The Place to

The Place to is a contemporary gallery tucked away in Deal, the sort of spot locals know about but visitors often walk straight past. The space hosts rotating exhibitions of modern art and design - nothing stuffy, just actual work by artists who are making things right now. You'll find anything from installations to photography to pieces that make you squint a bit and wonder what you're looking at. That's rather the point.

It's the kind of place that rewards curiosity. You won't need more than an hour unless you're really into this sort of thing, and it's the perfect break from beach time if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Kingsdown Camping or Ham Hideaway Glamping. Gallery fatigue isn't really an issue here - the space is intimate enough that you can see what's on without it feeling like a slog.

Art-minded types will get the most from a visit. Families with teenagers who've got beyond the 'is it a real horse' stage of gallery appreciation might enjoy it too. Younger kids will probably find it a bit abstract for their tastes, if I'm honest.

Deal itself is a proper little working town - still has actual fishermen - so combining a gallery visit with a walk along the seafront or a browse through the independent shops makes for a decent afternoon. The Place to feels genuine rather than done up for tourists, which is refreshing around here.