Why move to… Deal

It’s official – the seaside town of Deal is well and truly on the up. Frequently lauded in the national press – it won The Telegraph’s inaugural High Street of the Year and more recently, made The Sunday Time’s Best Place to Live 2018. 

And with good reason…

One of Kent’s picturesque Cinque ports, Deal marries the alternative ‘Brighton-like’ buzz with blissful tranquillity. The capacious, stone beach stretches on for miles and is seldom busy – even in the height of summer. The sea is shallow and so perfectly safe for little legs. There’s even a pier with a stellar café at the end of it, offering panoramic views of the Channel and the handsome Deal seafront.

Its fiercely beloved by locals who adore the laid-back, non-commercial vibe which the town has to offer. Great pubs and bars – notably The Tap House, The Berry and The Rose Hotel which each offer a range of craft beers and decent spirits – coupled with great restaurants (here’s looking at you Frog and Scot, Beach Street and Victuals & Co) mean you’ll never want to go anywhere else.

If you do need to leave, transport links are excellent, with direct, High Speed links to London St Pancras on the hour, reaching the city in 1hr 23 minutes. There are also direct trains to Folkestone, Ashford, Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Whitstable – each taking between 20-40 minutes.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the wide-range of independent shops which line Deal’s streets. For great vinyl, head on over to Smugglers Records; for beautiful homewares, Hoxton Store, Smoke on the Water and Dunlin & Diver are well worth a look. There are also a range of independent greengrocers and delis, each offering local fruit and vegetables, artisan bread, cheese, chutneys and pastries – a foodie’s paradise! You’ll also find a bustling Saturday Market, selling everything from antique furniture to flowers.

So, what are the schools like? For Primary, choose from a range of fantastic schools, notably Warden House, Kingsdown and Ringwould CofE, Hornbeam, Sandown and Deal Parochial – each scoring either ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ in the most recent Ofsted report. For Secondary schools, Sir Roger Manwood’s School is an ‘Outstanding’ Grammar school based in nearby Sandwich – which is also home to the well-respected Sandwich Technology School, rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted.

Property prices to buy:

Large detached or townhouses: £500,000-£1.4m.

Detached houses: £275,000-£500,000

Semi-detached: £200,000-£450,000

Terraces and cottages: £200,000-£400,000

Flats: £120,000-£450,000.

Property prices to rent:

Flats: £600-£700pcm

Semi-detached or Terrace houses: £750-£1,300pcm

Anything else?

Best Fish and Chips: Undoubtedly, Middle Street Fish Bar.

Entertainment: Two English Heritage castles – Deal and Walmer, respectively. Plans are also in the pipeline to restore the Art Nouveau cinema on the seafront, The Regent, to its former glory.

Local Supermarkets: You’ll be well served by the local Sainsbury’s, Iceland and (soon to be opened) Aldi in the town.

Famous residents: With a history as rich as Deal’s, it’s no surprise that you’ll spy many-a-Blue-Plaque around town. Notable former residents include Charles Hawtrey and Norman Wisdom (who the local Wetherspoons is named after). Current famous faces include Vic Reeves and Noel Fielding.

What you may not know about Deal… apparently, it’s the first place in the UK you can see the sunrise over the sea (and trust us, it really is quite a sunrise).

Most likely to hear around town: “You can see France on a clear day”

So, do you fancy living here? Have a chat with our local Deal branch or take a look at current Deal properties.