Strood: Beyond the High Street

Strood does not reveal itself as a place of great beauty. The A2 cuts through its centre, the high street often humming with dense traffic and the toing and froing of locals moving between the main strip of shops and the retail park beyond.

Its setting, however, tells a different story. From the Strood bank, Rochester Castle and Cathedral rise together across the Medway, making the view walking over the bridge towards Rochester a pretty breath-taking sight. But this guide is not about crossing the river.

Instead, we stay on the Strood side of the river and get beneath the layers of a town that reveals itself more quietly. Look beyond the traffic, retail park, shopfronts and suburban sprawl and another Strood begins to appear: one with a strong community of independent businesses, Knights Templar history, old Frindsbury, authentic food from around the world and lesser-known green spaces with commanding views across the Thames and Medway and the towns that have grown around them.

Strood may not reveal everything at first glance, but there is much more to the town than meets the eye, or than the high street first suggests.

For The View

No better place to start. Broomhill Park sits on one of the highest points in the Medway area, with a 180-degree view overlooking the Medway towns, river and historic Rochester below. Spend a little longer here, because the views are not the only reason to make a visit.

Broomhill Park

At first glance, Broomhill is our familiar local park: open grass areas, woodland paths and dogwalkers doing a lap or two, with Rochester’s skyline appearing beyond the trees the higher you climb. However, this hill above Strood reveals an extraordinary rich history.

Its height has made Broomhill’s location useful over the centuries. The hill has been a strategic lookout, a chalk quarry and home of windmills, as well as part of a network of warning signals during the Spanish Armada. Beneath it lies the tunnels built for the Thames and Medway Canal – now where trains pass.

In 1940, a German Messerschmitt crashed here. After the war, around a hundred prefab house were built on this summit to ease the housing shortage. By the early 1980’s they had gone, and another battle began: to prevent permanent development and keep the hill as open space for the community.

Today it’s an award-winning landscape. Lookout for the human sundial, playgrounds and the ‘Lookout stone’. Wander through the Old Orchard, roughly nine acres of woodland that the Friends of Broomhill Park helped purchase in 2018 after a fundraising campaign kept it in the hands of the community.

It’s easy to come to Broomhill for the panoramic views. But it’s also fascinating to know just how central this hill is to Strood’s history.

The Boat House

Tucked down Canal Road, just a short walk from Strood station, The Boat House occupies a rather lovely spot beside the River Medway.

On a warm summer's day, there's nothing better than finding a table beneath the trees, with a gentle breeze coming off the water and views stretching towards Rochester Bridge and the castle beyond.

The substantial outdoor terrace overlooks a rather curious mix of industrial riverside scenery, Rochester's historic skyline and, somewhat unexpectedly, a Cold War-era Russian submarine moored in the river. Not something you see every day.

We tend to stop by for an impromptu drink as the sun begins to drop, although Sundays are popular for the carvery.

Come for the view, stay for a drink and watch the light change over the Medway.

History hiding in plain sight

Strood’s history is not really evident on the surface, announced by grand facades or the more obvious visitor attractions (unless we are talking about the ever popular Diggerland). Some of its more interesting historic buildings are hidden in plain sight, amongst the ordinary streets and industrial developments.

Temple Manor

Set unexpectedly in an industrial estate, just beyond Morrisons car park, is one of England’s rare surviving Templar buildings. Found down a dusty road amongst haulage trailers, it feels quite strange here. But long before the industrial estate arrived, the manor stood amongst farmland close to the banks of the Medway river.

The manor of Strood was granted to the Knight Templar by Henry II in 1159. The stone building followed 70 years later,serving as the administrative centre where the Order collected income and resources from its lands, rents and dues. Not primarily a home, but essentially an office that also place offered accommodation for Templar dignitaries traveling between London and Dover.

The Knight had disappeared by the 14th Century, and over time the building fell into disrepair. What remained was restored after the Second World war.

