THE LOWDOWN

Like the sound of a family run seafood restaurant overlooking the beach in Margate, Kent? Want to enjoy time with your nearest and dearest whilst eating great quality food, supporting local suppliers & enjoying the stunning sea views & sunsets.
 
Boasting an ever-increasing raft of awards – including being a Finalist for Best Restaurant in Kent in the Muddy Stilettos Awards – there’s lots to applaud when it comes to this coastal gem. The restaurant ethos here is simple: to serve great quality food and drink in a relaxed and stylish seaside setting. I mean – what’s not to love?

THE STORY

Opened in 2015, by husband and wife team Simon and Nadine, the restaurant continues to grow and develop into what it is today, undergoing major refurbishment works in 2019 to create the all day dining seafood bar and theatre kitchen.

The restaurant has a kind of cool continental vibe going on – with the focus obviously on seafood. And – as you enjoy your crab, lobster or oysters –  you could almost imagine you were holidaying in some sunnier climate. So perhaps it’s not that surprising to learn that Simon and Nadine’s shared dreams of opening a restaurant began when working together in kitchens throughout Europe (where they worked as a team in some of the highest quality chalets and privately owned villas.)

SEAFOOD SCENE

When returning home to visit Nadine’s family in her home town of Margate and seeing what was starting to happen to the town with the Turner Contemporary and Dreamland regeneration projects, it soon became clear that home is where the heart is and they began looking for a property to turn their dreams into a reality. After falling in love with an old cocktail bar in a Grade 2 listed building over looking the beach, the idea of Buoy and Oyster was born!

Craig Edgell joined the team as head chef in 2019, bringing with him a wealth of experience having worked in many top restaurants throughout the county. He has a shared passion for seafood, honest ingredients and creating a relaxed, welcoming and family friendly dining environment.

Simon, Craig and the team work closely with local suppliers to create their menus. By using Kent-based fishermen all fish and shellfish are usually landed and on your plate the very same day – amazing! And their Canterbury-based butchers ensure all the game and meat are reared in local farms.

The team work closely with their fishmonger to ensure the menu echoes the seasons and has been responsibly sourced. The majority of their menu will come straight from one of their 18 day boats which fish the waters off of Margate, Whitstable, Ramsgate, Folkestone and Broadstairs. 

FOODIE DESTINATION

Like many of Kent’s coastal towns, Margate has gained a strong reputation for its foodie scene – with everyone seeking a more relaxed ‘street food’ feel and seafood being the obvious star for seaside venues. And Buoy and Oyster do both of these so well.

Here you’ll find every kind of Oyster and Shellfish dish you’d dream of on the menu. And when it comes to Mains – yes, you can enjoy many familiar favourites, like (flaky white and fresh-as-the-come) Fish & Chips. But for the more adventurous there’s Thornback Skate Wing, Kentucky Fried Monkfish, Ramsgate Crab Flatbread or even Ceviche of the Day (fresh, raw fish cured in citrus juices – the chef’s ceviche special is not to be missed and changes daily). To name but a few.​

Anyone visiting Margate or surrounds should make a beeline – or should that be fishing line (groan) – for this special seafood eatery.

BEACH BUOYS

If it’s a totally laid-back Fish & Chips treat you’re after then look no further! The proud owners of the award-winning Buoy and Oyster restaurant are also bringing Margate the best of modern Fish & Chips in their sister shop, a stone’s throw from the beach at Margate main sands.

​At BEACH BUOYS you can enjoy traditional British fish and chips alongside the chef’s favourite seafood street food. Dine in at the restaurant with direct sea views (tables available inside and outside). Also available for Click & Collect or Home Delivery (locally). You can even beat the queues and enjoy your day at the beach by pre-ordering, up to a week in advance, to plan the perfect day trip.

SEASIDE STAY

And just to round things off nicely – the team have also sorted your accommodation. Check out MARGATE SUITES, a quirky selection of four holiday apartments – all uniquely curated by local designers and artists. Situated up a steep flight of stairs overlooking the main sandy beach in the town centre and above the Buoy and Oyster restaurant. So if it’s a quirky seaside escape in a central location you’re after then here you are located less than a five minute walk to The Turner Contemporary, galleries, restaurants, bars, shops & Dreamland arcades.​ Cool couples getaway, here we come!