Discover ’s Hidden Gem VISITOR GUIDE 2017/18

www.visitgravesend.co.uk Visitor Guide 2015/16 Visitor Guide 2017/18 Visit our website Join us on Welcome to www.visitgravesend.co.uk facebook.com/visitgravesend Find further information about the area, events listings, online GRAVESEND Guide 2017/18 accommodation booking on our tourism website. twitter.com/visit_gravesend

Gravesham has been welcoming Up to date, the magnificent Sikh visitors for centuries and today remains Gurdwara is the largest in Europe a well-connected place for the tourist and attracts admirers from all over we are here! and those on business. The high speed the globe. rail link has brought Gravesend closer The borough has two leisure centres, to and the river offers the Cascades and Cygnet, which provide opportunity to take more leisurely routes great sports facilities for all the family. from the new pontoon. In addition, Cyclopark is a world class The borough is as diverse and BMX and cycling facility worth a visit. cosmopolitan as its people, Gravesend is full of historic and There’s always plenty to do in the cultural connections. borough and it makes a convenient base from which to venture further Charles Dickens lived here and took afield in Kent and London. inspiration from our villages and marshland walks as well as the town. Cllr Jordan Meade Cobham Hall with its famous landscaping Lead Member for and extraordinary architecture was the Heritage, Tourism & Youth home of cricket’s Ashes and the first English settlers of the New World departed from the piers of Gravesend. Gravesend boasts one of the oldest Contents Chartered Borough Market in Kent Acknowledgments Want to feature and celebrates its 750th birthday in 04 Town and Villages February 2018. After undergoing a major 06 Countryside Details and information contained in your business with refurbishment with the assistance of this visitor guide have been supplied by £1.8m Coastal Communities Funding 08 Walking and Cycling accommodation providers, attraction Visit Gravesend? the market is a building of historic 10 History and Heritage managers and other hospitality businesses. If you’ve liked our guide and importance and a thriving shopping Please note that Visit Gravesend cannot are interested in taking a location. 12 Fun and Entertainment accept responsibility for any errors, space in next year’s brochure, General Gordon stayed in the town omissions or subsequent alterations. 14 Heritage & Outdoor Events please get in touch with and devoted huge energy to creating We hope you will enjoy your stay, visits to the us. Spaces are available to schools and improving local amenities. 16 Riverside Events accommodation providers, local attractions, and events in the Borough. Both are remembered with statues in 18 Town Centre Events But if you are not satisfied, please take up the visitor attractions, event the borough. matter with the manager immediately so they organisers, and any other 20 Accommodation have the opportunity to address the problem. hospitality businesses.

36Telephone:www.visitgravesham.comwww.gogravesham.com 01474 33 76 00 Email: [email protected] www.visitgravesend.co.uk 03 Visitor Guide 2017/18 Visitor Guide 2017/18

Gravesend Riverside Pier and Pontoon Gravesend Riverside

Owletts, Cobham

Further afield is the regional shopping and events venue at Town and Villages Bluewater, Glow Bluewater. Discover Kent’s Hidden Gem Gravesham has an excellent and increasing variety of great places to eat and drink. Whether you are looking for an inventive Indian restaurant or fine modern Discover more about Gravesend’s Featuring well-known High Street Mediterranean cuisine with Cobham Mausoleum unique and historic position on chain stores and a good variety panoramic views of the River, the and its role as a of independent shops, two an award winning Fish & Chip maritime gateway to the Port of shopping centres, Gravesend restaurant or good food in the London. No other town in Kent can Town Centre boasts a wide smart surroundings of a village offer the Thames-side ambience of range of good value shopping. restaurant, a traditional public Gravesend. Enjoy walking, cycling or house within a ball’s throw of a horse-riding in the exceptional local Visit the Gravesend cricket pitch or a local café, then countryside and popular country Heritage Quarter and you will be able to find somewhere parks and meander around the Gravesend’s old High with great food, affordable charming local villages of Cobham, Street upon which prices and attention to service. Higham, , , Gravesend Borough If you are looking for local, Vigo and with their Market, Chartered 1268, is fresh and seasonal produce pleasant pubs and restaurants. located. This is a bustling shopping and street food market why not start by attending Gravesend High St. Visit one of Kent’s great estates at adjacent to the Old Town Hall. Gravesham’s monthly Farmers’ Cobham Hall and take a stroll in Market at Gravesend Borough Cobham Park’s historic landscape. Then head for the ‘big name’ Market, visiting a farm shop or Invade Gravesham’s unique stores in the main shopping street making contact direct with local ‘cluster’ of defence heritage and of New Road and the adjoining food producers in the Borough. wonder at the craftsmanship of shopping centres at Thamesgate the Sikh Temple and the serenity of and St George’s Centre. Pocahontas Statue, historic churches in the borough. Gravesend

