As it happens, the town's traditional Whitstable Oyster Festival takes place in the off-season for native oysters. The now debt-ridden Company was reconstituted in 1896 under the Companies Act and the Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company was found. "The Favourite" commemorates Whitstable's shipbuilding industry. 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. "The decision to cancel was taken by FULL, the company organising the festival on our behalf, with our support. Black truffle taramasalata with chargrilled sourdough toast £9. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The succulent "Native" oysters are unlike any other and have been harvested here since medieval times. Whitstable Oyster Company – a restaurant from the 2020 MICHELIN Guide United Kingdom. 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. You’re reminded of them at every turn. 1/2 doz Whitstable Oyster Co Rock Oysters £16. 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. "But safety must always come first. Soak up the vibes. But oyster-eating in Whitstable dates back even further … 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. Best Oysters in Whitstable, Kent: Find 16,751 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of THE BEST Oysters and search by price, location, and more. Here we pay tribute to those who have died from the virus in Kent. 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 Whitstable in England's Kent is an oyster-lover's paradise. With Native Oyster Season under way, it's time to introduce our UK Native Oysters. Oystermen are far too busy once the season opens so they celebrate in July. The MICHELIN inspectors’ point of view, information on prices, types of cuisine and opening hours on the MICHELIN Guide's official website M/S of four attractive young ladies in their bathing suits hauling in the oysters on a dredger. 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. The Whitstable Oyster Company is one of the oldest companies in Europe and can trace its origins back to the 1400s. 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. "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. A spokesman said: "We're sad to announce that this year's Whitstable Oyster Festival has been cancelled. Grilled WOFCo rock oysters ‘Royale’ (black truffle butter & Champagne) £12. Now, she sits surrounded by wildflowers in a narrow garden on a street called Island Wall. 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. Eat oysters at: The Royal Naval Oyster Stores, owned by the Whitstable Oyster Company who revived the town's fishery after World War II. With amazing beach views and lots of outdoor seating The Lobster Shack is the perfect summer destination. 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. "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. This company was under the control of a Board of Directors and consisted of shareholders. Whitstable Oyster Festival has become the latest major Kent event to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.. It was a no brainer really. Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. There is no elaborate haute cuisine here. 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. 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. Instead, expect the best local ingredients, simply cooked. The Whitstable Oyster Festival Association reports that 2,000 year old oyster shells excavated in modern Rome have been traced back to Whitstable. 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. Moules Mariniere £11. Oysters Whitstable has been farmed since Roman times and the annual Oyster Festival dates back to the Norman period. Various good shots as they pull them in and empty them out. The boats were built strong with a shallow draft to ply the shallow waters over the beds. Built in 1890, she was a working vessel until machined gunned in 1944 during WWII. 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. Adult admission is £3; students admission is £2, and one child is admitted free with each paying adult.. 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. Don Draper was clearly on to something. Visit their website to find out more. Harvesting oysters at Whitstable Oyster Company farm from trestle tables 50m offshore. 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 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. 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. It’s my son Freddy’s last day of the holidays, and he has bivalves on his mind. Whitstable Oyster Festival has become the latest major Kent event to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the meantime, please follow the advice and stay safe. What's for dinner? When the sun’s out it’s hard to beat rolling your trousers up and picking your way … The hand cut chips were very, very good. Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable, We have two family tickets for four to give away to Christmas at the Castle. "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. 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