Quex Park Cafe, Canterbury

A while ago I met up with John and Ellie for a brunch in town.  There are a number of wonderful little places to go to, but I needed somewhere with parking close by so I could get in and out as quickly as possible as I was on my lunch break from work.  John and Ellie, both being teachers, had a bit more time on their hands due to the holidays so could make it a much more leisurely pursuit and planned some shopping following our catch up.

Quex have opened their most recent venture on the north end of Canterbury high street.  Located near the City wall in the old pub/bar premises that has, in most recent years, housed a number of different ventures, the re-purposed building fits the rustic and local brand of Quex perfectly.

Exposed brick work and floor boards combined with sturdy, unpretentious furniture fill this surprisingly spacious cafe which is flooded with light throughout.  You get two stunning views of the Cathedral from inside, one of which is via a picture window.  Quex boasts that this is one of the best views of the Cathedral in Canterbury and it is pretty special.  If you can book this table, do so!  Speaking of booking, I would recommend you do so where possible.  We got there just in time; minutes after we took our seats at midday the cafe filled with tourists, business people and families.  It's not surprising; the menu is fresh, tempting and ridiculously reasonably priced.

Quex have always been about excellent food, locally sourced and sustainably produced and their Canterbury venue is no different.  You know that your sausages were provided by Nick in Sandwich, the eggs come from Simon and Austin in Birchington and Derek would have prepared your fish. Knowing the names of the people who are sourcing your food is strangely comforting and so much more preferably than an anonymous chain restaurant.

I had a perfectly cooked poached egg in hollandaise sauce on a salmon fish cake (thanks Simon, Austin and Derek!), with a side salad of Rosary goat's cheese, potato and pine nuts.  These items aren't advertised together (and are probably designed as two full meals...), but complimented each other perfectly.  This was not intentional I hasten to add, I was just craving poached egg and goats cheese and this was what I ordered to get both.  It was just completely fortuitous that it worked!  I normally require tabasco on a poached egg as well, but this one was divine, it needed nothing else at all.

With the addition of a fresh orange juice (driving + going back to the office after lunch meant no alcohol), the entire meal came to £15 for me.  I couldn't finish it and didn't have dinner that night either as I was still so full.  Quex has that effect on me - their sandwiches are enormous as well!

The others also ordered big portions as they didn't want to have to cook that night.  John went for the chicken and vegetable pie with a beautifully flaky puff pastry lid which came with fluffy mashed potatoes and steamed green vegetables and Ellie had one of their sandwiches. 

Food was delicious, service was attentive and the prices are extremely reasonable.  You also have the added benefit of the miniature farmers market in the building as well, including fresh produce as well as long life items - handy for when I don't have time to go out to Birchington to get to Quex for some of the other local items I love!

Quex are renowned for their breakfasts, which are enormous (just look at the one that Steve once got his hands on), and also do student nights on Monday's.  On Thursdays they have steak night and if you fancy something a bit lighter, on Friday's they put extra fish on.  There is a traditional Sunday roast and the menu changes on a regular basis.  There is even a micro-pub in the cafe which specialises in a varied selection from the local micro breweries, including bitters, Meade, fruit gins and local vodka's, something which will excite quite a few of my friends!

Finally, if you have a Tastecard, Quex also do 2 for 1 across all courses.  I need to get my hands on one!

I really, really love this place.  It's unpretentious, amazing quality and good value.  What more could you ask for?  If you have graduation coming up I would strongly recommend you consider bringing your nearest and dearest here for a pre or post-congregations meal, and possibly some Dutch courage if you are nervous about walking up to get your certificate!

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Quex Park House and Gardens

Once you have finished wandering around the galleries in the Cotton-Powell Museum you can go and have an explore of the house and its wonderful gardens.

This beautiful building is part museum, part still-operating-family-home but unlike a lot of other British manor houses is stuffed full of artifacts from the family expeditions around the globe.  A lot of the styles, carvings and statues reminded me of my grandmothers' and my parents' house which used to be full of Thai and Burmese influenced decor.  You can see the oriental vases and the spectacular carved Asian dragon table in the traditional dragon pose (complete with pearl in his mouth; an old folk legend) and the statue which I think is a standing Buddha wearing a lungi.

