A celebrity Michelin-starred chef heaped praise on Kent restaurants and shared his top dining spots – including one town “full of East Londoners”.

Tom Kerridge, who is known for his 12-stone weight loss journey, has also called one chef based in the Garden of England “phenomenal”.

The restaurateur labelled renowned gastro-pub The Sportsman in Seasalter, near Whitstable, as “one of Britain’s best-known pubs”.

“Michelin-starred Stephen Harris is a phenomenal chef – one of our generation's most important British chefs – in terms of using food and ingredients from the local terroir and I just love this place,” he tells Conde Nast Traveller magazine.

“You could be sitting there with tourists from Japan and London-based highflyers alongside some local people who are super proud of the place. It’s a temple that people feel they have to go to, but it’s not pretentious.”

Next on the list is JoJo’s Meze, Meat & Fish Restaurant in Herne Bay Road which, he says, serves fantastic Sunday lunch.

Run by Nikki Billington, it specialises in mezze-style dishes and embraces Mediterranean sharing plates with lots of specials changing daily.

Kerridge heaps praise on the “vibrant open kitchen,” adding: “The whole place has a brilliant energy”.

While Tom is well-known as a Marlow man thanks to his various restaurants and pubs on the town’s riverside, Whitstable in Kent pulls him and his wife, Beth and their son, Acey, when they have time off together as a family.

“We’ve had a place there for about 15 years, and I’ve been going with my misses for more than 25 years.

“It’s an easy seaside town, and it’s not cheesy.

“Now, don’t get me wrong. I love arcades and all that stuff, but Whitstable is actually a working harbour in an area that celebrates fishermen and local produce.

“It has a sort of Padstow vibe, but it’s a bit more gritty because it’s just outside London on the north Kent coast.

“I love it, and then you can go to nearby Margate for the arcades if you want them.

“I love historic British seaside towns, but I also love the communities of the working seaside towns. It’s got a big artistic, bohemian community with a lot of people who have moved out of East London, people who work in film and media. I just love it.”

Next up is Macknade in Sellindge Road, Faversham, which, according to the celeb, is not a typical restaurant.

“Macknade is a farmers’ market meets supermarket space that has grown and grown and grown,” he says.

“It started as a produce place, and it’s now turned into this incredible supermarket. It’s all about local produce, and you can get brilliant fruit and vegetables there. It’s like a dream and what every supermarket probably wants to be; it really represents the area, and you can get anything you’d ever think of.”

He goes on to explain there is also a cafe as well as street food on offer, adding “it’s just amazing”.

The Lobster Shack on the Harbour at East Quay also makes the chef’s list – despite his shellfish allergy.

When it comes to his favourite dish to order, he says it is all about the fish and chips on the harbourside or beach, no matter what time of year it is.

He says: “We were there a couple of weeks ago, and there was a live musician playing just outside. It was fantastic.”

Last, but by no means least on the list is Samphire Restaurant located in the high street.

“I just love this place,” he tells Conde Nast Traveller.

Finally, he singles out rustic bistro Samphire, based in Whitstable High Street, for its locally sourced produce.

“Samphire is another Whitstable staple that likes to celebrate local produce, and it’s a tiny little independent restaurant that is family-run.

“The guy who started it converted it from an old shop space and, by day, it’s a relaxed breakfast and lunch spot. But by night it’s somewhere people will go for a nice supper.”

He adds: “But I love it because, aside from having a wonderful atmosphere, it is all about celebrating local, Kentish produce, loud and proud.”