Brewer Street, Deal, Kent

Moments from the beach, this three-bedroom, Grade II-listed house lies within Deal's conservation area. A recent refurbishment focused on creating light and airy rooms, each imbued with a sense of calm and character. Hearty natural materials have been employed, from solid oak floorboards and timber panelling to bespoke joinery. Deal's buyoant centre and its railway station are close by; the latter runs services to London St Pancras in around 90 minutes.



Setting the Scene



Deal is a pretty coastal town with a rich maritime history. By the end of the 13th century, it had become a ‘limb port’ of the larger Cinque Ports nearby; it was at one point the busiest port in England. Deal was also a critical garrison town with noted mining and fishing industries, and, perhaps less salubriously, a rich smuggling heritage.



Set in the heart of Deal, the house sits on a quiet street lined with picture-pretty terraces. Its neat stuccoed façade is inset with a series of sash windows with original glazing bars, imbuing the house’s interiors with a wonderful quality of light.



The Grand Tour



A dark-green Victorian front door and two adjacent windows signal the entrance to the house. Bespoke timber and glass doors made by a local craftsman lead through to an open-plan kitchen, sitting, and dining room. A combination of handmade sash and casement windows here draws in light to the space, which once served as a Victorian theatre. Solid oak floorboards run throughout the ground and first floors, traditionally laid using hand-forged nails.



Pared-back kitchen cabinetry is finished in 'Pantalon' by Farrow & Ball and topped with solid oak work surfaces. A new electric Aga 60, coated in a vitreous enamel finish, has been installed, and there is a large butler sink with brass taps. There is room for a large dining table adjacent to the kitchen - a brilliant spot for seasonal feasts. In the adjacent sitting room, bespoke solid wood cupboards provides subtle storage



A guest WC with a French enamel sink and barrel chrome taps completes the ground-floor plan. Stairs covered with Crucial Trading sisal rise to the first-floor landing; from here, three beautifully appointed bedrooms extend, each with a sash window dressed in Liberty fabric.

The principal bedroom has an en suite shower room, complete with handmade tiles from Bert & May.



A separate wood-panelled bathroom has traditional black and white encaustic tiles and a deep cast-iron roll-top bath, brilliant for long soaks.



Out and About



Deal is a perennially popular coastal town known as one of the most attractive in Kent and regularly voted as one of the best places to live in the south-east.



Its stretch of coastline is similarly sublime, appearing at the end of Brewer Street. Deal Pier, built entirely of concrete and steel, is close and is a wonderful stroll regardless of the weather, with a glass-clad café at its end offering uninterrupted views out over the channel.



For other adventures in nature, the nearby Betteshanger County Park is ripe for exploration. The Sandown Castle Community Garden, built on the site of the former Sandown Castle, is also close by. There are also a trio of world-class golf courses: Royal Cinque Ports, Princes, and Royal St George’s, an Open Championship venue.



Deal’s culinary scene is thriving. One of its most popular spots is the Rose Hotel, known for its excellent bar and restaurant, along with its sister restaurant, The Blue Pelican, which serves Japanese-inspired food. The Frog and Scot is also a popular haunt and has a lovely wine bar, Le Pinardier. Merchant of Relish, The Black Pig and Jenkins and Sons are the go-to for groceries, meat and fish, respectively, but for local produce, there is also a fantastic Saturday farmers’ market. As far as homeware shops are concerned, Dunlin and Diver, Old Coves and Mileage are among the town’s finest.



There are several well-regarded schools in the area in both the independent and state sectors.



Deal rail station is a nine-minute walk from the house, and runs services to London St Pancras in under 90 minutes. Services also connect to Kent’s other popular seaside towns, including Margate, Broadstairs, and Ramsgate. The A2 is also easily reached by car travel into the capital, with ferries at Dover a short drive away. The Eurotunnel at Folkestone is also easily accessible by car.



Council Tax Band: D