A good Deal to celebrate

If Sandwich is the Venice of Kent (with medieval beauty preserved by stagnation, even if the river Stour is not quite the Grand Canal), then Deal is the county’s Chioggia: not so grand, but full of charm, history and, most importantly, life. The splendid new volume of Pevsner describes Deal as “unlike anything else in England”. That is because a network of pleasant alleys connects three parallel streets for six furlongs along the shore: a coast road, Middle Street and High Street.

Deal High Street is the winner, from 500 entries, of the Telegraph title of High Street of the Year. As our Weekend section says, it clinched the award because of a tide of new businesses, which mean that someone living locally can shop without getting the car out. There are some chain shops – Pevsner rather likes the appearance of the newish Sainsbury’s opposite the station. But independent little stores are the mark of Deal’s resurgence.

There were plenty of rivals for the title, which was awarded as part of this newspaper’s Reinventing the High Street campaign: Leek and Ramsbottom, Bridport and Malmesbury. But Deal clinched it. It might not seem a big Deal, but it is an encouraging example as a new Deal.