Everything about the Captain's House, a Kent bed and breakfast, looked promising. Pictures of its attic rooms just oozed period charm. The house, one of the oldest houses in Whitstable, was built in 1693 and rebuilt after a fire in 1778. Original 18th century details are everywhere, tilting floors, wooden shutters, old-fashioned wooden door catches. The recommendation of the Michelin-starred Sportsman in nearby Seasalter, prepared me for a charming and cozy experience.
And it may well have been, if I was 5'2" or shorter. Unfortunately, I am a bit taller than that so I had to spend virtually all my time in the room watching my head. The minute I forgot, the result was a bruising knock.
The Captain's House has steeply-pitched, hip roof, angled at all four corners. The only place to stand upright in the attic rooms was in the center - occupied by the bed, or, in the case of the bathroom, by empty space. At one point, I was nearly trapped in the Victorian-style claw-footed bathtub. It was tucked in one of the upstairs corners and I couldn't stand up to get out of it.
The suite, at the top of the house, also includes a tiny sitting room and kitchenette where a breakfast basket of cereals, yogurts, freshly baked breads and viennoiseries is delivered in the morning.
Awkward Arrangements?
The guestroom suite at the Captain's House is on the top floor of a very small, family townhouse. The family occupies the first two floors and, other than an enclosed staircase to the top rooms (occasioning more head banging), there is little separation from the family quarters. On the day I stayed, the family were engaged in packing one of the children off to university with all the commotion and chaos that involved. Coming and going from my quarters, I felt like an intrusive stranger, awkward at the very least.
So Why Review the Captain's House
Normally, I don't review accommodations I have not enjoyed staying in. I see my role as recommending places you might not have thought of, rather than warning you off others. But I thought this one was worth mentioning because the house itself is one of the prettiest in this area of Whitstable and it comes well recommended. If you are short or don't have a problem about not being able to stand up straight in your room, its quirky antique charm may appeal. And, on another day, in a less harried household, you may not find the living arrangements as awkward as I did.
Captain's House Essentials
- Address:Mr. and Mrs. Wright, The Captain’s House, Harbour St., Whitstable, Kent CT5 1AQ
- Phone:+44 (0)1227 275 156
- Price Band: $$ - and over priced for what they offer.
- Website
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