04 www.visitgravesend.co.uk www.visitgravesend.co.uk 05 Visitor Guide 2017/18 Visitor Guide 2017/18

AONB that extends across Kent from Cobham its Surrey border following the to Canterbury and on to Dover. Comprising the dramatic chalk escarpments to the south of Vigo and the secluded dry valleys, networks of lanes, historic hedgerows, ancient woodlands and traditional orchards of Meopham, Cobham and Luddesdown, the AONB boasts locally distinctive villages, unique and precious wildlife and sites of historic and cultural interest. All these were designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1968.

Enjoy stunning views of the Thames Higham Luddesdown Estuary and Marshes from Chalk Marshes to the east of Gravesend. Internationally recognized for the importance of its marine and terrestrial habitats, they are part of the North Kent Countryside Marshes along the15 km, south Discover Kent’s Hidden Gem bank of the Thames Estuary. Many birds can be seen on the coastal grazing marsh, salt marsh and mudflats, such as breeding, passage and wintering waterfowl and farmland Nestling between the River Thames Plan your visit to include a birds; supporting struggling Estuary wetlands of international walk or cycle to or around species, such as Lapwing and importance and the North Downs, one or more of the Redshank, nationally rare Meopham the countryside to the east villages of Cobham, and scarce plant species, and south of Gravesend is an Higham, Luddesdown, as well as endangered, exceptional Area of Outstanding Meopham, Shorne vulnerable and rare National Beauty containing ancient and Vigo. Call in to invertebrate species. woodland and country parks, absorb the peace of an historic villages of windmills, country ancient country church The houses and cricket on the green. or enjoy refreshment offers a walk along the in one of the many Thames from Gravesend Trace the numerous literary and historic public houses. or Cliffe Pools. Cyclists can film connections this area has and also visit the Chalk Marshes especially with the life and novels of The diverse and vibrant landscape nature reserve using the Sustrans Charles Dickens, ’s renowned of the Kent Downs stretches along track, which runs alongside novelist. An area which he called ‘the the Thames escarpment of the the Thames & Canal fairest spot in the Garden of England’. North Downs on the eastern side of to the south of the reserve. Gravesham. It forms a section of the

06 www.visitgravesend.co.uk Meopham Windmill www.visitgravesend.co.uk 07 Visitor Guide 2017/18 Discover Gravesham - History on your doorstep Walking and Cycling Discover Kent’s Hidden Gem

With a cluster of country alongside the Thames & Take your bike along the parks, community Medway Canal, follow National Cycle Route woodland, and historic sections of the long that weaves its way parklands, Gravesham distance Saxon Shore across town or enjoy the provides quality outdoor Way, Wealdway, the network of bridleways on activities. or horseback. discover the Darnley The Cyclopark is Gaze out across the Thames Trail within the historic showcased as Kent’s valley from a vantage point landscape of Cobham newest multi sports at Gravesend’s Windmill Park and enjoy the activity venue, offering Hill or experience the numerous secluded first class BMX, cycling, views across the estuarine country footpaths that skateboarding, running marshes from Higham and criss-cross the area. and extreme sports Shorne. facilities, and provides the Relax in the more formal With access to the Kent ideal venue for a family parks and open spaces countryside further afield, day out. within the town. Gordon Gravesham is an ideal Gardens has colourful Walk in ancient base to explore so much floral displays and woodland at Cobham more. Woodlands Park with its and Ashenbank Woods, Entry Price children’s play areas. Chantry Heritage Chantry Heritage Centre Centre - Free New Tavern Fort and New Tavern Fort - £1

dio u urs Open to visitors A o t until 24 September 2017 12noon - 5pm Weekends only

