Karl’s Good Food & Wine is a shop run passionately by husband and wife team, Karl and Aileen Coveney. Our aim, since we opened in March 2008, has been to sell the finest quality products, in a stylish but informal setting and with friendly service to match. Here are some of the reasons why you should visit Karl’s:

·              Refreshing approach: both Aileen and I are aware of how intimidating fine wine shops, fancy food shops and food halls can be. Sadly, knowledge of, or perceived knowledge of food and wine is too often used to make others feel inferior. Not here - we want you to enjoy your shopping experience in a relaxed and unpretentious setting. We believe that food and wine can never be mastered and that there is always something new to learn. We’ve also left out a collection of our cook and food books around the shop for you to browse while relaxing over a coffee or a glass of wine

·              Taste before you buy: we believe that, where possible, you should be allowed to taste before you buy as this is the best way to make a proper informed choice

·              Buy what you need: when buying perishable products such as cheese, cured meats, antipasti, eggs and coffee, we feel you should be able to buy as much as you need rather than being forced to buy quantities you won’t use. This way, you can enjoy all of what you buy in peak condition

·              Setting: the layout of the deli could be seen as unconventional, but it is central to our down-to-earth approach to service. We don’t believe in large serve-over refrigeration counters that create a barrier between server and customer. We cut and prepare antipasti, cheeses, meats and coffees to order and on the same side as the customer - we feel it is a more open and honest way to do business

·              Expertise: we think it is important to have confidence in the person you are buying from so we spent many years building our product knowledge and rapport with our suppliers to help make your shopping experience more enjoyable and informative. Karl studied with the Wine and Spirits Education Trust for four years and achieved a diploma in wines and spirits. Both Aileen and Karl have also studied with the British Cheese Guild and London School of Coffee. Much of this knowledge and love for the products is reflected in the tasting notes and messages on our blackboards dotted throughout the store

·              Our suppliers: we could easily stock our entire shop with one or two big distributors as it would be easier administratively and cost less to do so. But what about quality which drives value for money? We choose to use specialists who both make the product and therefore have complete control over the process (the ideal case) or distributors that are specialists in a particular area (e.g. Italian, Spanish etc) because lets face it, if you are a specialist then you care and we like that. We have over 50 suppliers, including over 20 local producers, and always looking for more

·              Support for local producers: we fully embrace the economic and environmental benefits of working with local producers. However, we also believe it is counterproductive and unfair to our customers if we only support them because they are simply local and, in the process, make us look good and gain us brownie points. In our view, it’s not good enough to just be local; it must be good full stop. Therefore, you can be sure that the local producers on our shelves are truly great at what they do and we’re privileged to have them on our doorstep

·              Coffee to drink in or takeaway: our coffee is our own blend. We put it together early in 2008 and know exactly what goes into It and to what level it is roasted. The blend is made up of the finest Arabica beans, ethically sourced. Many have described it as the best in Canterbury. We just think it’s the way coffee should taste

·              Loose coffee beans – whole or ground to order: we also buy single-origin coffees in small batches (to ensure optimum freshness) from all the best known (and not so well known) coffee-growing regions of the world. Our roaster firmly believes in quality, variety, provenance and direct relationships with the growers - principles we also strongly believe in

·              Bread: we are proud to support a local baker whose breads are made in the traditional way - slow proven and baked so as to reflect real flavour, crust and texture. The finished product is therefore fit to be the centre of any meal rather than the condiment that bread has become as a result of industrialisation

·              Cheese: we specialise in the finest cheeses from the British Isles, most of which are unpasteurised and therefore distinctly seasonal and flavoursome. We also feel it is not good enough to sell great cheeses – they must also be ready to eat. That is to say, we make sure we buy cheeses that are at or close to their peak of maturity so we can pass them on to you in perfect condition to give you maximum pleasure. We also stock a selection of traditionally made farmhouse cheeses from France, Spain and Italy 

·              Wine: we stock a wide range of interesting wines from around the world. We don’t like wines that are manufactured, nor do we sell wines because the critics tell us they are fashionable. We like interesting wines - wines of ‘terroir’. That is to say, wines with a sense of place, made traditionally with respect for the land from which they are made and using grape varieties that are best suited (and very often native) to their place of origin

·              Eat-in: although we are primarily a food shop, we are delighted to also have space for an ancillary café and courtyard garden, giving us the chance to showcase the products we sell in the shop. We also have a license to serve wine on the premises - and get this – you can enjoy any bottle of wine at just the retail price and not pay corkage fees or the mark-ups found in restaurants, hotels and bars