When a Kent restaurant is named as having the best breakfast in Britain, it's only right to go down and try it for yourself.

So I headed to Little Ships in Ramsgate to discover why they've just received the accolade from LUXlife magazine and it didn't take long to work it out.

From the spot overlooking the harbour - which fortunately was bathed in sunshine the morning I arrived - it's a place which diners can just gaze out across the marina and enjoy the pace of life slow down for a bit.

It's said breakfast is the most important meal and there's no doubt it set me right up for my day ahead.

If you go for the full size cooked breakfast, which really is the full works, you certainly need a good appetite - even the chef asks if you managed to clean the plate and looks surprised when you tell him you have.

On the face of it, the full English at £11.50 seems expensive but when I consider I am still not even thinking about eating again today (and usually I'm looking towards dinner by the time I finish lunch) it's very reasonable and there's certainly no need for lunch!

For those who aren't the greedy guts that I am there is a lighter (and cheaper) option which includes one sausage, egg, bacon instead of two and it's missing the black pudding the full size has, along with the tomato, beans, hash browns, toast and mushroom.

But talking of other options, there is an extremely good range on the menu for under a tenner so you don't have to go for a full English - although on a first visit it had to be a cooked breakfast.

On my next visit I'll certainly be looking through the options more seriously, from the toasted sourdough, crushed avocado range, muffins and lighter bites including a scotch egg, bacon sandwich or pastries.

It's a very well rounded brunch menu with the on trend crushed avocado which you can have with either bacon, smoked salmon, roasted tomatoes, chilli and spinach - all served with poached eggs (or eggs on their own).

Toasted sourdough options include merguez sausages, steak and eggs and there's a similar range of toppings for the muffins.

Vegetarians and vegans are also well catered for with cooked breakfasts available featuring vegan sausages, roasted tomatoes, mushroom, hash browns, beans - a choice of fried or poached eggs for vegetarians - and toast with the option of vegan butter.

The crushed avocado dishes are a good selection for vegetarians but they are all served with eggs so vegans would have to make a few adjustments - but staff are amenable to make that happen.

Under the giant awnings diners sip on their coffee, juice or mimosa.

The pace of life seems to slow right down once you start staring out across the yachts as dog walkers and people meander past.

Big wide windows open out on to the views of the harbour and when the breeze rolling in it’s a very pleasant environment to enjoy your meal.

But there’s the patter and activity in the open kitchen that provides a buzz and an atmosphere providing that well-balanced mix.

The produce is locally sourced within 30 miles of Ramsgate with the meat provided by Hogman's butchers in Broadstairs and bread made by Ramsgate bakers.

The restaurant takes its name and inspiration from the little ships used in the Dunkirk evacuations in 1940.

Dozens of boats left from Ramsgate harbour to rescue the 300,000 British soldiers, sailors and airmen stranded and surrounded on the beach in the French town by the approaching German army.

Memorabilia commemorating the mission fill the walls of the dining room with maps of the evacuations, newspaper cuttings and the uniform and medals from Dr George Morris, a British soldier serving in the Royal Medical Corps who was among the men rescued.

Wooden cladding on the walls and a wooden floor give it a nautical feel which is rustic but at the same time it feels modern and contemporary.

If there are better breakfasts in Britain or even just in Kent... I’m yet to find it.

Brunch at Little Ships on Harbour Parade, Ramsgate is served Mondays from 10.30am to midday on Mondays and from 9.30am Tuesday to Sunday.

Prices for a cooked option range from £5.95 to £13.75 with light bites from £2.50 to £8.75.

For more details and reservations call 01843 585008 or head to their websit by clicking here

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