Next door Tankerton’s annual regatta has taken place since the end of the 18th century, and people enjoy it today as much as they ever did. There is a seamless border between Tankerton and Whitstable, but each place has its own character. The colourful beach huts are each are enormously popular. For watersports fans, there is the sailing club on the beach from which the boats put out to sea for pleasure or competition.

The Oyster Festival takes place every summer. Its roots are local and authentic, although it has become a considerable tourist attraction. Everyone in the town enjoys the activities, celebrating the town’s most famous export. The fishermen go out to sea very early and bring in their catch to a waiting crowd. They parade through the town, and afterwards the catch is distributed between pubs, restaurants and cafes.

The harbour is very much a working one and fishermen keep their boats there, using them to collect fish and oysters. Two shops on the quayside sell freshly caught fish and oysters and a quayside restaurant serves the recent catch.