Harden's survey result
Summary
“Tiny but perfectly formed!” – The very first Wheelers (est. 1856, and the original and last branch of an increasingly forgotten chain that ceased trading in 2014) is a “quaint but charming” venue whose “magical qualities make it a memorable and special place”. “There is a counter at which you can order items to take away (to the nearby beach) or sit in the very bijoux parlour” – a “really lovely, family-run space where the attention to detail and freshness of the seafood is second to none”. “Exceptional oysters” are the headline attraction on a “wow of a tasting menu” that “is of course centred on fish”. “It’s made even more affordable by their BYO policy” – “just pop to the offy over the road for a great bottle of wine” (“there’s a small charge for corkage”). Top Tip – “book well in advance”.
Summary
“The best crab cakes in the UK and other great fresh seafood” – including oysters, obvs – win nothing but affection and acclaim for this “splendid” ancient venue (est. 1856): “a tiny back parlour that only seats 14-16”. “There’s no wine licence, but you can BYO”, which “makes it a very-good-value experience”. But despite consistently good feedback in recent times, the full-on raves of yesteryear were absent and a number of long-term fans now rate it as good rather than exceptional. Some regulars also suggest you “stick to the basic dishes: it doesn't work as well when they go more complicated or ambitious”.
Summary
This “charming and quirky fish restaurant” (est. 1856 and now operating solo after shedding the links to its mini-chain) “is like eating in granny’s front parlour”, when granny happens to serve “wonderful small plates of raw and cooked fish and shellfish” (rounded out by “fabulous fishy snacks to buy at the counter for lunches”). NB – “book early”…and don’t forget to “bring your own booze”.
Summary
“With its unmissable, pink exterior, the original Wheelers” (est. 1856, and for a time the base of a now-defunct mini-chain) – this “tiny”, “snug” and “eccentric” oddity feels “a little like eating in the back room of a small house, decorated in a ‘domestic style’, with ornaments on the mantelpiece and patterned tablecloths, and with tables a little packed-close”. “But, it has a brilliant professional kitchen out back” and serves “exceptional” fish and “truly excellent seafood” (“so local oysters are a must-have”), while the ability to “BYO makes it very good value”. “You need to book well in advance”, although it’s “easier to get a table now the extension has been built” with the capacity recently doubled to about 30.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Wheelers Oyster Bar?
8 High Street, Whitstable, CT5 1BQ
Restaurant details
Wheelers Oyster Bar Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Back on form. Exceptional cooking with refreshing zingy flavours"
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £20.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
8 High Street, Whitstable, CT5 1BQ
Opening hours
| Monday | 10 am‑5 pm |
| Tuesday | 10 am‑5 pm |
| Wednesday | CLOSED |
| Thursday | 10 am‑5 pm |
| Friday | 10 am‑8 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am‑8 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am‑5 pm |
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