assortment of huts, some of which still store fishermens gear, some of which are small artists studios and galleries and some of which are secret bolt holes for raffish vacationers. M/S of four attractive young ladies in their bathing suits hauling in the oysters on a dredger. "The decision to cancel was taken by FULL, the company organising the festival on our behalf, with our support. "This would have been our third year of producing the event and we were looking forward to putting on an amazing show with wide-ranging additions and improvements for the people of Whitstable," he said. Oysters Whitstable has been farmed since Roman times and the annual Oyster Festival dates back to the Norman period. The Whitstable Oyster Company is one of the oldest companies in Europe and can trace its origins back to the 1400s. (Check National Rail Enquiries for times). "The Favourite" commemorates Whitstable's shipbuilding industry. With Native Oyster Season under way, it's time to introduce our UK Native Oysters. Whitstable (/ ˈ hw ɪ t s t ə b əl /) is a seaside town on the north coast of Kent in south-east England, 5 miles (8 km) north of Canterbury and 2 miles (3 km) west of Herne Bay.It has a population of about 32,000. The Whitstable Oyster Company has been growing oysters in the words of ancient documents since time immemorial. The Oyster bar and The Forge are two great places to eat in Whitstable. The company lays claim to being Europe's oldest surviving commercial enterprise. ... post office and pub are within 5 minutes walk as is the beach and a playing field. Farmed rock oysters (the tan oyster on the right) are available all the time and plenty of other fish and seafood, including lobsters, are landed by the local fishermen. Being in the gorgeous seaside town of Whitstable in Kent, where oysters are farmed and sold fresh along the marina, I … Best Oysters in Whitstable, Kent: Find 16,751 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of THE BEST Oysters and search by price, location, and more. The boats were built strong with a shallow draft to ply the shallow waters over the beds. This company was under the control of a Board of Directors and consisted of shareholders. The seaside town … The MICHELIN inspectors’ point of view, information on prices, types of cuisine and opening hours on the MICHELIN Guide's official website Adult admission is £3; students admission is £2, and one child is admitted free with each paying adult.. "The extension of the lockdown confirmed by the government this afternoon would have caused further issues for suppliers to the festival. Whitstable Oyster Festival has become the latest major Kent event to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.. The annual Whitstable Oyster Festival [July 22-24 this year] is also worth a visit; there is music and Morris dancing, and a procession, plus arts events. At Whitstable harbour you can watch mongers taking the oysters from the shells Credit: Alamy. In the meantime, please follow the advice and stay safe. The now debt-ridden Company was reconstituted in 1896 under the Companies Act and the Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company was found. View the latest coronavirus stats including new cases, rolling rate and case rate compared to average. A spokesman said: "We're sad to announce that this year's Whitstable Oyster Festival has been cancelled. It includes traditional events such as the vibrant oyster parade, the landing and blessing of the oysters, a food fair, the 'mud tug' and building 'grotters' - small candlelit mounds of oyster shells - on the beach at sunset. Shallow draft sailing craft still manoeuvre the oyster beds, sharing space on the beach with many small pleasure boats, but "The Favourite", in the top photo, harks back to Whitstable's Victorian fishery.She was the last of the traditional wooden oyster yawls in Whitstable and the only one now in public ownership. Black truffle taramasalata with chargrilled sourdough toast £9. Whitstable was famous for its 'Native Oysters' which were collected from beds beyond the low water mark from Roman times until the mid-20th century. "We would like to thank them for their excellent work and we look forward to you all next year when we can celebrate Whitstable’s oysters with you once again. "While it is the right decision in the circumstances, we know this news will be disappointing for many people and thank you for your understanding.". The ambiance may be laid back and casual but the oyster's shucked to order in front of you and the sea view (and the prices) are first class. Here we pay tribute to those who have died from the virus in Kent. The town of Whitstable, on the east coast of Kent has been synonymous with oysters for hundreds of years. Grilled WOFCo rock oysters ‘Royale’ (black truffle butter & Champagne) £12. The Whitstable Oyster Company, Whitstable: See 1,623 unbiased reviews of The Whitstable Oyster Company, rated 4 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #17 of 110 restaurants in Whitstable. While some locals opt to avoid the town during the busy period, the festival brings huge crowds of visitors to Whitstable, bringing a boost of trade to local business. Whilst it was understood that the Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company (WOFC) have deployed Oyster trestles in this location since 2009 the concerns were … Because for every person who adores the plump, lusty silkiness of an oyster, another ten believe they taste, not to put too fine a point on it, like snot. Don Draper was clearly on to something. But Canterbury City Council has announced today that the festival will