Last year’s overall winner, Tallow in Southborough near Tunbridge Wells, is still going strong and Kent continues to produce some exceptional and hugely popular local destinations. Currently, we are enamoured of The Blue Pelican in Deal – a highly unusual take in a Japanese izakaya transported to a Kentish beachfront – although we have also rekindled our affection for Harbour Street Tapas in Whitstable. Both offer exciting food with a generous side order of local hospitality. However, we must head to Brighton for this year’s regional winner – Med, a pulsating neighbourhood spot that brings vibrant sharing plates, great music and a relaxed vibe to the city’s Lanes. Moving north, we have been impressed by the warmth, the setting and the food on offer at The Bottle & Glass Inn, Binfield Heath in Oxfordshire, while The Woodspeen near Newbury, Berkshire, stormed through with literally hundreds of nominations for its atmosphere, assured cooking and unquestionable value for money.
Best Local Restaurant: South East
Med
Brighton, East Sussex
Creative, fun and very reasonably priced, with warm, approachable service, local means magical at this properly eclectic restaurant just off the seafront. A real credit to Brighton. Just off Brighton's main thoroughfare but close to the action, the fresh, contemporary looking dining room suits the relaxed vibe. Jack Southan and Will Dennard’s small sharing plates menu is all about confidence and they carry it off brilliantly, embracing Asian flavours as readily as those of the Mediterranean in one superb balancing act. As a restaurant it exceeds on all counts.
A Good Food Guide reader said:
'The service is so personal, the knowledge they have on wine is incredible, and the food is clearly made with such passion and knowledge of flavours. I could never fault it.'
Co-owners Jack Southan and Will Dennard reflected on their win:
'It is such an incredible surprise and honour to not only be considered in the top 100 in the country, but to be voted the best in the South East. We had no idea we were even in the running so it's amazing to know our customers value us and what we've tried to achieve with Med - enough to take the time to vote for us. It really does mean the world to us. The industry is so hard at the moment, so to get something like this makes the whole thing worthwhile.'
Read the Med Good Food Guide review
Best Local Restaurants in South East England 2024
Congratulations to all the restaurants in the South East that have made it onto our list of Britain's 100 Best Local Restaurants 2024. Explore the tiles below to discover who made the list and to read their full reviews in The Good Food Guide.