Step back in time with a visit to Milton Chantry and New Tavern Fort. Wander through the dimly lit tunnels of the Fort and learn what life would have been like for the soldiers. Take an audio guided tour of Milton Chantry where the sights and sounds take you back to Medieval times. Fort Gardens, Commercial Place, Gravesend For further information visit www.visitgravesend.co.uk Telephone 01474 33 76 00 08 www.visitgravesham.com www.visitgravesham.com Visitor Guide 2017/18 Visitor Guide 2017/18 History and Heritage Pujji Statue and LV21 Discover Kent’s Hidden Gem

Discover thousands of years of Gravesham’s heritage, from its early settlement Find more about some of our local to the present day, including the story behind the names Gravesend and ‘heroes’ influential in the area’s history Gravesham by visiting the virtual museum at www.discovergravesham.co.uk. and development - Robert Pocock, George Matthews Arnold and David The River Thames and other connecting transport routes between London and Varchell; or pioneers in technological Europe and from Britain to the rest of the World; arrivals, departures, visitors and improvement in the important settlers have all played a significant role in shaping Gravesham and its heritage. Thameside industries of cement and paper - William Aspdin and Karl Ekman. Discover the riverside haunts of smugglers and Gravesend’s role as the gateway to the Port of London. View some of the unique places and fine architecture on Gravesham has a fascinating cluster the river, in the towns of Gravesend, and in the beautiful countryside of historic defences that have been plus historic parishes of Shorne, Higham, Cobham, Luddesdowne, Meopham a feature of the Lower Thames and its Since the arrival of migrants from the and Vigo. estuary since the Iron Age and exhibit Indian Subcontinent from the late a range of historic defences from the 1940’s onwards, the Sikh community Find out more about the people that have strong historic links with the area: 14th to the 20th centuries. Gravesend’s has grown significantly to become Pocahontas, the native North American General Gordon, the Victorian hero and Tudor Blockhouse, New Tavern and the second largest Sikh population Indian, whose remarkable story grew celebrity who was based in the town Shornemead Forts constructed against in the South East and is developing out of the first English settlement at and left his mark on its defence and the threat of foreign invasion and a remarkable heritage here in Jamestown in Virginia and is buried social heritage. to protect the river route to London. Gravesham with the opening of Take the Crossfire Trail between at St George’s Church, Gravesend. the major new Guru Nanak Darbar New Tarvern Fort and Tilbury Fort Gurdwara, the largest single site Sikh Sir Herbert Baker, the celebrated Charles Dickens lived and died at to appreciate the thinking that lay temple complex in Europe. Edwardian architect and associate of Gad’s Hill Place, Higham and drew behind these defences and visit the Sir Edwin Lutyens lived at Owletts, inspiration from the area, its people, its Cold War bunker in Woodlands Park, An 8 foot high bronze statue of the late Squadron Leader Mahinder Singh Pujji now in the ownership of the National buildings and the a 20th century response to the threat DFC has been unveiled in St Andrew’s Trust at Cobham. extensively within his of nuclear bombardment. Each of novels. Many of these sites tell a story about a stage in Gardens to commemorate those Britain’s defence and the rise and fall of around the world who served alongside The Honourable Ivo Bligh, the 8th those places and various defence technologies over the Britain in all conflicts. Earl of Darnley, who in 1833 led the the countryside centuries. victorious English cricket team against he loved to Take a step back in time on one of Australia bringing home the ‘Ashes’ to walk in can As the last and first point of contact for a number of guided tours and audio Cobham Hall - the ‘home’ of Kent cricket. be seen and many departing from and arriving on tours arranged throughout the year to The first recorded game of cricket in experienced England’s shores. From high-ranking help you discover and appreciate the England being played there in 1776. today. Royalty to lowly migrants, many have area’s rich and fascinating history. contributed to Gravesham’s past.

