As summer approaches, drawing crowds to Britain's coastlines, a new culinary destination emerges: Willy's in Margate. Nestled within the Margate House hotel on Dalby Square, just a short stroll from the seafront, this eatery exudes a playful, seaside charm reminiscent of a naughty postcard. The decor is a delightful blur of frilly red and pink, creating an atmosphere that is both cool and jovial.
A Menu That Defies Trends
Willy's menu is a refreshing departure from the ubiquitous small plates trend. It offers hearty, intentional dishes such as pork scratchings with apple chutney, black pudding scotch eggs, sticky toffee pudding, and Sunday lunches featuring beef rump and baked cauliflower cheese. The kitchen, led by chef Mark O'Brien—a MasterChef: The Professionals finalist—delivers robust flavors with a wink at tradition.
For the discerning diner, the cocktail list includes classics like the paper plane and penicillin, paying homage to New York's Milk and Honey bar. The wine selection focuses on natural and low-intervention bottles from France, Spain, and Italy, with highlights from Olivier Pithon in Roussillon.
Cozy Dining Experience
The dining room is snug and inviting, offering a menu that spans devils on horseback, coronation mussels, roast courgette salad, braised beef rib, roast chicken, and Willy's signature sausage and mash. Vegetarians are well catered for with spiced cauliflower, broccoli with miso dressing, and hispi salad with caesar sauce.
Margate House itself, restored in 2023 by owner Will Jenkins and designer Charlee Allan Quinton, exudes character and genuine hospitality. The boho drawing room and bar provide spaces for coffee or cocktails, while the restaurant has quickly become a local favorite for special occasions.
Memorable Dishes
On a quiet spring Saturday, we sampled thick slices of Guinness soda bread with whipped butter—warm and irresistible—followed by beef rump tartare with caper dressing and dripping toast, perfectly seasoned. The chalk stream trout with cavolo nero in seaweed butter sauce was a highlight, and the sticky toffee pudding with salted toffee sauce and stem ginger ice-cream rounded off the meal beautifully.
Willy's main challenge is its limited 25 seats, often claimed by hotel guests. Advance booking is essential. For those lucky enough to secure a table, the experience is a whole lot of wonderful.
Willy's Margate House, 6 Dalby Square, Margate, Kent. Open Thu-Fri 5-9pm, Sat noon-3pm & 5-9pm, Sun noon-5pm. About £40 per head for three courses, plus drinks and service.
