The Goods Shed

It was an inspired idea: take over a striking, yet neglected, listed Victorian railway shed and turn it into the country’s first full-time farmer’s market; add an in-house restaurant driven by Kentish produce from the stall-holders themselves, keep it simple, and hey-presto, you have a sure-fire winner. That was back in 2002, and since then The Goods Shed has improved and expanded by leaps and bounds, although the space is as dramatic as ever with its exposed brickwork and massive windows soaring up to exposed rafters. For lunch and dinner, expect a roster of ingredient-led seasonal dishes ranging from fish stew with mussels and rouille or rolled shoulder of lamb with Jerusalem artichoke purée and crisps to steamed hake with wilted chard, croquettes and alioli, guinea fowl with lentils, spinach and black pudding or “the best pork belly I’ve ever tasted”. For afters, consider vanilla and goats’ curd cheesecake with Cointreau oranges. Drinks are out of the same mould, and The Goods Shed is also open for breakfast – a boon for commuters en route to the nearby station.

Set within the dramatic surrounds of a listed Victorian railway shed, The Goods Shed is a long-standing farmer’s market, food hall and restaurant in Canterbury, which first opened its doors back in 2002 and has gone from strength to strength.

The dining room of The Goods Shed in-house restaurant is a striking space, oozing rustic charm. Large arched windows flood the space with natural daylight, while fresh flowers and silver candelabras are placed atop sanded down wooden tables, adding a sense of romance and whimsy. Unsurprisingly, the all-day menu is dictated by what is available from the market and thus changes frequently, evolving with the seasons.

The menu kicks off with a selection of classic breakfast dishes, while later in the day at lunch and dinner guests can choose to follow the traditional three-course format or can instead order a small selection of starters to share between the table. Begin with snacks such as a portion of focaccia or duck liver parfait with pickled rhubarb, before moving on to starters proper, including oak smoked trout, with hung yoghurt and cucumber or chargrilled carrots with creme fraiche and spice crumb. For your main course, try wild sea bass served in a crab and tarragon broth or a leg of lamb paired with courgettes, lemon and mint. Puddings meanwhile, are plundered from the very best of the market stalls - think sweet treats such as fresh doughnuts and custard tarts.

Aside from the ingredient-led dishes, The Goods Shed is also notable for its diverse drinks list, which encompasses red and white wine, locally made gins, ales and ciders. The selection of softs is not to be sniffed at either, with the standard likes of Coca Cola and 7Up trumped by the likes of homemade lemonades or a blend of raspberry tonic, mint and soda.