10 www.visitgravesend.co.uk www.visitgravesend.co.uk 11 Visitor Guide 2017/18 Visitor Guide 2016/172015/16 We know how to entertain Fun&Entertainment FREE EVENING PARKING FROM 6pm Discover Kent’s Hidden Gem GREAT SHOWS AT THEWEDDINGS WOODVILLE & PARTIES If you enjoy live music and theatre, provides a vibrant programme of arts, sport or fitness activity then take musicals and drama. The borough also a look at the range of leisure and hosts open air theatre in the summer. entertainment activities available in If you prefer more active fun then why Gravesham. not visit one of the borough’s leisure The Woodville Theatre is one of the centres. Cascades and Cygnet both GREAT CINEMA larger arts and entertainment venues have swimming pools, sports halls, in North Kent, providing a regular dance and health facilities. Meopham programme of theatre, music, Leisure Centre, Fleet Leisure football comedy and exhibitions. centre, golf courses, ten pin bowling, tennis courts, bowls and cricket as Gravesham Arts Council is responsible well as children’s play areas are other for the series of exhibitions, meetings physical activities you can enjoy. If and concerts held at the St Andrew’s you prefer to watch sport. Why not visit Arts Centre on the riverside and Ebbsfleet United and support the local annual festivals of speech, music and football team. arts. The Gravesend Theatre Guild LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

IN THE HEART OF GRAVESEND www.woodville.co.uk THE BOX OFFICE 08442 43 480 12 26 www.gogravesham.com 2931 Woodville Place Gravesend DA12 1DD Visitor Guide 2017/18 Visitor Guide 2017/18

