The Botany Bay, Broadstairs

Substantial - and thoroughly refurbished - hotel, restaurant and bar near the far tip of Thanet. Various dining rooms around the central bar area, with smart modern furniture and decor throughout. Also has some outside seating for the better weather. As it's now a Shepherd Neame establishment, Master Brew, Whitstable Bay Pale (£3.75) and Spitfire Gold were available from three of five handpumps.

This large 30 room hotel, restaurant and bar has an imposing position on the cliff top at Kingsgate, midway between Margate and Broadstairs and is a very convenient watering hole when utilising the excellent sands of Botany Bay beach. We utilised the pub section for a couple of beers and a lunchtime sandwich when doing just that and I can think of a lot worse places to be on a sunny day than the outside front veranda section overlooking the sea. As well as this there is a larger outside seating area to the side of the pub and the internal space is expanded by a quite large conservatory section. The pub is clearly food focussed and most people come here to eat and therefore nearly the whole inside space is tailored for dining. However it is owned and run by Shep Neame which means that a couple of ales were available to go with the food. The bar supports five hand pumps and these had three beers from the Sheps stable on for our visit with Master Brew and Whitstable Bay Pale doubled up and then an interesting Red Sails Cherry Porter on the other. Despite being extremely busy on what must have been the hottest Sunday of the summer yet in 2015 the service was quick and efficient, so for a decent lunchtime pint and a sandwich we found the Botany Bay hotel completely fit for purpose.