The Criterion Blue Town

The Criterion is Sheerness's answer to a proper seaside landmark - a blue-painted Victorian theatre that's been watching over the seafront since the 1880s. It's the sort of building that stops you mid-stroll: all ornate brickwork and that distinctive blue facade that's somehow both faded and defiant at once.

You're looking at a working theatre, so your experience depends entirely on what's on. There's live entertainment year-round - comedy, tribute bands, pantomime at Christmas - which makes it worth checking the schedule before you visit. If there's nothing tickling your fancy, the exterior alone is worth a photograph. It's genuinely one of the more characterful things on Sheerness's seafront, which isn't saying the bar is impossibly high, but there we are.

Families with kids who enjoy live shows will get proper value from it. The theatre's accessible and unpretentious - no sense of stuffiness. Solo travellers and couples after an evening out will find it straightforward enough. History buffs will appreciate the Victorian bones of the place, though don't expect guided tours or interpretation.

If you're staying at Haven Kent Coast Holiday Park or Shurland Dale further down the coast, it's a short drive into Sheerness town centre. Pair it with a seafront walk and some fish and chips. The Criterion's the kind of venue that rewards a bit of curiosity - ring ahead, check what's on, and if something appeals, book it. Just don't expect it to be Broadhurst or anything grand. It's a proper local treasure.