Village, eating out and shopping
When you walk down to the holiday park entrance you pass Kingsdown House built by William Curling in the 1800's. He subsequently built St John the Evangelist Church (opposite the park entrance) and the village school (now the Village Hall).
In the village centre the butchers shop is a good source of meats for a barbeque. Collect the morning paper from the newsagents or milk and other essentials from the general stores. Stop by for a drink and maybe a meal at one of Kingsdown's traditional village pubs?
The Zetland Arms (Tel: 01304 370114)
Located on Kingsdown beach with seating inside and out this is a very popular pub. The menu is varied to suit a wide range of tastes and ages and the beers are good. If you park your car in front on the beach beware of getting stuck and needing a tow out!
The Kings Head (Tel: 01304 373915)
The King’s Head in the village centre is popular with locals and visitors alike. There's traditional fish and chips, a Sunday roast and the hand pumped ales are a highlight.
The Rising Sun (Tel: 01304 373983)
Closest to the entrance to the park the Rising Sun serves traditional home cooked food and boasts a very pleasant garden at the back to be enjoyed in the summer sunshine with the fresh sea air.
Can anyone resist the best traditional fish and chips?
Middle Street Fish Bar (Deal tel: 01304 364738)
Middle street runs between Deal High Street and the sea front. The fish and chip shop offers either take away or eat in. Sit on the sea front where fish and chips out of paper with lashings of salt and vinegar tastes even better! Watch out for sea gulls!!.
NB: Closed Sundays and Mondays
Walmer Fish and Chips, Walmer (near Deal tel: 01304 364738)
Right on Walmer sea front a popular fish and chip shop which also has a good line in a variety of battered fritters. There is sometimes an option to have your fish and chip supper delivered right to your chalet at Kingsdown Park subject to the value of the order, etc..
NB: Closed Monday
Other take away options
Crystal Gardens, Walmer, near Deal (Call 01304 381279)
Chinese takeaway near sea front
Saffron, Walmer, near Deal (Call 01304 382292)
Indian takeaway near sea front
Domino's Pizza, Deal (Call 01304 380333)
Dial a Pizza, Deal (Call 01304 366339)
Local supermarkets
Sainsburys Deal (Tel: 01304 371007)
Co-op Deal (Tel: 01304 367338)
Tesco Dover (Tel: 0345 6779223)
Lidl Dover (Tel: 0800 9777766)
Asda Dover (Tel: 01304 861400)
Morrisons Dover (Tel: 01304 203452)
Aldi Dover (Tel: 0843 504 7263)
"HI DE HI" GREETINGS FROM KINGSDOWN HOLIDAY CAMP
Kingsdown Holiday Camp opened in the 1930's and closed 40 years later. Guests were collected by coach from Walmer Station and the well off stayed in Kingsdown House (now split into appartments) the rest in the tiny chalets with space for two single beds or two sets of bunks. It was the original "all inclusive" holiday with meals in the dining room and communal wash rooms and toilets. You may discover the remains of the path that led down to the beach where sea bathing was of course the norm however chilly.
RECOGNISE THE SWIMMING POOL?
As the holiday camp aged a new swimming pool was built in the 1960's to increase the holiday trade. The new chalets were built mainly between 1982 and 1990. Kingsdown House (the Club House) was sold and became the Don Medi Italian restaurant and is now a number of luxury apartments.