Chalk Village Fete Circular walk of Cobham Woods via Heritage & Outdoor Date: Saturday 8th July 2017 Knight’s Place Time: Chalk Church, Church Lane, Chalk Date: Sunday 30th July 2017 Heritage Events from 11.30am to 3pm Time; 2.30pm at Lodge Farm, Lodge Events Price: £1 for adults, children free. Lane, Cobham DA12 3BS A great family day out in lovely countryside Leader: Jenny Ellert 01474 361977. – includes lunches, BBQ, cream teas, beer Event is free – no need to book (Gravesend tent, lots of stalls and performances by Historical Society event). Cobham Wood and Mausoleum Applause Outdoors live theatre. Cobham, Kent, DA12 3BS Information: Heather Bull 01474 320156 Wildlife enthusiasts, walkers and people with Park Life – Children’s Fun Days a historic interest will enjoy visiting Cobham Gordon Promenade, Commercial Place, Wood and Darnley Mausoleum. Having Gravesend Old Town Hall – Guided tour Gravesend DA12 2BT almost 190 acres of woodland pasture, it’s & afternoon tea – Second tour offer the ideal location for a stroll in the Kent Cascades Leisure Centre, Thong Lane, countryside. On the first Sunday of each After many years this is a chance to indulge Gravesend DA12 4LG month you can also visit the mausoleum in a your mind and body with a guided tour of Camer Park, Camer Park Road, Meopham beautifully restored state. Gravesend Old Town Hall with its fantastic DA13 0AL stories and enjoy a full tea in delightful Dates: Open on specified Sundays until surrounds, a real Summer treat. Park Life events are FREE, organised by September. Gravesham Borough Council and aim to Please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ Date: Thursday 13 July 2017 encourage the whole family local parks. cobham-wood-and-mausoleum Times: 2pm by entrance to Old Town Hall, Activities include Laser Tag, Kangoo jumps, for full details just off High Street, Gravesend football, magician and more. For ages 3+ Price: FREE Guide: Christoph Bull Dates: Thursday 3 August (Prom) Tea & refreshments provided by Rico Sabor Thursday 17 August (Cascades) Tours of Gad’s Hill Place Restaurant inside the former Old Town Hall. Thursday 24 August (Camer) Rochester Road, Higham, Gravesend, Price: £24.50 Time: 11am-3pm ME3 7DS Book: Booking Essential via Rico Sabor on When he was a boy Charles Dickens and 01474 365003 \ 07960002171 his father took a walk through Kent. Along Email: [email protected] Outdoor Theatre - Hamlet Gravesend Road they passed a house Nurstead Court, Nurstead Court Lane, called Gad’s Hill Place. Young Charles was Meopham DA13 9AD impressed and bought the house in 1856. He lived there until his death in 1870. You can Guided tour – Gravesend’s Victorian The wonderful performance of Dream Shakespeare’s famous play will be presented Owletts National Trust visit Dickens house and enjoy a tour of the premises by one of the Dickens fellowship in the beautiful surroundings of Nurstead The Street, Cobham, Gravesend, DA12 3AP Date: Tuesday 25 July 2017 guides. Court so bring your picnics, chairs and friends Guide: Christoph Bull Visit this delightful Charles II house. Owletts Dates: Sat 8 & Sun 9 July, for a great night of live outdoor theatre. and its gardens were most famously owned Sat 12 & Sun 13 August, Sat 9 & Sun Time: 11.30am on corner of The Grove As this is an outdoor production please be by Sir Herbert Baker, whose architectural 10 Sept, Sat 7 & Sun 8 Oct opposite Clock Tower, Gravesend prepared for a variety of weather conditions! influences can still be found in the house. Times: 1pm, 2.15pm and 3.30pm Price: £4 per person – no need to book, Dates: Thurs 6 July, Wed 9 August Dates: Every Sunday until the end of Price: £9.50 (includes cream tea) just turn up. September Time: 7.15pm £5 for children (6-12yrs), Time: 11am-5pm (last admission at 4pm) Discover the Wellington Street area and how Gates open at 6.15pm. Under 6’s FREE Gravesend’s development suddenly took a Price: Adults £4, Children £2 Price: between £10 and £20 Book: Booking essential at Gravesend very different turn. A visit to the Zoar Chapel Visitor Centre on 01474 33 76 00 included. Booking via https://woodville.seatlive.com/ Online/ Please note: Public transport via Arriva Bus Information: Christoph Bull 07702287147 190, offers a limited service on Sundays. 14 www.visitgravesend.co.uk www.visitgravesend.co.uk 15 Visitor Guide 2017/18 Visitor Guide 2017/18 Waverley Paddle Steamer Trips Gravesend Town Pier Pontoon, DA11 0BJ The Waverley Paddle Steamer is visiting Gravesend again this year. This vessel is the last sea-going Riverside Events paddle steamer in the world. Magnificently restored with towering funnels, timber decks, gleaming varnish and brass. Steam through Tower Bridge Friday 22 September (coach return) 5.30pm-8.30pm Adult £37.00 Gravesend Town Regatta Milton Chantry & New Tavern Fort Friday 29 September 11.30am-4.15pm Senior £35.00 Riverside Leisure Area, DA12 2BS Riverside Leisure Area, Commercial Sunday 1 October 2.30pm-7.15pm Child (5-15) £18.50 Annual rowing races on the Thames fronting Place, Gravesend, DA12 2BH Tuesday 3 October 2pm-6.30pm the Promenade. Shore events, charity stall, Milton Chantry has had many different uses Thursday 5 October 5.30pm-7.30pm Adult £25.00 food vendors, live entertainment will keep and is one of a few surviving buildings of this Senior £25.00 you busy. type. It contains a number of well-preserved Child (5-15) £12.50 Date: Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July architectural features from the 14th to 19th Steam through Tower Bridge (Evening Trip) centuries along with a variety or displays Sunday 24September 5.30pm-10.15pm Adult £37.00 Time: 10am to 6pm relating to the heritage of the Borough. Senior £35.00 Child (5-15) £18.50 Located close the Thames, New Tavern Fort Visit Southend Topsail Thames Barge Race Day Sale was designed to defend London against an Saturday 23 September 11.45am-6.45pm Adult £29.00 Gravesend Town Pier Pontoon, DA11 0BJ enemy fleet. Experience life underground and Sunday 24 September 12.15pm-5.30pm Senior £29.00 follow in the steps of the Victorian artillery men. Child (5-15) £14.50 Enjoy a spectacular cruise from Gravesend To fully experience these two sites, take our Town Pier Pontoon, follow the Thames Barge new fun interactive audio tours - you never Friday 6 October 12.15pm-5.30pm Adult £29.00 Race into London know what you might discover! Senior £27.00 Child (5-15) £14.50 Date: Saturday 15 July Dates: Saturdays and Sundays between Time: 7am - 3pm until 24 September. Saturday 7 October 12.15pm-4pm Adult £29.00 Price: £70 fully catered. Also open on Bank Holiday Mondays. Senior £29.00 Time: 12noon - 5pm Child (5-15) £14.50 Visit Whistable Book your place by calling Gravesend Visitor Price: FREE entrance to the Chantry; £1 to Information Centre on 01474 33 76 00. enter the tunnels. Saturday 23 September 11.45am-6.45pm Adult £37.00 Senior £35.00 Child (5-15) £18.50 Gravesend Riverside Festival Cruise Thames Forts Riverside Leisure Area, DA12 2BS Sunday 24 September 12.15pm-5.30pm Adult £37.00 Senior £35.00 Family fun event including live music, Child (5-15) £18.50 entertainment and Gravesend’s Summer Regatta on the Thames. Plus Country Fayre Friday 6 October 12.15pm-5.30pm Adult £37.00 on the Square in Fort Gardens. Senior £33.00 Child (5-15) £18.50 Date: Saturday 23 July Friday 3 November Riverside Leisure Area Visit Clacton Time: 11am -7pm (TBC) Tuesday 26 September 10am-6.30pm Adult £35.00 Festival Funfair – Fri 24, Sat 25, Sun 26 July Wednesday 4 October 10am-6.30pm Senior £33.00 FREE ENTRY Child (5-15) £16.50 Cruise River Black Water Gates open 6pm Fireworks 8pm Tuesday 26 September (coach return) 10am-6.30pm Adult £37.00 Wednesday 4 October 10am-6.30pm Senior £35.00 Includes: Child (5-15) £18.50 n Smith’s Funfair (2pm-10pm Ordnance Road) n Stan Lee King Disco Cruise n Catering Outlets Saturday 7 October 12.15pm- 4pm Adult £37.00 For further information please Senior £37.00 call 01474 33 76 00 or visit Please be aware that this timetable is provisional and Child (5-15) £17.50 www.gogravesham.co.uk dates, times and trips may be subject to change.