Access is seasonal, but even when closed, the manor can be glimpsed through the railing, where it stands quietly amongst its modern neighbours.

Frindsbury Manor Barn

Most people have passed through Findsbury not realising it is home to one of the most remarkable medieval barns in the country. Driving along Parsonage Lane, the enormous tiled roof can just about be seen above the hedgerow, giving a small indication of its scale: more than 200 feet of timber-framed structure.

Built by the Benedictine monks of St Andrews Priory in around 1403, the barn formed part of manorial farmstead, used to store produce harvested from the surrounding land.

Having survived six centuries, the barn suffered a devasting fire in 2003, during a national fire fighters strike, which consumed roughly a third of its structure and roof. The blaze was tackled by the army with the help of a vintage 1950’s green goddess fire engine, preventing further damage.

Left empty, in disrepair and exposed to the elements, the missing bays were eventually rebuilt around 15 years later, using around 1,400 cubic feet of locally sourced green oak. Today, the new timber contrasts with the aged, blackened and scorched original beams, revealing the extraordinary story of the barn survival.

Independent Strood

Independent character isn’t only found inside shops with beautiful heritage frontages or fashionable areas. Independent also lives in the raw and uncompromising and quite often what you see is not what you get. The beauty lies within.

Bloom Room

A true community hub, Bloom Room is often alive with the sound of soft chatter and the aroma of coffee. Part florist, part café, it brings a little colour to Strood High Street. Fresh flowers and seasonal blooms share the space with fresh homemade cakes making it somewhere to pause while picking up a bouquet to brighten up the dining room.

Find flowers for every occasion, this independent business offers floral subscriptions and a programme of creative workshops from Christmas wreath making, pottery session or live music and afternoon tea.

Stop for a hot drink, try your hand at something creative, or simply settle in with a chapter from your book.

Did we mention it smells absolutely divine? Freshly cut flowers, of course.

Gorj Brow Bar

For a little bit of beauty maintenance, Gorj on Strood High Street is certainly a favourite stop for locals. Established in 2015, this independent female owned brow bar as grown from its Medway roots to open a second salon in Bluewater.

Eyebrow threading is their speciality, with experience hands shaping brows using traditional methods with twisted cotton thread. Walk-ins are welcome, making it easy to pop in between errands.

Beyond threading, there’s a wider menu of treatments, from waxing tinting to facials and lash lifts. A little time to yourself right on the high street.

Where to eat

Strood's food offering is surprisingly stronger than someone passing along the High Street might expect. Here a few we return to often.

Jerk & Co Kent

If you haven't spotted Jerk & Co Kent (formerly Jerk Cafe) on Strood High Street, you've probably smelt it. The unmistakable aroma of jerk chicken slowly smoking in preparation for the evening service is enough to make you stop.

This family-run Jamaican restaurant is all about bold flavours and food cooked low and slow. Inside, reggae music videos play on the screen, while the bar is stocked with Jamaican favourites, from rum punch to Ting.

Order the escoveitch fish with its spicy pepper and onion dressing, or the deeply comforting oxtail stew with rice and peas. The staff are happy to talk you through the menu, and weekends can get lively with a DJ providing the soundtrack.

Come hungry.

Isaan Thai

A few doors along from Jerk & Co Kent (formerly Jerk Cafe), Isaan Thai is easy to overlook from the street. But step inside and the atmosphere changes. Warm orange walls, carved wooden elephants, golden Buddha statues and softly playing Thai music transport you somewhere far from Strood High Street.

The kitchen draws on the bold flavours of north-eastern Thailand, where fresh herbs, chillies and fragrant broths bring heat and depth to the cooking. Spice levels can be adjusted, although those who enjoy a little fire won't be disappointed.

Our pick is the beef Pad Gra-Paow, generously portioned and full of chilli, accompanied by a pot of jasmine tea. Unhurried, welcoming and well worth crossing Rochester Bridge for.