There has apparently been a house on this site since the 1400's and the house that is currently standing was built in the 1800's as a Regency home, a fact that is very evident once you move into the hallway and upstairs.  Jane Austen would have been very at home here!  You just need Mr Darcy to climb out of the pond in the gardens but I'm getting ahead of myself.

One of the things I love about manor houses is the level of detail and craftsmanship that is displayed.  These carved banisters with the intricate cherub heads (which must be a nightmare to dust) are simply beautiful.

Upstairs are a number of rooms off the landing where the details continue with the plaster friezes on the walls and the ceiling roses as well as portraits of long dead gentry and family members staring at you as you have a look around their home.  King William III often stayed at the original mansion during his reign whilst awaiting a favourable wind to carry him across the Channel from Ramsgate to France.

My favourite room was the library, filled with dark woods, dimly lit with heavily draped lamps and bookshelves that ran from floor to ceiling absolutely packed with books.  I would love to have my own library one day and I would be quite happy curled up in here for hours.

The ladies drawing room was quite a contrast; bright, sunny and decorated in light pastel colours.

Apparently the two rooms were connected and could be opened up together to allow for possibly more freedom of post-dinner mingling than was strictly traditional!

I did spot this little guy who made me laugh.  Who doesn't love a Rococco style Lord proudly riding a mountain goat?!

Having had a good nosey around the house we ventured out into the impressive gardens (all 15 acres of them), the trickling heart of which is the lily pond in the centre of the lawns, surrounded by flower beds and with a statue of Apollo and his twin sister Diana in the centre.

Like a lot of English Country Gardens, the gardens at Quex are zoned into smaller areas.  You can picnic on the main lawns or go and play croquet nearby or hide in the den under the ancient trees.

There are bird houses and sundials scattered around hidden ponds and statues.

The absolute highlight of the gardens for me had to be the Victorian Walled Garden.

The avenues are ablaze with colour and flowers, bees and butterflies, leading you on a path towards the greenhouses.  In 2012 Quex launched a 3 Year Restoration Project which is focusing on all aspects of the gardens including renewing the garden design and planting and the restoration of the historic greenhouses.  Work is well underway and the result is a truly magical area worthy of Mary Lennox.

Look out for the cucumber pit!  It's rather rare apparently.  Sorry for the amount of bumble-bee on flower shots as well.  I can't seem to help myself.

There is a Woodland Walk through the shady trees around the borders of the garden which includes a treasure trail for children.  Keep an eye open for the Bug Hotel,  a structure teaming with ladybirds.

Carved toadstool benches and tea tables for woodland animals add to the magic of this walk, making you feel like you are in a fairytale.

Great hewn tree trunks line the walk and hundreds of variety of trees are in the gardens, including some varieties not native to England such as this giant redwood.  Each tree has a little plaque next to it explaining its species and Latin name.

After all that walking around we were feeling rather thirsty so headed to the tea room for some drinks and locally produced crisps.  Be warned - the peacocks come looking for treats and they can peck quite hard!

The final stop on our visit was the Quex Park Craft Village, a single street lined with wooden huts set amongst the converted farm buildings that independent craftsmen and women work out of.  Each hut is a workshop and shop and they aren't always all open.  Many of them offer lessons and activities which would make for a wonderful birthday party or hen activity I would think!

Visitors are encouraged to inter-act with the artisans and watch the products being made in front of them.  Children are particularly welcome.  Prices vary but as every item has been made by hand you should expect to pay a little more than you might on the high street.  Products range from knitted goods to handcrafted candles and soaps, ukuleles and banjos to jewellery, egg carving to floristry.  If you are looking for something unique for Christmas presents I'd recommend coming here and having a look around.

On the way back to the car I spotted this in the car park.  It's called a Barmobil Party Bike and like its name suggests it is a mobile bar you can hire - all the customers sit on the stools around the bar and pedal and the entire thing moves down the streets as everyone drinks.  I have no idea how practical it is or how easy it is to control once people have had a few tipples but it looks like a lot of fun!

We ran out of time before we could do the Maize Maze.  Next visit....