My Recent Local Visits
Updated: 10m
I was delighted to visit Keller, a new wine bar and restaurant on Harbour Street, Whitstable.
Since opening, Keller has enjoyed a fantastic summer and already has a great reputation, with numerous glowing reviews from diners and critics alike.
It is wonderful to see a new independent restaurant making such an impact in Whitstable, attracting visitors, supporting our economy, using very local suppliers and ingredients, and further enhancing our town's vibrant hospitality scene.
During my visit, we discussed the challenges facing Keller and many other hospitality businesses, including rising energy costs, staffing shortages, food inflation and increasing operating costs. That is why many restaurateurs and hospitality leaders are calling for a reduction in VAT for the sector to bring it in line with the EU and boost this struggling sector.
With the Budget approaching at the end of the month, it is vital that the Government listens to the concerns of the hospitality sector. Independent businesses like Keller are at the heart of our high streets and coastal communities.
Congratulations to the entire Keller team on such a successful start. If you're looking for somewhere special to eat in Whitstable, I would highly recommend paying Keller a visit.
I caught up with Canterbury Foodbank once again and hear about their incredible work supporting local people facing difficult times. This is the scale of their work in 2026 so far...
11,358 Emergency food parcels delivered across the Canterbury District so far in 2026: 6,894 adult and 4,464 children.
Over the course of a year we feed 3% of the entire Canterbury district
Over 102,000 meals provided, based on nine meals per person supported.
40,176 of those meals have been provided for children, highlighting the scale of food insecurity affecting local families.
4,479 deliveries made to households across the district.
14,000 volunteer hours given in support of our work.
These figures highlight not only the growing need within our communities, but also the incredible dedication of everyone involved in helping local people through challenging times. While the work of Canterbury Foodbank is truly inspiring, the fact that so many people are relying on foodbanks is not something we should accept as normal.
It was lovely to visit the RSPCA Cattery recently for an afternoon tea celebrating their wonderful volunteers, many of whom have been giving their time and supporting the organisation for many years.
It was a pleasure to catch up with the team, hear about the fantastic work they have been doing and, of course, spend some time with the lovely cats!
The RSPCA does vital work caring for and supporting abandoned and vulnerable animals, and none of this would be possible without the dedication of its volunteers.
If you can, please consider donating to support the RSPCA and the vital work they do for animals in need, or pop into our local RSPCA shop in Canterbury!
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