not be going ahead this year, following the government's announcement of an extension to coronavirus lockdown measures. For him, an oyster may be like eating a mermaid, but for me, it’s like eating a piece of ancient and delicious British history. Chargrilled Sardines £8. Often they were crewed by two or three men and a boy. The colder the water, the better the oysters so, although the native season begins September 1, hang on until at least October when the native oysters are really worth the hour and 20 minute train journey down from London Victoria. Whitstable Oyster Festival Home The seaside town of Whitstable, on the north coast of Kent in south east England, is known for its brightly-coloured beach huts, traditional seaside charm, and oysters. The once thriving Whitstable Royal Oyster Company by then comprising of a derelict building, £342 worth of equipment and £40,000 of debt was bought by Barrie Green and John Knight in 1976. The popularity of Whitstable's native oysters grew for hundreds of years, reaching its apogee in the 1850s, when the company, then a cooperative of local fishermen and oyster farmers, shipped as many as 80 million oysters a year to London's Billingsgate Market. Unlike some English seaside towns, that (since the seaside became popular in the mid 19th century) are little more than extended amusement arcades, Whitstable has the salty charm of a working fishing village. Here are some other good choices: In the Victorian heyday of Whitstable's oyster fisheries, at least 150 sailing yawls, sometimes called oyster smacks, harvested the cultivated oyster beds. The PGI is administered by “The Ancient Oyster Companies of Whitstable and Faversham.” To be sold as a Whitstable Oyster, an oyster must be from the oyster beds around Whitstable. "But safety must always come first. Instead, expect the best local ingredients, simply cooked. Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable, We have two family tickets for four to give away to Christmas at the Castle. This tiny, pink fronted restaurant dates … The Whitstable Oyster Festival Association reports that 2,000 year old oyster shells excavated in modern Rome have been traced back to Whitstable. "We have the utmost respect for them and wish to express our admiration for their dedication and professionalism, which is proving so vital at this time. Today we are hands on with more than half a dozen methods of production. She currently lives in London. Whitstable in England's Kent is an oyster-lover's paradise. Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. As good as it is, the Royal Oyster Stores, in its striking brick building on the beach, can be something of a tourist draw in oyster season. I visited the company's Royal Naval Oyster Stores restaurant in September and struck up a conversation in the casual oyster bar with some businessmen who had come down from a nearby conference just to eat oysters. Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? The Whitstable Oyster Festival has its roots in Norman times when fishermen held a service of thanksgiving around the feast day of St James of Compostella, considered the patron saint of oystermen. The Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company traces its roots back to 1793, when it was set up by an Act of Parliament, but oysters have been a part of Whitstable’s history for far longer. ABOUT OYSTER SHELL VILLA. Here are some other good choices: Wheeler's Oyster Bar 8 High Street, Whitstable, +44 (0)1227 273 311. Information on signs in the garden around her tells of the shipwrights and blacksmiths that once built Whitstable's oyster fleet right on the beach. The succulent "Native" oysters are unlike any other and have been harvested here since medieval times. "Both we and the council also have a responsibility to our staff, event workers, suppliers and sponsors, so all developments have been closely monitored before making the final decision. It was a no brainer really. The popular family-friendly weekender - an homage to the humble mollusc for which Whitstable is famous - takes place in the town every summer, usually during July. Safety must always come first. Moules Mariniere £11. It cannot be postponed to a later date due to overlapping with other events and the pressure this would put on the emergency services. If you are planning on heading for Whitstable outside the traditional oyster season (months with an R from September to April) you can still try some oysters. The oysters for one that are in season only during months that have an "r" in them. Follow the story of Whitstable's oyster yawls and other marine traditions (the diving helmet was invented here) at the town's museum and gallery on Oxford Street in Whitstable. FULL's production director Kev Sutherland said the firm had planned a number of new additions, before taking the "difficult decision" to cancel. The town's pride and joy, the Whitstable Native Oyster (left in the photo above) is small and bluish, firm and with a clean taste of the sea. Oyster season. (Check National Rail Enquiries for times). Various good shots as they pull them in and empty them out. Out of fashion as a place for seaside breaks for many years, it has always had its share of independent, small boat fishermen. My Whitstable lunch is part of an industry that has gone from almost dormant in the early 1980s to producing over a million oysters a year. "The health of everybody involved in the festival - visitors, staff, volunteers, event organisers, suppliers and sponsors - is of paramount importance. She was hauled up to the garden of Favourite Cottage just a few feet from where she was built.