The Blue Pelican in Deal is part restaurant, part wellness studio

The Blue Pelican is a seafront townhouse in Deal, offering Japanese-inspired dishes, natural wines and a boutique yoga studio

Blue restaurant interior at The Blue Pelican with wave painting
A painting inspired by Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa (1831), courtesy of artist Tom Mariniya, adorns the restaurant's wall
(Image credit: Courtesy of The Blue Pelican)
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The coastal town of Deal in southern England is now home to The Blue Pelican, a Japanese-inspired restaurant founded by former Wallpaper* design editor Alex Bagner and her husband, Chris Hicks, also the creative minds behind boutique hotel, The Rose, also in Deal.

Retreat to The Blue Pelican in Deal, Kent

A window look inside the restaurant

(Image credit: Courtesy of The Blue Pelican)

Nestled in a historic townhouse overlooking the pier and the sea, the couple’s new venture blends gourmet delights with a peaceful wellness experience. Formerly a cherished café embodying Deal’s bohemian ethos, The Blue Pelican now pays homage to Japan’s culinary tradition of Izakaya, offering a relaxed bar ambiance and vibrant small plates.

The Blue Pelican boasts orange and white checked floors

(Image credit: Courtesy of The Blue Pelican)

A painting inspired by Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa (1831), courtesy of artist Tom Mariniya, adorns the restaurant's wall

(Image credit: Courtesy of The Blue Pelican)

Led by chef Luke Green, who found inspiration in Tokyo’s culinary scene alongside his wife Miaki, the menu features a fusion of Japanese techniques and flavours. From traditional dishes like battera zushi to regional creations like raw bass with winter tomatoes and daikon, each dish reflects the East-West fusion. Larger dishes include pork katsu, castlefranco and sesame dressing, and braised short rib donabe, a slow-cooked rice dish with miso, mirin, melted onions, ginger and fermented artichokes.

A view of the kitchen's counter with wooden chairs and cone-shaped lamps

(Image credit: Courtesy of The Blue Pelican)

A view of the kitchen's counter with wooden chairs and cone-shaped lamps

(Image credit: Courtesy of The Blue Pelican)

Accompanying the journey are natural wines curated by Tim Toovey of Uncharted Wines, focusing on low-intervention English and European vineyards, along with a selection of sake and Japanese whisky. Cocktails take inspiration from Japanese flavours and Deal’s own seaweeds and coastal herbs.

A orange dish contains a meaty skewer

(Image credit: Courtesy of The Blue Pelican)

A frothy pink cocktail with a mint leave on top

(Image credit: Courtesy of The Blue Pelican)

Designed by the owners and Michelle Kelly, The Blue Pelican’s ground floor features neutral, natural interiors, with bespoke artwork inspired by Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa (1831), courtesy of artist Tom Mariniyak. Upstairs, The Pelican Rooms offer a boutique yoga studio and three private treatment rooms.

The Blue Pelican menu next to two of the restaurant's cocktails and a green candle holder

(Image credit: Courtesy of The Blue Pelican)

thebluepelican.co.uk

Sofia de la Cruz
Travel Editor

Sofia de la Cruz is the Travel Editor at Wallpaper*. A self-declared flâneuse, she feels most inspired when taking the role of a cultural observer – chronicling the essence of cities and remote corners through their nuances, rituals, and people. Her work lives at the intersection of art, design, and culture, often shaped by conversations with the photographers who capture these worlds through their lens.

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