Forget Cannes. Ditch the Dordogne.

The best place for a bit of al fresco dining in the county is Whitstable.

The Tower Hill Tea Gardens is the ideal spot for some sun and sarnies, according to supermarket Waitrose.

It is the only site in Kent selected by the food giant as the top places to eat outside.

It has published its guide as part of its summer campaign.

The Tower Hill Tea Gardens are praised for the “beautifully kept lawns edged by herbaceous borders” and for the views across the estuary and the relaxing atmosphere.

They are managed by volunteers from the Whitstable Improvement Trust, who lease the tea hut to Fiona Hatton.

She said: “We didn’t know anything about it until a customer bought the guide in.

“It is really nice, particularly as we only took over this year.

“The weather could be better but so far things are going well.”

The guide is available from the supermarket’s stores or its website www.waitrose.com