Deal has made it to the top in a list of 20 best places to live by the sea.

According to The Times, Deal is no longer a “secret” retreat but a well linked coastal town offering long beaches and plenty of choice when it comes to dining.

Writer Liz Rowlinson said: “Now easily reached from London by the Javelin high-speed train, it’s a place for long walks along the two-mile pebble beach and has dozens of pubs, coffee shops and restaurants on its award-winning high street and grade II listed pier.”

She gives reference to the sought after houses in the Middle Street conservation area where a grade II listed three-bedroom terrace is worth £415,000.

Ian Dunkerley, owner of Dunkerley’s Seafood Restaurant Hotel in Deal’s Beach Street, was not surprised by the news.

He said: “I always knew Deal was a jewel in the crown of the White Cliffs and I used that strap line many years ago having run businesses in the town for almost 40 years.

“As it becomes more of a tourist destination and more people start to discover Deal, it is up to the council and planners to ensure it remains the historic hidden gem that it is.

"We must keep our feet on the ground.”

Only two years ago, the same newspaper listed Deal as 23rd on the list of 30 best places to live by the sea.

The Times also listed Deal as one of the top 30 best places to visit for a weekend retreat in April 2014, when it was commended for it’s Fifties vibe and its mix of writers, musicians and business people.

The Telegraph also considered Deal to be one of the top 20 towns to consider relocating to.