Khushiyan Sweets

On Gun Lane, family-owned Khushiyan Sweets brings a little taste of Punjab to Strood. Behind the counter sit trays of colourful mithai, traditional Indian sweets, alongside freshly prepared savoury snacks.

Here you'll find barfi, a dense, fudge-like sweet flavoured with coconut, pistachio or cardamom, and the distinctive swirls of syrup-soaked jalebi. Sweets are sold by weight, making it easy to put together a little selection to take home or give as a gift.

Try the freshly made samosas. And if you're unfamiliar with the different sweets, the staff are happy to explain what's what. A lovely little independent shop worth discovering.

New Shad

Stepping into New Shad on Frindsbury Road is like travelling back to the late 1970s. The low lighting, traditional curry-house atmosphere and trolleys wheeled to the table laden with food are all part of its charm. And that's precisely why we love it.

A family-run Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant, New Shad has been serving the neighbourhood since 2004, with a menu of familiar favourites and house specialities.

Then come the little rituals at the end of the meal: warm lemon-scented wipes for sticky fingers and an Imperial mint before heading out the door. Some traditions are too good to change.

Turkuaz

Always a popular spot, Turkuaz at Medway Valley Leisure Park is often packed with diners enjoying what we like to call a rather posh kebab. Set close to the banks of the River Medway, near the Premier Inn, it's a lively place for an evening out with friends or family.

The menu is full of Turkish favourites, from hot and cold meze to generous sharing platters piled high with charcoal-grilled meats. Try the lahmacun, a thin, crispy Turkish flatbread topped with seasoned minced meat, often described as Turkish pizza.

Order a little of everything and share what's on your plates. That's what it's all about, isn't it?

McCoy’s Fish Bar

We love a good independent neighbourhood chippy. But then again, who doesn’t! Mc Coy’s on Frindsbury Road has become a firm favourite of ours, and for locals looking for traditional fish and chips.

Behind the counter, it’s the usual favourites: freshly cooked fish in the crispest, golden batter this side of town. Generous portions of chips, battered sausage and curry sauce – the main event of course! And we can’t forget a good lashing of sharp onion vinegar. The menu stretches beyond the classics, but nothing quiet beats a simple portion of cod and chips.

One for evenings when cooking feels like too much effort, and only fish and chips wrapped in paper to take home will do. Or Fish Fridays.

For a pint

Strood used to have a pub on nearly every corner. Though many have gone, we're still lucky to have some good old-fashioned boozers. Whether it's a quiet pint and a bit of conversation or somewhere a little livelier at the weekend, Strood has a few places worth pulling up a stool for. Sometimes that's all you need.

10:50 From Victoria Micropub

Hidden away behind North Street, inside an old railway arch, is one of Strood's more unusual little drinking spots. Its name, 10:50 From Victoria, is a nod to the arch's original railway numbering. Rather clever, we think.

Opened in 2015 by three retired tradesmen, the micropub has all the charm of an old-fashioned railway waiting room, complete with memorabilia, wooden seating and a warming stove. And thankfully, there's no train to catch.

Here, the emphasis is on good conversation, changing real ales and ciders, rather than loud music or television screens. There's even a surprisingly spacious garden.

A proper little independent, worth seeking out. Just remember to leave the mobile phone in your pocket.

Coach & Horses

At the top of Strood Hill, the Coach & Horses has been part of the local pub landscape for generations. Its history stretches back to at least the 19th century, when this stretch of London Road was an important route in and out of the Medway towns.

Following a period of closure, the pub reopened in autumn 2025, bringing life back to this familiar roadside landmark.

Inside, it's a traditional local rather than somewhere trying to reinvent the pub experience. Expect televised sport, pool, darts and live music at weekends. The sort of place where the regulars have their favourite seat and a Saturday evening can become rather lively.

Not every pub needs exposed brickwork and a carefully curated craft beer menu. Sometimes a good old-fashioned local is exactly what's needed.