Four Star Bed and Breakfast accommodation

Market from the 19th to the 23th December

The Continental Market is no ordinary market. Set your senses free to roam through the warm ambiance of the Mediterranean with sun-ripened olives, tomatoes and fruits from Spain and France. Invoke images and spark memories of that Continental holiday. The jewellery from Paris and handbags from Italy. Pass by the pungent cheeses and sample wonderful Italian wines from a family vineyard in Montesole. Smell the mouth watering freshness of the Dutch toffee waffles baked in front of your eyes and indulge your taste for the exotic with wild boar and blueberry sausages, fine pates and cooked hams. Walk through the Dutch flower market, grace your kitchen with Mediterranean pottery and table cloths from Provence and spoil yourself with bon bons and Belgian chocolates.

John Jean and Lesley Hawkins welcome you to Windy Ridge which sits in a private garden on Wraik Hill overlooking Whitstable, with panoramic views of the sea, surrounding countryside, and fantastic sunsets for which the town is famed.

The hotel is a quirky place of real charm; originally a pair of farm cottages, the house was rebuilt and extended using reclaimed timber and stone to create an unusual building of unique character.

The unusual architecture continues in the ten guest bedrooms giving each its own individual character. Our family rooms have a double and two single beds divided by a partition to ensure a good night's sleep for all. Our doubles include a bedroom with a four-poster bed and private access to the garden, for the romantics amongst you; and a bedroom on the ground floor, should you have difficulty using stairs etc. Both of the single rooms enjoy fantastic panoramic views over the sea.

Whether your stay is a weekend's bed and breakfast, an overnight stop for a business meeting, or a longer break, Windy Ridge is an ideal location. We are 10 minutes from the M2 motorway. Whitstable's restaurants, high street, and sea front are about a mile away.

Canterbury's cathedral, theatre, and shopping centre are 10 minutes drive. Other attractions within easy reach include Leeds Castle, Howletts Zoo, nature reserves at South Swale and Oare Marshes, cycle routes and walks along the Crab & Winkle line, and Viking Trail, sailing at Whitstable, Tankerton, Seasalter and Herne Bay, golf at Boughton, Canterbury, Chestfield, and Sandwich .

Our light and airy dining room overlooks the garden. We serve an excellent fresh breakfast using local produce as far as possible. Vegetarian options are available and we can cater for special diets too. Please let us know in advance of any special dietary requirements.

Windy Ridge is an approved premises for weddings, civil partnerships, baby welcoming and renewal of vows. The gazebo in the garden is a favourite for such occasions. We also have a function room suitable for private parties. Catering is usually tailor made for each event, but please request a sample menu.

‘