For parking please use town centre car parks. www.visitgravesend.co.uk For more information on prices and booking call www.visitgravesend.co.uk 16 Gravesend Visitor Centre on 01474 33 76 00. 17 Visitor Guide 2017/18 ComeVisitor Guide 2015/16 and discover...Visitor Guide 2016/17

Town Centre Events AV E S E N R Est. 1268 Northfleet Carnival Christmas Light Switch On D Begins at Springhead Industrial Park, Gravesend G BOROUGH Northfleet, DA11 8HL Date: Friday 24 November Northfleet Carnival is a community run Time: 4pm procession for Gravesend and Northfleet and is now in it’s 48th year! It starts at Springhead MARKET Industrial Park and continues throught the Christmas Frost Fairs town centre finishing at the Riverside Leisure Gravesend Borough Market, High Street, Area. DA11 0AZ Saturday 1 July Date: Every weekend between 25 November and Time: 1pm - 3.30pm approximately. 17 December, Gravesend Borough Market will be hosting a Christmas Frost Fair with Christmas stalls, entertainment and more! Festival of Eid Community Square, DA12 1AU Dates: Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 November The festival will mark the end of Ramadan. Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 December Date: Saturday 1 July Saturday 9 & Sunday10 December Time: 2-4pm Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 December

Time: TBC Strongest Man Gravesend Borough Market New Road, Gravesend, DA11 0AD Gravesend Borough Market is becoming the shopping experience of choice, Come and see the South East’s strongest and biggest men competing for this title offering a wide variety of market stalls. Date: Sunday 27th August Time: 11am to 5pm OPENING TIMES FREE to spectate FREE parking in Tuesday to Saturday: 9am – 5pm / Sunday 10am – 4pm all open car parks

www.gravesendboroughmarket.co.uk

26 /gravesendboroughmarket.Kentwww.gogravesham.com @GravesendMarket 18 www.visitgravesend.co.uk Visitor Guide 2017/18 Visitor Guide 2017/18 Accommodation star ratings explained

