What if we said the best new restaurant experience wasn’t in London-but hidden above the Cliftonville seafront in Margate?

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What if we said the best new restaurant experience wasn’t in London-but hidden above the Cliftonville seafront in Margate?

That’s the question Faith In Strangers (@faithinstrangersmargate) set out to answer - a vision dreamed up and meticulously shaped by founder Jeremy Duffy. After years spent refining every detail of the venue - from its custom-built Poseidon sound system to bespoke lighting design and a cultural programme that’s quietly brought some of the UK’s most respected names in electronic music and jazz - Joy Orbison, Elkka, Daniel Avery, Leftfield, Corto.Alto and Mr Scruff - to the coast, he held off launching the restaurant until he found someone not just seriously talented, but totally aligned with the bigger vision.

That chef is Jackson Berg - an industry heavyweight with a cult following, known for redefining British food at places like St. John Bread & Wine, Bistroteque, and The Goods Shed. A chef with edge, precision, and a deep understanding of what this place could be, now leading the kitchen with a menu that speaks to the room.

Hidden above the Cliftonville seafront, behind an unmarked door, you’ll find yourself in a space that feels like a secret world suspended above the tide. It’s loft-like, cinematic in scale, with 12-metre sea-facing windows that flood the room with light by day and frame sunsets by night. Interactive light installations shift with the rhythm of the room, and every detail-from acoustics to atmosphere - has been dialled in with intent. In warmer months, the terrace opens up to offer a rare moment of al fresco dining with a view - drinks at golden hour, plates shared in the breeze, and music drifting out into the evening. Here, food, sound, design, energy - and the people who bring it all to life - don’t just coexist, they amplify each other. It’s a space shaped as much by the crowd as the craft, where strangers become regulars, and regulars help shape the rhythm of the room.

The food is confident and generous - always evolving, yet anchored by a few cult favourites. Dishes like devilled eggs with caviar, smoked bacon chop with confit potato, or whole lemon sole with trout roe showcase a kitchen that balances precision with pleasure. Thursday nights now feature a Steak Frites set menu - a midweek ritual in the making, built for early evenings and deep flavour. A menu built to carry you from the first bite into something deeper. Because here, dinner is just the beginning.

If you're planning something worth remembering - a big birthday, an overdue reunion, a celebration that deserves more than a back room - there's a space for that here. The 28-seat private dining room, set by floor-to-ceiling sea views, an audiophile Klipsche Cornwall sound system offers something few venues can: intimacy, energy, and a setting that rises to the occasion.

And if you’re thinking bigger, the entire venue is available for hire - ideal for weddings, brand takeovers, or cultural moments that need room to breathe. It flows effortlessly from ceremony to dinner to dancing, all under one roof, with the kind of style and sound system that gives your event its own legend.. It’s one of the venue’s most in-demand offerings - and a key part of what makes Faith in Strangers such a rare and flexible space.

Faith In Strangers was never meant to be everything - it was built to be something you believe in. A place where great food, soun, and atmosphere create moments worth remembering. It lives up to its name again and again.

Dinner: Fridays & Saturdays from 6pm
Brunch Club: Saturdays (lively) & Sundays (laid-back), from 12pm
Steak Frites: Launching 17th July - Every Thursday after.

FOR RESERVATIONS: https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/faithinstrangers/cene