Whatever the purpose of your stay, Gravesham offers a range of quality visitor accommodation to suit your requirements. Whether it’s a B&B in Gravesend and close villages, or a hotel with fishing and golf activities nearby, you’ll be glad you based yourself here. We are passionate about promoting local tourism businesses. We also recognise that visitors have the right to be fully informed, with clear and accurate information about accommodation and expect an appropriate level of standards and service. This can be demonstrated by properties’ inclusion in various accredited assessment schemes Best Western Manor Hotel The Leather Bottle Standards such as Visit Britain, the AA or the Kent Accommodation Scheme. Hever Court Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 5UQ 54-56 the Street, Cobham, Kent, Charter Telphone: 01474 35 31 00 DA12 3BZ In the absence of any form of accreditation, we in partnership with Visit Kent and Tel: 01474 81 43 27 Tourism South East, have developed a pilot scheme called “Standards Charter”, which acts as a platform for start-up businesses. It enables us to work with businesses that are equally committed to quality principles and this is an approach adopted by many other destinations. The Inn on the Lake Hotel Premier Inn – Budget Hotel A2 Shorne, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 3HB The Woodlands, Wrotham Road, Gravesend, Telephone: 01474 823 333 Kent, DA11 7LF You can be confident that all properties listed have been checked out for quality and Telephone: 08715 27 84 74 have signed up to a code of conduct to deliver high standards of customer service.

1 star – Simple, practical, no frills Chestnuts B&B Premier Inn – Budget Hotel North Leigh, Gravesend Road, Higham, Hevercourt Road, Singlewell, Gravesend, 2 stars – Well presented and well run Kent, ME3 7DX Kent DA12 5UQ Telephone: 08709 90 63 52 3 stars – Good level of quality and comfort Tel: 01474 82 27 16 4 stars – Excellent standard throughout 5 stars – Jessamine House Exceptional with a degree of luxury 4 London Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9JE Tel: 01474 569 868 For more information and to book your stay please phone Some local properties may not have signed up to the Star rating scheme; however, they have joined the Kent Hopewell Self-catering Gravesend Visitor Information Accommodation Scheme. The Kent Accommodation 217 Downs Road, , Kent, DA13 9HW Telephone: 01474 83 20 52 Centre on 01474 33 76 00, email Scheme (KAS) is an entry scheme to assess tourist accommodations in Kent and make sure they are fit for purpose, legal, safe [email protected] or visit and clean. The scheme works alongside the existing National Quality Standards www.visitgravesend.co.uk (star rating schemes) of Visit England / Quality in Tourism and AA Hotel Services. The Clarendon Royal Hotel Royal Pier Road, Gravesend DA12 2BE Standards The KAS is accredited by Visit England. Telphone: 01474 362221 Charter

20 www.visitgravesend.co.uk www.visitgravesend.co.uk 21 Visitor Guide 2017/18 Visitor Guide 2017/18

Manor Hotel Hever Court Road Gravesend Kent DA12 5UQ EAT DRINK SLEEP

With 64 bedrooms, an onsite Restaurant and five function rooms, we are the perfect venue to accommodate your wedding guests, host an Afternoon Tea , Funeral Tea , Private Dining or Anniversary Celebration

All details are on our Website

We’re here to help, why not give us a call

Tel:01474 353100 www.bw-manorhotel.co.uk Eating Out in Gravesham

Gravesham has great places to eat and drink. Whether you are looking for an Indian restaurant, Mediterranean cuisine with panoramic views of the River, an award winning Fish & Chip restaurant, a village restaurant, a traditional public house or a local café, you will be able to find somewhere with great food and affordable prices. Gravesham Borough Council’s policy is to score all restaurants from zero to five. Scores can be found at www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk/council/ For an extensive list of 4 and 5 rated gravesham-borough-council. places to eat in Gravesham please visit www.visitgravesend.co.uk/places-to-eat 22 www.visitgravesend.co.uk www.gogravesham.com 23 Visitor Guide 2017/18 Visitor Information Centre

/VisitGravesend @Visit_Gravesend Visit_Gravesend

Our Visitor Information desk is located

within Gravesend Borough Market, High Street, Gravesend and can Contact Us provide the following services: You can visit us at our visitor Information desk located in Gravesend Borough Market Bookings for local events, boat and coach High Street trips. Gravesend UK and local accommodation search and Kent DA11 0AZ bookings. Our opening times are Friendly and knowledgeable advice on Thursday to Saturday: 9am – 5pm where to go and what’s on in Gravesham Sunday 10am – 4pm A selection of souvenirs, maps, guides, brochure and bus, train and tide Email: [email protected] timetables. Telephone: +44 (0)1474 33 76 00 Advance booking for hire of shopmobility scooters and wheelchairs for visitors who require them.

Gravesham Borough Council works with national and local tourism partners including Visit Britain, Visit England, Tourism South East and Visit Kent.

GRAVESEND